One Year without him: Rt. Hon. Prince Musiliu Olaide Adewale Akinremi Jagaban.KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE LATE HONOURABLE MUSILIU OLAIDE ADEWALE AKINREMI (JAGABAN) One-Year Remembrance Ceremony.10 July, 2025.Balogun Ambassador Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola. GAIC
Your Excellency, The Executive Governor Engr. Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde. FNSE, DSC, GSSRS.
Your Excellency,The Deputy Governor Alhaji Barr. AbdRaheem Adebayo LawalMost Outstanding Friend of Ibadan. MOFI.
President General,Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes Barr. Chief Sulaiman Ajeniyi AjewoleAare Atunluse of IbadanlandAll other Protocols duly Observed.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, beloved family members, political associates, friends, and the good people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
We gather here today, one year after the passing of a giant among men, to honor the memory and celebrate the enduring legacy of a remarkable leader, the late Honourable Musiliu Olaide Adewale Akinremi, known affectionately and famously as Jagaban.Our hearts remain heavy with grief, but they are also full—with gratitude, pride, and enduring respect for a man whose life was a radiant example of leadership, compassion, and purpose. We do not mourn a void; we celebrate a legacy.As the philosopher Benjamin Disraeli once said,“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”Hon. Akinremi gave us that great name and that powerful example.🕊️ A Life Devoted to ServiceBorn with a love for his people and an unshakeable belief in public duty, Hon. Akinremi charted a life path defined by humility, resilience, and unrelenting service to humanity. In every sphere he touched—business, politics, family, and philanthropy—he brought integrity, heart, and vision.He was a man whose actions spoke far louder than words. He understood that real leadership meant being accessible, listening to the people, and rolling up his sleeves to serve. As Mahatma Gandhi rightly put it:“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”And Hon. Akinremi found himself in doing just that—serving. Relentlessly. Lovingly.
🏛️ An Unparalleled RepresentativeIt is not an exaggeration to say that Hon. Akinremi Jagaban was the best representative Ibadan North Federal Constituency has ever had since the creation of that seat. He was a towering force in the National Assembly—not because he chased headlines, but because he delivered results.He sponsored and supported key bills and motions with direct relevance to his constituency and Nigeria at large. Whether advocating for better infrastructure, youth empowerment, educational access, or healthcare reforms, he never lost sight of the people he was elected to serve.He embodied the wisdom of Winston Churchill, who said:“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”And give he did—freely, selflessly, abundantly.
🤲 A Man of the PeopleHon. Akinremi was not just a representative in title—he was a servant of the people in every sense. He could be found at town halls, listening carefully. He answered calls directly. He showed up for the aged, for students, for artisans, for the sick, for people living with disabilities and for those who had no one else.He led massive empowerment programs, offered scholarships to hundreds of students, and created vocational opportunities that transformed lives. His love and affection to the notable religious communities was extraordinary.The President General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes hereby seated will bear witness to Hon. Akinremi’s commitment towards Ibadan causes. He never shy away from community development responsibilities.Akinremi never allowed power to distance him from the people. His humility was disarming; his generosity, legendary.It is no wonder that in the eyes of the people, he was not just a politician. He was family.“What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others lives on forever.” — Sir Ken RobinsonJagaban’s kindness, his passion, and his impact will live on.
⚖️ The True Meaning of “Jagaban”The title “Jagaban”—a name of strength, influence, and wisdom—fit him perfectly. But he earned it not through loud declarations or political aggression. He earned it through his tireless advocacy, sound judgment, and his ability to bring people together.He stood for justice, inclusion, and excellence. While others focused on political gains, he focused on people. While some played politics for profit, he played it for progress and he transcends party politics. He played politics of love and no bitterness.Simon Sinek once said:“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.”Jagaban lived this every day.
👨👩👧👦 A Father, Mentor, and FriendTo his beloved family, Hon. Akinremi was a rock of strength and source of love. He modeled the values of dignity, kindness, and discipline in his home. He was a father who led not just with authority but with affection.To his colleagues in the National Assembly, he was a mentor and a respected voice of wisdom. Many younger lawmakers and aides were guided and uplifted by his counsel and quiet support.And to Nigeria, he was a patriot. He believed in a brighter future for our country—and worked every day to bring it closer.
