How Sir Michael Otedola became Governor of Lagos State

Sir Michael Otedola

To close watchers of politics, it would have been unthinkable for Sir Michael Otedola to have emerged Governor of Lagos State when he did, under the National Republican Convention. His tenure was short lived but that is beside the point.

Interestingly as a little boy I belonged to the same parish as Sir Otedola at Suru Lere. There was this harvest in our Church, St Anthony Gbaja where Sir Michael bought a Flask during Bazaar for 78 Pounds and casually gave it to the parish Priest saying 'Father, this is for your tea'.

As little children we were no donors but with awe and appreciation we kept tabs on the highest donors. Usually after Sir Anthony Amoje of Awe in Oyo State, it was Sir Michael Otedola of Epe, Lagos.

To further buttress, the miracle, Otedola's victory was, is this story about a class mate of mine at Jibril Martins Grammar School, Abule Nla, Iponri , Lagos.

During the primaries for the election in the Social Democratic Party, a party that had more following and better chances of Electoral Victory in Lagos State, than Sir Otedola's National Republican Convention, my class mate told me with glee that the two leading contenders for Governorship position in the Social Democratic Party were his relations and so come what may, his relation was going to occupy the position of Governor after the Elections.

But it was not to be. God had other plans for Sir Michael Otedola, the Philanthropist who had a printing press and made the best of it during the electioneering campaigns with lots and lots of colorful posters.

Otedola's good fortune stemmed from the intractable situation in the Social Democratic Party Camp. Between Dapo Sarumi and Femi Agbalajobi, to pick a candidate became a real tug of war.

In the end, the Party hierarchy disqualified both aspirants and in the end Yomi Edu emerged, without the backing of the Social Democratic Party as a whole. And so it was a divided and weakened party that Sir Otedola contended with.

Under this setting, Sir Michael Otedola emerged Governor where his party had no chance. It was a divine result for a well known philanthropist and a gentleman.