Otedola who loves turning out in white apparels showed this trait which is a rarity for men of means like him at the launch of three books by Ovation Publisher, Bashorun Dele Momodu in Lagos.

He was sitting in the front row at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) venue and deep into the ceremony, famous industrialist, Aare Rasak Akanni Okoya stepped in with Chief (Mrs) Modupe Oguntade, wife of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Since the front row was already filled, the duo were making their way to the back of the hall when Otedola spotted them. He  immediately stood from his seat rushed off to invite Chief Okoya to take his seat, and also asked an aide who was sitting beside him to give up his seat as well.

Interestingly, Otedola did not walk out of the hall afterwards, he made his way to the middle of the hall, and planted himself somewhere in the audience and was there till the end of the programme!

Earlier, the man fondly called FO had relived his encounters with the late Bashorun MKO Abiola when he delivered his speech.

My first memory of Chief Abiola was about 1971, about 47 years ago, as a pupil of the University of Lagos Staff School where his first son, Kola was a classmate. A dutiful father, he picked up his children from school regularly. His first wife, the late Alhaja Simbiat Abiola was also my mother’s close friend.

Fast-forward to 1990 as a young entrepreneur I had a taste of Abiola’s magnanimity and kindness. I developed the idea for an Awolowo Memorial Concert which I shared with my good friend and papa Awolowo’s grandson, Segun who went to see Chief Abiola on our intention to have him as the Chairman of the event and despite his political difference with Pa Awolowo in his lifetime, he not only showed up but arrived with his late wife, Alhaja Simbiat Abiola and they danced to the various artistes especially Sir Shina Peters.

The highlight for Segun and I was the NGN100,000 cheque he gave us at the event. A huge amount back then and we admired it all the way to the bank. While seeing them off, he took me aside, shook my hand in commendation and called me a Great man.

In 1991, I sold the idea to run for the governorship of Lagos state to my late father, Sir Michael Otedola and he dismissed it saying politics is not for Omoluabis and he also made a reference to the travails of Chief Abiola with the NPN leading to his much-publicized retirement from politics. After much persistence, I succeeded in getting him to run and the rest is history.

After my father’s victory at the polls and seeing the need to rest, the then governor of Lagos state, Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki Rtd, advised him to rest for two weeks and restricted visits and provided the LASG Guest House on Joel Ogunnaike Road, Ikeja for the purpose. After a week there, I went to see my late father around 7.30am and lo and behold, I met Chief Abiola and Alhaja Simbiat waiting to see him in the living room and when he saw me, he said Great man, where is your daddy?

A great man referring to me as a great man struck a chord in me.

My late father felt Chief Abiola would make a great president because of his deep wisdom, expansive heart and pan-Nigerian outlook.

A sad reminder of his arrest in 1994 was the picture of him alighting from a Black Maria. Upon seeing this, I called Ibrahim Abacha and requested to see him and we met at the South-West Ikoyi residence of Mr. Peter Igbinedion, the then MD of FAAN.

I told Ibrahim to tell his dad to release MKO as it was not fair for a man who has been denied his mandate to be so humiliated by being put in a Black Maria to which our host, Peter, interjected by saying who is this and he swiftly walked me out of his residence. I later ran into Mr. Igbinedion at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s London residence in 2013 and he was begging for my number. How the tables have turned.

We witnessed a man who abandoned the worldly comforts his wealth assured and was transformed in the fight for his mandate, believed in it and died for it.

I have studied Chief Abiola’s life in politics, philanthropy and most importantly building people and his doggedness, fairness, wisdom and good heart are traits that should be emulated. He was a man for all seasons.

I wonder what it would have been like if Chief Abiola was sworn in as President. Did we lose the opportunity to become the Dubai of Africa? Would Nigeria have surmounted the developmental challenges we face in health, education and industrialization?

Your guess is as good as mine

He also used the occasion to pour encomiums on Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu.

The book launch was attended by the cream of Nigerian Society such as Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Pastor Tunde Bakare and wife, Alhaji Rasak Okoya, Mr Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Mrs. Modupe Oguntade, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, Mr Fola Adeola, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Engr Rotimi Fasakin, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, Oba Adedokun Abolarin,Olori Ladun Sijuwade,Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Chief Dayo Adeneye (representative of Ogun State Governor), Hon. Kehinde Bamgbetan (Representative of Lagos State Governor), Mr Andrew Okeleke ( Representative of Globacom Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr.), Sir Tony Chiejina (representative of Alhaji Aliko Dangote),  Mr Idowu Ajanaku, Habib Aruna, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi, Mrs. Betty Irabor, Dr Kayode Are and wife, Ngozi, Amb. Toye Okanlawon, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi,  Prince Damola Aderemi,  Richard Mofe-Damijo,Mr Lekan Owoduni, Princess Toyin Kolade AIG Tunji Alapini (rtd), Kunle Bakare, Sir Gbenga Badejo, Ohimai Godwin-Amaize, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, Dr Reuben Abati, Simon Kolawole, Segun Adeniyi, Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Azuh Arinze, Biodun Oshinibosi,  Mayor Akinpelu,. Tito Okpaise, Gboyega Okegbenro, Mr. Gbenga Olunloyo, Biodun Ponle, Messrs Lanre and Kayode Alfred, Ms. Kemi Akinyemi, Chris Kehinde Nwandu, and members of the Abiola Family

While Gbenga Adeyinka was compere, Shuga band provided light music. Tastee Fried Chicken, Saheeto and De Potters were in charge of refreshments.