Otedola’s Death: Fashola Declares 7 Days Mourning

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines Monday, May 5th, 2014

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has declared seven days of mourning for former Governor of the State, Sir Michael Otedola who died at the early hours of Monday in Lagos, Nigeria.

The governor also directed that flags in government’s institutions should fly at half mast during the period of mourning, while describing the late governor as a great man.

“I knew him long before he was governor of the state. And in the period that I have been governor, he has suffered some difficult health arising from age. His indelible records of service are still there.

“The centre for excellence that we proudly proclaim today was his choice when he was invited among other governors to choose a sobriquet for Lagos. And that will remain evergreen in our memory. The housing estates he started-Abraham Adesanya at the tollgate-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 state government at this time sympathized and condoles with members of his family, especially his wife, Lady Doja Otedola and his children who are my childhood friends. I wish the deceased peaceful repose and external rest,” he condoled.

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.

Otedola became an information officer in the Western Nigeria Government when he returned to the country in 1959 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.