There is a popular axiom which states that; ”In an attempt of looking at the future, you make recourse to history. Humans are product of history’. If there is someone who fit’s into the above axiom, then; it should be billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, who is currently a trending topic on the cyber space for his political intention to govern Lagos state.
Many wonder why; such a well respected billionaire, would set his foot on the murky waters of Nigerian politics, regarded as a dirty game, but, Otedola said the voice of the masses is the voice of God. The Forte Oil boss, has carved a niche for himself; not only ranking among the world list of Billionaire in dollars, but also, possess the innate foresight accompanied with sterling administrative qualities.
If you wonder how Femi Otedola, rose from nothing to something, when his business was hit by the dwindling global fall in oil price, at a point; but with his dogged and his never-say-never positive spirit, Femi bounced back, made an impeccable statement, which today, still remains a mystery to many. It only takes a genius to bounce back like the proverbial cat with nine lives. Femi has today become a reference point for student’s looking to bag a degree in any business related field.
The big story currently trending on cyberspace is Femi Otedola will contest for the highly coveted seat of the number one citizen of Lagos state; a post his late Father, Sir Michel Otedola, held sway from 1991-1992, before military took over.
For political observers and pundit, it seems history is about to repeat itself. What led to Sir Michel Otedola’s emergence as the flag bearer of National Republican Convention (NRC) before winning the gubernatorial elections in 1991 might come to play in 2019 for Femi.
In the course of the 1991 Gubernatorial elections,
Otedola was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC),
having defeated Mrs Oluremi Adikwu by a narrow margin at their
primaries. But the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could not produce a
candidate after an acrimonious primaries between Chief Dapo Sarumi (then
heavily backed by the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua) and the
late Prof. Dapo Agbalajobi, (sponsored by Jakande). At the end, the duo
were disqualified by the Prof Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral
Commission (NEC).
Otedola was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC),
having defeated Mrs Oluremi Adikwu by a narrow margin at their
primaries. But the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could not produce a
candidate after an acrimonious primaries between Chief Dapo Sarumi (then
heavily backed by the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua) and the
late Prof. Dapo Agbalajobi, (sponsored by Jakande). At the end, the duo
were disqualified by the Prof Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral
Commission (NEC).
In the new primaries that followed, Mr Yomi Edu,
another protégé of the late Yar’Adua, won the SDP ticket.
So
the gubernatorial contest in Lagos State was then between Otedola of
NRC and Edu of SDP. But following this development, Jakande called on
his supporters to vote for Otedola against his party’s candidate and
even though the NRC had only two members while SDP had 38 members in the
State House of Assembly, Otedola won the election.
the gubernatorial contest in Lagos State was then between Otedola of
NRC and Edu of SDP. But following this development, Jakande called on
his supporters to vote for Otedola against his party’s candidate and
even though the NRC had only two members while SDP had 38 members in the
State House of Assembly, Otedola won the election.
A source divulged to CITYSPY that; ”If Femi truly want to contest, he has that innate ability to reposition Lagos to the status of a mega city in less than 2 years. He has the blue print mapped out already. He has the capacity to woo more investors to Lagos and Nigeria, because of his reputable persona. His exposure and administrative prowess, is a selling point for him. If voted for, he would perform excellently to the chagrin of his detractors.”