🕯️ A Year Without JagabanToday marks one year since we lost him to eternity. The pain remains. The space he left is still unfilled. But his memory is alive—in our stories, in our streets, in our hearts.As Thomas Campbell once said:“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”Jagaban may be gone from this earth, but he lives on in every scholarship, every rebuilt classrooms, every youth and artisans empowered, every primary health centers, and every life touched by his legacy.As Queen Elizabeth II once noted,“Grief is the price we pay for love.”And we grieve deeply, because we loved deeply.
🌿 Continuing the LegacyOur best tribute to Hon. Akinremi Jagaban is not in marble statues or long eulogies—it is in our actions going forward.Let us honour his legacy by being the kind of people he believed in: people of courage, integrity, unity, and compassion.Let us remember the words of Dr. Seuss:“Don’t cry because they are gone. Smile because they lived.”Indeed, we smile—because Jagaban lived, and he lived well.-
AKINREMI LEGACY FORUM…ise rere Ko duro. In the past one year, the Akinremi Legacy Forum continues with Akinremi’s Legacy of Service to Humanity. Mentioned below are just the summary of the programs delivered;
1. Empowerment of constituents with items such as sewing machine, grinding machines, refrigerators, deep freezers, vulcanizing machines etc to mark 41st Day Fidau of Prince Akinremi Jagaban. (August 2024)
2. Food and Cash Palliatives to 200 widows and needy to mark his 41st Day Fidau. (August 2024)
3. Training & Empowerment for Traditional Heads, Community and Religious Leaders on Peace and Conflict Resolution in Ibadan North. (Sept. 2024)
4. Back to School Package Distribution of 60,000 exercise books and 1000 school bags to all 73 Primary Schools in Ibadan North. (Sept. 2024)
5. Bags of rice distribution to Akinremi Legacy Forum for festivities (Christmas & New Year). (Dec. 2024)
6. Distribution of Indoor Solar Lights to 200 beneficiaries in Ibadan North (Feb. 2025)
7. Distribution of Over 100 streetlights across Ibadan North. (June 2025).
8. Bags of rice distribution to Akinremi Legacy Forum for festivity (Ileya).
9. Provision and Energizing of 3 Transformers namely; Ilupeju 30-30, ward 12Olumbe Bassir, ward 5Irefin, ward 4
10. Boreholes to Agbaje and Shobande Communities in Wards 8 & 7 respectively.
11. Fire Service Station at Isopako Bodija.
12. Provision and Energizing of Transformer for Irefin Community (June 2025) and there are still more to come.
✨ Final Thoughts Hon. Musiliu Olaide Adewale Akinremi Jagaban was a man too rare to replace, too impactful to forget, and too genuine not to be missed. His five years in office has exposed the weaknesses of those who served before him and has created a big challenge for his replacement. His shoes are too big and wide for his successor.He gave us more than representation—he gave us hope. He proved that politics could be clean, leadership could be compassionate, and power could be used for good.“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”Jagaban is now a treasure in our collective memory, and his legacy is a torch we must continue to carry.May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. May his legacy inspire generations to come. And may the Almighty reward him eternally for a life of purpose.We remember you, Jagaban. Always. And we thank you. Endlessly.-
APPRECIATION TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
This paper will be incomplete without registering due appreciation to His Excellency, Engineer Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde for standing by us since the untimely passage of our dearly beloved Akinremi. Particular mention was when His Excellency, the deputy governor represented the Governor at the 8th day Fidau and announced projects to immortalize Prince Akinremi Jagaban. We sincerely appreciate this generous gesture Sir.Same appreciation goes to the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government for immortalizing Akinremi with other projects at the Bodija Market, we thank you immensely Sir.To everyone who stood by the family and the Akinremi Legacy Forum to keep his memory alive, we register our deep and sincere gratitude.
Thanks and God bless you all.