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| Michael Otedola |
Former Governor of Lagos state and
quietly wealthy personae, Sir Michael Otedola is dead.
The father of celebrity billionaire, Mr Femi Otedola reportedly passed on
this morning. And according trending reports, he died at his Epe, Lagos
residence.
The severally decorated connected nigerian died barely 3months shy of his 88
birthday.
Based on indications of checks made here and there, he died 'a good old man'.
A summation that generally transmits into the coming of a 'major social
gathering to celebrate the life and times of the deceased', an age long tradition
of his tribe- Yoruba.
The social engagement comes inform of a 'burial ceremony'- a get together
that parades the contacts, influence and wealth of the immediate and extended
family of the deceased.
A thing of great interest in this particular case, especially because of the
actors- or rather key figure involved.
The deceased, Sir Michael is a man of appreciable recognition and credible
personae in and out of the social parameters - it is the influence and
ability of the son, Femi Otedola to pull the 'proper crowd' that befits an
economic and political power broker (at the yet to be determine burial dates)
that many will look forward to.
This is particularly so, because he is painted as being on the rise again
after major controversial batches that dropped his rating.
Windows into these spells are celebrated fight with bossom friend and
internationally listed rich man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, blacklisting by
Central Bank as not credit worthy and episode that exposed lawmaker Farouk
Lawan as utterly corrupt.
After dropping off the social radar and packaged by handlers as speedily rising
back to his business yore days of Zenon Oil ( he prefers to be identified as
the promoter of Forte Oil nowadays), many will look forward to the
attendance, flamboyance and class of the upcoming celebration of death to
validate if truly one of the once upon a time celebrated kings of business is
back on his throne ( or on the way to) - or not.
Here is a peep into the life of the deceased gentleman known and addressed
as Sir Michael Otedola.
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Otedola
was born on 16 July 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin, Epe Local
Government Area of Lagos State. After moving to Lagos to pursue his
education, he 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, then as a reporter and later sub-editor at The Guardian
and The Times in England. On his return to Nigeria in 1959 he became an
Information Officer in the Western Nigeria government, and while in this
post he 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), continuing as a consultant to Mobil after leaving
the company.
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He
was elected governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the
National Republican Convention (NRC), leaving office when General Sani Abacha
came to power. His administration facilitated establishing the Yaba College
of Technology campus in Epe, his home town.
After leaving office, he continued his career as a writer, a consultant
holding positions on the boards various businesses, and a philanthropist. In
February 2010 ThisDay newspaper announced that he was among 15 eminent
Nigerians who had won Lifetime Achievement Awards.
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