Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi, professor of Law, son of late eminent jurist, Mustapha Akanbi, dies in Ilorin, giving credence to a sobering saying in Nigeria that man proposes, God disposes.
Akanbi, until his death, was Kwara State University, Malete’s vice chancellor, a tenure he assumed after much controversy over ethnic balancing ratio in his state, Kwara, just three years ago.
There had been a 12 years unbroken tenure on the seat also by an Ilorin man, AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, current VC of University of Abuja.
The position is tenured for five years, statutorily.
The academia had initially positioned the seat at Na’Allah’s exit to a less considered zone, North of Kwara.
But Akanbi was immensely juiced to clinch the job despite odds.
The state governor, also an Ilorin, favoured him as the choice; being son of a highly respected jurist and his utter brilliance and achievement swung the odds in his favour.
But his death has elicited tributes and anguish.
Emir of Ilorin and Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, expressed sadness over the demise of the KWASU VC, describing the incidence as shocking, unfortunate and saddening.
The Monarch stressed that the VC’s death is a colossal loss to the people of Ilorin Emirate, Kwarans and humanity at large.
In his condolence message issued by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir said that he recieved news of the death of Professor Muhammed Akanbi SAN with sadness.
“He was a replica of his late father and pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd) who was until his death the Wakilin Ilorin Emirate.
“He attained the pinnacle of his legal career to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) as well as the Zenith of academic profession as a Professor of Law and was appointed by the current administration as the second Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete all within his youthful age of existence on earth,” the Emir said.
People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Abdullahi Shuaibu Yarman, adding his voice also expressed similar sentiment like the Emir.
“I commiserate with his wife, families and friends over this unfortunate and untimely demise of an accomplished professional.
“I also commiserate with the Maimartaba Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, IEDPU, over the passing away of this illustrious son,” Yarman said.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, also commiserated with the government and people of Kwara State on the death of Prof Akanbi.
In a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, Prof. Egbewole described the death of Prof. Akanbi as tragic and a colossal loss not only to KWASU and the University of Ilorin but to the entire humanity.
Prof Egbewole said that he received the death of Prof. Akanbi with utter disbelief and profound confusion because no one would have expected such a young, brilliant and energetic gentleman to die so soon.
Prof. Egbewole recalled that he shared so many things with his departed colleague, saying that apart from attending the same Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with him, they both joined the services of the University of Ilorin about the same time.
The distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law added that he and the late KWASU Vice Chancellor also became Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin on the same date and were also elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the same date.