Lagos Ex-Governor, Otedola, Dies at 87

After about five years battle with stroke-related ailment, former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, died yesterday at the age of 87. His wife, Lady Doja Otedola, who confirmed the death on behalf of the family, said the former governor’s funeral arrangements would soon be announced.
Meanwhile, a deluge of tributes has continued to pour in for the late Otedola as eminent Nigerians yesterday took turn to eulogise him.  The Lagos State House of Assembly, at its plenary yesterday, observed a minute silence as they prayed for repose of his soul.

According to the House, Otedola would be remembered for his renowned contributions to the growth of the state. Spokesperson for the House, Segun Olulade, said the Epe-born media guru, politician, industrialist and elder statesman played significant role in the establishment of Epe Campus of the Yaba College of Technology, among other achievements within his short-lived (1992 and 1993) tenure as governor.

“As his name implies, fate played critical role in his ascension to greatness and the entire people of Epe has lost one of their illustrious sons.”

Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Gbenga Ashafa, who is representing Lagos East, the same zone with the deceased, expressed shock over the death. Ashafa, in his condolence message, said that the former governor was an elder statesman who served Lagos State with all diligence and commitment while in office.
He described him as a true legend whose impact would be felt greatly by his immediate zone.

He prayed his soul rest in perfect peace and God Almighty to grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In the same vein, former Minister of Transport and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, described the late Otedola as a very gentle and straightforward person who always sought for peace and encouraged people to live in peace.

According to him, “Otedola did his best while in government but it was unfortunate the Third Republic was short-lived when the military aborted it midway.”
He said the news of the ex-governor’s death came to him as a shock even though he was old, saying “I still believe his experience and contributions would have helped a lot in the situation the country finds itself now.”

Babatope extended his condolence to the family, particularly his son, Femi, who has contributed to Nigeria’s economy in no small dimension.” He suggested that as a former governor of Lagos State, “Otedola deserved to be immortalised for the contributions he made to the development and progress of the state during his life time.”

In a condolence message yesterday, the PDP Lagos State chapter said Otedola’s death is a sad loss.
According to the Chairman of the party, Chief Tunji Shelle, the late Sir Otedola was a classical example of who a governor emeritus should be “having served with sincerity and retired from politics to be a statesman for subsequent governors in the state.”

He exalted Otedola for giving that much service to the state within a short period of time. He particularly praised the ability of the former governor to carry everybody along in his government, irrespective of partisanship.

“He won the election by providence as the candidate of National Republican Convention (NRC). Social Democratic Party (SDP) was the more popular party in Lagos at that time.     He, however, served the state giving fair share to everyone, irrespective of the party affiliation. I call on Governor Babatunde Fashola to immortalise the great man,” he said.

The party prayed that the Lord should give the deceased family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The spokesman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said “a good man has gone to meet his maker.”

In a condolence message, Odumakin said: “Sir Otedola was the quintessential gentleman in private life. He lived a great life and left a good name. May his soul rest in peace.”
Odumakin noted that barely few hours after the death of another great Nigerian, Justice ChukwudifuOkputa, the country has lost another great and illustrious son.

The late Otedola was born on July 16, 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin in Epe Local Council of Lagos State.

Having completed his elementary studies, he moved to Lagos to pursue higher education and won a scholarship to study journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London where he graduated in 1958.
Otedola began his career as a teacher before working as a reporter at St. Pancras Chronicle, and later as a Sub-Editor at The Guardian and The Times in England.

When he returned to Nigeria in 1959, he became an Information Officer in the Western Nigeria government and was appointed the Editor of the Western Nigeria Illustrated.
In 1961, he moved into public relations, working for Western Nigeria Television/Western Broadcasting Service (1961-1964) and Mobil Oil Group of Companies (1964-1977).

He continued as a consultant to Mobil after leaving the company and later joined politics. He was elected governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the NRC during the truncated transition programme of former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
He emerged governor against the ‎run of thoughts after a crisis engulfed the then SDP in Lagos State over the choice of a gubernatorial candidate.

Though Otedola could not complete his tenure in office due to the political imbroglio that characterised the regime, it is however, on record that his administration facilitated establishing the Yaba College of Technology campus in Epe, his hometown.

Otedola, an accomplished technocrat, upon leaving office continued his career as a writer, a consultant and held positions on the boards of various businesses. He was a philanthropist of great repute, a feat that got him Lifetime Achievement Awards from many organisations.

He served on the National Committee of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Essay Contest; YMCA Board of Management, Lagos; YMCA National Executive Committee; Board of Governors, Pacelli School for the Blind; and Board of Governors, St. Joseph Teachers Training College, Surulere.

He was chairman of the Michael Otedola University Awards Scheme; Premier Finance and Trust Company; Passat Industries Ltd; and International Converters of Nigeria Ltd.
He is the father of Femi Otedola, the owner of Nigerian oil giant, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited. He was the Asiwaju of Odoragunsin and member of Metropolitan Club and Island Club.

May 06, 2014