Nigeria’s eminent leaders of thought have described the late Ibadan billionaire, Chief Harry Akande, as one man who deployed his resources in the fight against military dictatorship in the country.

The description is contained in a statement issued Saturday night made available to News Express.

The statement was a joint tribute by Eminent Leaders, Project Nigeria Movement, and other pro-democracy movements signed by the National Secretary of

Project Nigeria Movement (PNM) and Pro National Conference Organizations (PRONACO) spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi.

The statement read in part:

“It will be recalled that Chief Harry Akande, a Nigerian multi billionaire was a major pillar of the struggle against military dictatorship in Nigeria, which gave birth to the current democratic rule in Nigeria, supporting the cause for the restoration of Democracy in Nigeria from his base in Chicago, Illinois,” the eminent leaders said.

The statement from the bodies made up of eminent personalities including Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, General Ike Nwachukwu, Solomon Asemota, SAN, Prof Pat Utomi, among other senior citizens, further disclosed that Chief Akande also sacrificed the presidential ticket he won under the All Nigerian People's Party, ANPP for a progressive joint ticket of Alliance for Democracy, AD and ANPP at the outset of the current democracy in 1999, conceding his presidential ticket to Chief Olu Falae of AD.

“Chief Harry Akande, an astute business man of international repute from Ibadan, Oyo State and the Agbaoye of Yorubaland, during his life time also supported the struggles of the Nigerian people, deploying his hard earned resources variously towards the advancement of the current civil rule in Nigeria.

“His historical contributions and various support in terms of volunteering his private jets for the struggle and many other financial and material support towards the struggles for a better Nigeria shall be immortalised by the movement of eminent Leaders of thought and Statesmen/women in Project Nigeria Movement, PRONACO and others in succeeding days,” added the statement.

Chief Akande died on Saturday morning at the age of 77 after a brief illness.