FORMER LAGOS GOVERNOR "SIR OTEDOLA" DIES AT 87.

Former governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, has passed on. He died in the early hours of yesterday during a protracted illness, aged 87.

His widow, Lady Doja, who confirmed his death on behalf of the family, said funeral arrangements would be announced later.

Otedola, who may have suffered a stroke that had kept him out of the public for the past five years was born on July 16, 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Having completed his elementary school, he moved to Lagos to pursue further education and won a scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London where he graduated in 1958.

He began his career as a teacher before working as a reporter at the St. Pancras Chronicle and later sub-editor at The Guardian and The Times both in England.

When he returned to Nigeria in 1959, he became an Information Officer with the Western Nigerian Government. He was appointed the editor of the Western Nigeria Illustrated.

Otedola later moved into public relations in 1961, working for Western Nigeria Television/Western Broadcasting Service (1961-1964) and Mobil Oil (1964-1977).

He continued as a consultant to Mobil after leaving the company before joining politics.

Against all odds and the electoral run of play, he was elected governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).

But intra-party squabbles within the SDP over who should fly its governorship flag between the late Prof. Femi Agbalajobi and Chief Dapo Sarumi, both from Epe, led to a protest vote that led to the emergence of Otedola as the governor. Otedola’s victory gave the NRC 16 states against the SDP’s 14.

Otedola’s name, which literally translates to ‘rebellion coverted to honour,’ came to bear on Sir Michael as the crisis in the opposition party led to his unexpected victory at the poll.

The NRC, was said to have settled for Otedola because of his integrity and philanthropy  even when he had no political ambition.

However, Otedola could not complete his tenure in office like his other counterparts across the nation because that Third Republic politics was eventually truncated by the military in the wee hours of December 31, 1993.

He was a philanthropist to the core, a feat that got him the Lifetime Achievement Awards from many organisations.

He is the father of Chief Femi Otedola, the billionaire owner of Nigerian oil giant, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.

Reacting to his demise, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, described the death of Sir Otedola as a great loss to the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin, however thanked God that “he lived a good life devoid of blemish and died at the ripe age of 87 and so, deserves to go and rest in the bossom of his Creator,” praying God to be with the wife and children he left behind.

Also, former governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, described him as a wonderful gentleman, highly resourceful and well organized, saying “he contributed to the development of the country.” While thanking God for his life, Oyegunsaid: “His demise is a great loss to the country.”

His counterpart in the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa expressed shock just as he sent his condolence to the family and the people of Lagos State.