A fitting farewell for a departed governor

Solemn. That’s the word. Or how else does one capture the mood and atmosphere at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, last Wednesday, May 28, 2014? It was the day the Lagos State government organised a ‘Day of Tributes’ in honour of the departed second civilian governor of the state, Michael Agbolade Otedola, who was buried last Friday in his hometown.

From the entrance, the mood of the day was evident on the faces present. The life-sized banners all around the stadium said it all. Lagos State and its people had lost a rare gem – a man variously described as a gentleman, a man of peace, a man of culture, a man of letters, a true nationalist, a true democrat, a great philanthropist, a seasoned administrator, a veteran journalist, an author, an educator, a public relations expert, a publisher, an industrialist, a true Christian who did not discriminate against other religions, and a leader who guaranteed the welfare of the people through provision of basic amenities. Even the security personnel understood and treated guests with courtesy.

Inside, the grass was luxuriant. The red carpets spread at different points on the grass painted a picture of beautiful red stripes on a green backdrop. Enlarged pictures showing the life and times of the late former governor were on display, creating the impression of a mini exhibition. They were pictures of the former governor in company of family, friends and associates, and at different occasions, including his inauguration as governor.

When the remains of the late Otedola arrived, accompanied by a band playing solemn hymns, the atmosphere was electrified, yet the mood remained largely mournful. The casket, draped in the colours of the Lagos State flag and the Nigerian flag placed over it, was positioned on an elevated platform specially made for it in the middle of the green field. Violet, the colour of solemn occasions as this, was ubiquitous.

After the National Anthem, it was time for tributes. And they poured in torrents, all eulogies, interspersed with musical interludes.

In his tribute, Babatunde Raji Fashola, governor, Lagos State, described the late former governor as “a simple man who did great things for his people, his community and his state”.

Others who paid tribute to the late Michael Otedola – including Bola Ahmed Tinubu, immediate past governor of the state, Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, who served as deputy to the late Otedola, Anthony Odugbesan, a director in the Ministry of Education in the Otedola administration, among others – described the late former governor as a great man who contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria. They reeled out the remarkable achievements of the Otedola administration, especially in the areas of education, housing, employment, health services, among others.

According to Fashola, one of the ideas initiated by the late former governor which has remained till today is the pursuit of excellence, recalling that it was the late Otedola who chose the sobriquet “Centre of Excellence” for Lagos.

“When Governor Otedola was invited to choose a sobriquet for Lagos State, to be printed on vehicle registration plates, the records have it that he chose ‘Centre of Excellence’,” Fashola said at the event held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, yesterday.

“As one of his successors, I have found this inspiring in my work. Standards of excellence are high, they are difficult to attain, and they are constantly changing. Every governor of Lagos who remembers that Lagos is the Centre of Excellence will never lie at ease because ‘in the race for excellence there is no finish line’,” he added, noting that in that sense, the late former governor set Lagos on a course and a race of an unending quest for improvement, innovation and development if it must remain the Centre of Excellence.

Tinubu, who was represented by Abiodun Ogunleye who served under him as deputy governor, said Otedola’s tenure, though brief, witnessed enough progress to prove that he was a leader of high quality and principle.

“He brought stability to our state and maturity to our politics. He was modest and unassuming, yet brave and focused…. Baba was a key player in directing the politics of Lagos State in a positive and progressive direction,” Tinubu said.

Femi Otedola, son of the late former governor, in continuation of the family legacy, pledged a donation of N1 billion in support of education in the state. His late father had established the Michael Otedola Tertiary Scholarship Awards for indigenes of Epe Division and other parts of Lagos.

Making the announcement on his behalf, Governor Fashola said the donation would be disbursed through The Otedola Foundation and would be mainly deployed to provide scholarships for indigent students. He promised that the state would work closely with the Otedola Foundation “to develop the modalities to ensure that the fund achieves its purpose in a most transparent and sustainable manner”.

Prominent Nigerians who attended the ‘Day of Tributes’ include Lateef Jakande, first civilian governor of the state, Ndubuisi Kanu and Olagunsoye Oyinlola, both former military governors, Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group, members of the state executive council, prominent leaders from Odoragunshi, among others. Many of them also took time to pay their tributes.

Following the announcement of the death of the former governor, Governor Fashola had directed that the state flags should fly at half-mast for seven days.

“The significance of this is simple but important. The flags are part of the paraphernalia of the state’s authority and strength. At half-mast, the state sent a message of shared grief and a slowing down to acknowledge the exit of a member of high esteem.”

Speaking also on the significance of the ‘Day of Tributes’, Fashola said, “We have now evolved the idea of a day of tributes as the minimum that must be done publicly to honour and celebrate the service of such exalted public servants as Governor Otedola.”

The late Michael Otedola was born in Odoragunshi in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State on July 16, 1926. After his early education in Nigeria, he went to Regent Street (now University of Westminster), United Kingdom, where he studied journalism and public relations. His work experience spanned the public service, journalism, public relations, administration, and business. He was elected governor of Lagos State on December 4, 1991 under the platform of the now defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and sworn in as the second executive governor of the state on January 2, 1992. His tenure came to an abrupt end following the Sani Abacha coup of 1993.

Chuks Oluigbo