former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, is dead

former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael
Otedola, is dead.
The former governor’s widow, Lady Doja Otedola,
in a statement said Otedola died on Tuesday
morning at the age of 88 years, .
The statement, read, “Sir Michael Agbolade
Otedola passed away this morning at 88. Funeral
arrangements will be announced later by the
family.”
It was leant that the former governor died of a
stroke related ailment that has kept him from
public glare for the past five years.
Otedola was born on July 16, 1926 at
Odoragunsin in the Epe Local Government Area of
Lagos State.
He won a scholarship to study Journalism at the
Regent Street Polytechnic, London and graduated
in 1958.
When he returned to Nigeria in 1959 he became
an information officer in the Western Nigeria
Government and was later appointed the Editor of
the Western Nigeria Illustrated.
In 1961, he moved to the Western Nigeria
Television/Western Broadcasting Service and in
1964, he joined Mobil Oil Group of Companies.
Otedola continued as a consultant to Mobil after
leaving the company in 1977 before joining
politics.
He was elected governor of Lagos State from
1992 to 1993 on the platform of the National
Republican Convention.
The late statesman is the father of billionaire
owner of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi
Otedola.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babatunde
Fashola has condoled with the Otedola family.
Fashola said he had known the deceased before
he (Otedola) became governor of the state, just as
he extolled his time as the number one citizen of
Lagos.
“And in the period that I have been governor, he
has suffered some difficult health arising from
age. His indelible record of service is still there.
“The Centre of Excellence that we proudly
proclaim today was his choice when he was
invited among other governors to chose a
sobriquet for Lagos and that will remain evergreen
in our memory.
“The housing estates he started – some of which
he completed and others completed by his
predecessor – the contributions he made to the
development of the state are appropriately
documented,” the governor added.
Fashola also prayed for the peaceful repose of the
deceased, just as he expressed the sympathy of
the state government to members of the Otedola
family, especially his wife, and his children, who
he said are his childhood friends.
Fashola also directed that all flags of the state
government and public institutions, be flown at
half mast for seven days in honour of the service
Otedola rendered to the state.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of
Assembly, Mr. Razak Atunwa, described Otedola’s
death as a great loss to Nigeria.
Atunwa, in a statement by his media aide, Alhaji
Abdul-Rahman Sanni, stated that Otedola was a
foremost nationalist and a democrat per
excellence who contributed significantly to the
socio-economic and political emancipation of not
only Lagos State but Nigeria as a whole.
According to the speaker, the deceased would be
remembered for being a bridge builder.
Also, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on
Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Senator
Gbenga Ashafa, expressed shock over Otedola’s
demise.
Ashafa, in a statement, said the former governor
was an elder statesman who served the state with
commitment while in office.
He said Otedola was a true legend whose impact
would be felt greatly by his immediate family, Epe
people and Lagos in general