Tributes Galore For Otedola

Yisa Jamiu & Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni

The late Sir Michael Atolagbe Otedola, former Governor of Lagos State, has been described as a consistent administrator, a thinker and performer.

Giving the eulogy today at the Onikan Stadium, venue of the ‘Day of Tributes’ organised by the Lagos State Government in honour of the late politician, his deputy then, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, praised him for the maturity he demonstrated  in governing the state after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Otedola was  the governor of Lagos from January 1992 to November 1993.

“When Baba Otedola appointed me as the Deputy Governor, people asked me what I was doing in the opposition party, the National Republican Convention. They said the party will never win but Baba Otedola, through prayers, won that election.

“Baba Otedola was a consistent administrator and a great thinker. Some people who didn’t know him well said he was slow,” Ojikutu stated.

She explained further that but for the maturity displayed by the late Otedola, Lagos would have witnessed a lot of killings when the presidential election was annuled by the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration.

Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly during Otedola’s short tenure, Engineer Bayo Akinyomi, described the late Otedola as a seasoned administrator.

He revealed how he as Speaker in the Assembly dominated by the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDP, worked tireless to make sure there was no rancour between the lawmakers and the Otedola-led executive.

Chief Adekunle Ojora, a friend of the late Otedola described him as a patriot and a reliable friend.

Dignitaries in attendance include Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his cabinet, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, Ayo Adewale, Julie Coker, popular television presenter and others.