NIGERIA: Fashola, Jakande, Oyinlola, Others Pay Tribute to Otedola

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the state’s first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, yesterday paid tributes to late Sir Michael Otedola, who passed on about three weeks ago at the age of 88.
 
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye, ex-Osun State Governors, Mr. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu and Otedola's deputy, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu among others, also paid tributes to the departed governor.
 
Likewise, Africa’s richest; man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Adekunle Ojora, a bosom friend of the departed Otedola; some state cabinet members, prominent politicians, traditional rulers and a lot of people particularly from Otedola's home town, Odoragunshin, paid glowing respects to the late governor.
 
At a special tribute programme organised by the state government in  honour of Otedola, Fashola announced Mr. Femi Otedola's pledge to make a donation of N1 billion in support of education in the state.
Fashola declared that Femi, the son of late Otedola, “has requested me to announce that he will be making a contribution of N1billion towards funding scholarships for education in the state.
 
"I have told him that our government will work with him and the Otedola Foundation to develop the modalities to ensure that the fund achieves its purpose in a most transparent and sustainable manner."
The governor also said the second civilian governor of the state left a legacy for all his successors who nothing could be considered impossible until a genuine attempt had been made to achieve it.
Fashola described late Otedola as a great leader who did so much to promote the interest of the state and its people, noting that Otedola’s strong convictions even in the face of uncertainties made him even more remarkable.
The governor explained that the ideological message the late governor sent by leaving his private business “to contest the governorship election where the odds were stacked against him meant he was a genius.
“In my view, it is the idea behind his foray into politics that endures beyond his physical contributions. It is an idea that every generation must borrow from. The idea that nothing is impossible and that convictions and handwork can make dreams possible were his legacies.
 
“That is one legacy of the late Otedola that will not die. It is a lesson for both the old and young that nothing can be considered impossible or lost, until genuine attempts have been made to achieve it.”
Fashola, therefore, described late Otedola as a model of excellence, noting that his choice of the sobriquet 'Centre of Excellence' for the state when he was governor, reflected his hunger for excellence.
The governor explained that the programme was organised to celebrate the late Otedola's achievements with a view to drawing inspiration to further move the state forward.
He thanked Otedola’s widow, Doja, and the rest of the family for allowing the state government to be a part of what ordinarily should be a family funeral programme.
 
“I must thank and commend her grace for allowing us to play a role. I say this because a funeral is first and foremost a family and personal affair. But in life’s journey, men and women renounce their personal space to undertake a noble calling of public service; when this happens, it changes many things, not during their lifetime, but also in death,” Fashola noted.
 
Also speaking at the tribute programme, Tinubu described the late former governor as a distinguished gentleman who served the state meritoriously.
He added that his exemplary leadership would be sorely missed.
According to him, “We will miss him greatly. I thank God for his life and for his notable contributions to humanity.  He was a distinguished gentleman. May his soul rest in peace.”
 
In his tribute, Alhaji Lateef Jakande said Otedola’s demise was a great loss to the state and its residents, adding that his imperishable record of service would be remembered for a long time.
Dangote described the deceased as a man of dignity who did much “to touch the lives of Lagos residents. His death is a great loss but we thank the Almighty for granting him useful years that were most beneficial to mankind. We shall continue to pray for the repose of his soul.”
 
 
Oyinlola also said he had every reason to celebrate ex-governor Otedola whom he succeeded in office in 1993, noting that he met a record of impeccable contributions to the development of the state by Otedola.
“As a governor flying the flag of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Pa Otedola’s ability to hold members of the executive and legislature together in relative peace was a strong indication of his respectability, integrity and acceptability in a political setting, whose legislature was dominated by the opposition political party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he said.
 
Otedola's deputy while in office, Ojikutu, described him as a good listener who usually took his time to deliberate on issues without allowing himself to be stampeded into action to the charging of those used to the military autocracy era preceding Otedola's administration.
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