GOD’S goodness and faithfulness have indeed been made clearly manifest in the 75 years of existence of Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku. He has continued to enjoy perfect health, abundance, answered prayers and fulfilled desires. As a matter of fact, it is indeed doubtful if God could have been better to anyone than he has been to Odunmbaku, who recently clocked 75.
Odunmbaku is clearly a beneficiary of God’s endless grace in all facets of his life. God’s faithfulness has made him to be one of the few elders who graciously fall into the category of the ‘elderly-healthy’ and ‘elderly-fit.’ As a matter of fact, his 75 years of existence can be described as a testimony to the fact that God is truly a rewarder of those that diligently seek and serve him. ‘Baba Eto’, as he is popularly known, has been living a life that is dedicated to the service of God and humanity. In return, the Almighty God has truly been working through him and also working for him.
Baba Eto is undoubtedly a heavily anointed servant of God; just as he is highly respected for being a consummate politician and unrivalled grassroots mobiliser. He is without doubt a highly gifted cleric who has been using his spiritual gifts for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has over the years been using Cardinal Odunmbaku to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of not just his congregation alone, but to certain categories of Lagosians as well.
Impressively, Cardinal Odunmbaku has in the last four decades managed to strike an enviable balance between his spiritual calling and partisan politics. The rare gift of this consummate politician in ensuring effective mobilisation and organisation with a determined conviction to achieve success has been loudly underscored with the sobriquet of ‘Baba Eto.’ Interestingly, this sobriquet was coined by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. Cardinal Odunmbaku was appointed Special Adviser on Grassroots Mobilisation by M.K.O Abiola in the run-up to his ill-fated ‘Hope 93’ presidential campaign. This appointment was gotten on merit by Baba Eto because of his strength of ability to effectively organise and conduct grassroots mobilisation.
Comparatively, Cardinal Odunmbaku is reputed to be far above his contemporaries as far as the demonstrative ability to combine politics with church ministry is concerned. He has distinguished himself in this regard within Lagos State and Nigeria at large. It is also worthy of note that Baba Eto has indeed distinguished himself in all facets of human endeavour. This stride has, to a large extent, clearly imprinted his legacies in the sands of time.
Baba Eto is equally known to have dexterously combined his calling as a cleric with partisan politics. The revered preacher also goes about preaching the gospel with a deep sense of humility and responsibility. Notably, he is also known within and outside Lagos State as an activist, community leader, and successful businessman. Cardinal Odunmbaku is likewise a passionate philanthropist who has extended his helping hands to a good number of Nigerians. Beneficiaries of his philanthropic gestures include the young, old, poor, widows, widowers, the destitute, sick persons, as well as those in serious and special financial needs.
Most importantly, Cardinal Odunmbaku enjoys an extremely cordial relationship with the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Jargaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The robust relationship of Cardinal Odunmbaku with the former governor of Lagos State has clearly helped in promoting and projecting Baba Eto to a place of prominence in Lagos politics.
As a matter of fact, the relationship between Cardinal Odunmbaku and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been confirmed to have pre-dated the emergence of the latter as Lagos State governor in 1999. In the run-up to the election, Odunmbaku was appointed the state chairman of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation (BATCO) which has metamorphosed into what is today known as the “The Mandate Group.” Interestingly, Baba Eto still remains the chairman of the group till today.
Similarly, Cardinal Odunmbaku was, in 2015, appointed as the campaign director of the Akinwumi Ambode Campaign Organisation. The cleric-cum-politician impressively justified the faith reposed in his ability with an overwhelming victory recorded by the immediate past governor of Lagos State in 2015. Earlier, he had served as the chairman, Campaign and Mobilisation Committee of Action Congress in 2007 and 2011. Also, he had likewise served as the director of mobilisation of the Independent Campaign Organisation (ICG) in 2003.
Baba Eto had also served as a member of the Central Working Committee of Alliance for Democracy from 1998 to 2006. He had equally served as the patron of Community Development Council, Lagos State, from 1992 to 2006. He was a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) between 1992 and 1993. He was also a committed member of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) from 1978 to 1983.
This man of many parts and impacts was born on September 4, 1946 into the family of the late Pa Daniel Somorin and Ajike Jimaima. He was educated at the African Church Primary School and African Church Modern School, both in Abeokuta, from 1955 to 1964. He is the Managing Director/CEO of Highways Managers Limited and this platform has provided employment opportunities to hundreds of Lagosians. He is also the founder of the Centre for Humanitarian Support, a non-governmental organisation on drug abuse and awareness.
Cardinal Odunmbaku is one name within and outside of Lagos State that opens doors. The fact of being a close ally of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has undoubtedly conferred a huge advantage on Baba Eto within the political space of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. He is a man that is helped by God. He has also helped himself to rise to prominence through hard work, dedication and perseverance.
The legacies and good name of this cleric recently opened the door of electoral victory for his biological son, Honourable Odunmbaku with his election and subsequent swearing-in as the Executive Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area.
To Cardinal James Odunmbaku, life has truly just started for him at 75. The cleric-cum-consummate-politician has continued to add value to Lagos State and the church of God. He has evidently remained very relevant within and outside Lagos State as pacesetter, goal-getter and an uncommon leader of repute. He is indeed a major factor that truly matters in Lagos politics.
Baba Eto deserves nothing short of the solemn wish of many more years of selfless service to God and humanity in unfailing health, sound mind and fulfilled desires.
Salako, publisher of Triangle News Media, sent this piece.
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