The Yoruba culture expects most children born into royalty to exhibit a high level of native intelligence and wise counsel. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola is an exceptional royal blood who exhibits both high level of native intelligence and the wisdom of King Solomon.
As the Executive Governor of Osun State, Oyin Ni o, as he is fondly called by all and sundry, got the Odu’a State Governors Forum to accept the principle of equal representation and fairness in the running of the affairs of Odu’a Investment Company. Prince Oyinlola got his colleague-governors to accept this position and this led to the appointment of the first Osun State indigene as the Group Managing Director/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company in May 2005.
Lagos State is now part of Odu’a Investment Company, having fulfilled all necessary investment requirements. The motion to get Lagos State admitted into the Odu’a fold was actually moved by Prince Oyinlola at an Odu’a Governors meeting held in Ibadan in March 2008. He was able to put up a convincing argument spiced with appropriate Yoruba proverbs at the meeting which I had the privilege of attending as the then Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company. The prince also volunteered to lead the Odu’a delegation to meet with significant decision makers in Lagos State. Our first appointment was with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. This was on a Sunday morning at 11.00 a.m. Prince Oyinlola, as the governor of Osun State, made himself available and together with Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, then chairman of Odu’a Investment Company, and myself as GMD/CEO drove to the Oba’s palace where the meeting took place. This was where the mustard seed that germinated to see to the inclusion of Lagos State into Odu’a Investment Company Ltd was planted by the wise prince with wise counsel.
As Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company who was expected to provide the board and Odua governors the strategy and road map in the consolidation exercise of National Bank and Wema Bank during former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Charles Soludo’s bank consolidation exercise, the wise counsel and leadership provided by Prince Oyinlola cannot be overemphasised. I remember vividly his networking exercise and linkages that saved the Odu’a Group from losing out in the consolidation exercise. Again, he brought wisdom, moderation, passion, reality and commitment to our being able to raise the required capital to get Wema Bank and National Bank consolidated as one strong bank to serve our people’s interest and also as a key national player in the provision of financial services to Nigerians. There was no door in Nigeria we needed to enter to achieve this goal that Prince Oyinlola could not help us knock to open. From the Central Bank of Nigeria to the Federal Ministry of Finance Office and lastly to a 7.00 a.m. breakfast meeting with the then president of Nigeria in Aso Villa, the prince with wise counsel was always available to support the consolidation programme to enable us meet the deadline. His patriotism to the Yoruba cause is highly commendable.
His several achievements as the governor of Osun State, I believe, have been enumerated in other tributes as well as his love for his community. I join other well wishers to celebrate the prince of peace, the wise prince with wise counsel on the occasion of his 70th birthday, and to wish him many happy returns of the day in good health and happiness.
Sir, continue to be your contented self and the good Lord will continue to fill the gaps.
Alhaji Jimoh is the immediate past Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Odu’a Investment Company Ltd., Cocoa House, Ibadan.
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