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When Rebellion is a Virtue by Femi Fani-Kayode

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Unfolding events in Africa continue to intrigue the world and the fact that no less than seven military coups have been successfully effected in no less than seven African countries in the last three years gives cause for concern.

What is the cause for these violent acts of mutiny and rebellion and can there be any justification for such behaviour?

How legitimate were the mandates of those that have been toppled and are the soldiers that have carried out these ostensibly illegal acts of insurrection, revolution and treason and taken power by the barrel of a gun criminals and rebels that should be shot at the stake or God-sent and divinely-inspired heroes, liberators and deliverers of their respective countries and people?

Can their actions be justified in some cases or are they appropriate for all and can such a course of action ever be deemed appropriate for our country Nigeria?

When is rebellion a virtue and when is it a curse?

When is mutiny, revolution and a call to arms appropriate and when is it not?

What does one do with civilian dictators and sit-tight Presidents who have sold and mortgaged the future and destiny of their nation to the Western imperialists and neo-colonial powers and who torment their people and refuse to leave office.

These are just some of the questions that yours truly seeks to answer in this contribution.

Enjoy the ride!

On the 13th March 1962, in his
address on the first anniversary of the Alliance for Progress, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, said the following:

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable”.

In the history of humanity few have enunciated such a profound yet obvious home truth as President Kennedy has done with these famous words.

Sadly even fewer have learnt anything from them.

Those that doubt this have much to learn.

Consider the following.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Paul Biya of Cameroon have ruled their African countries for 23 and 42 years respectively.

Approximately one week ago they were both constrained to sack, retire, redeploy and replace much of their Military High Command, senior Army commanders and thousands of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in the light of the wave of military coups that have swept West and Central Africa and just one day after the one that took place in Gabon.

This was clearly a panic measure on both their parts. They did it out of rabid fear and in a desperate attempt to thwart, pre-empt and prevent a military coup and stave off an anticipated mutiny in their respective Armed Forces.

Unfortunately for them such peripheral and ineffectual remedies and desperate attempts to ward off all opposition and dissent in an attempt to hold on to power forever will not work because their so-called “mandates” lack legitimacy and they do not have the backing of the people.

Worse still they are both oblivious of and totally blind to the rationale and ethos of mutiny and armed rebellion and are clearly ignorant of the essence and motivation for military coups.

Simply put, no matter who your senior military commanders are, whether the old or the new and no matter how many times you sack, retire, redeploy or change them, when you are an illegitimate, depraved and evil leader who crushes, murders, persecutes and incarcerates members of the opposition and who rigs elections, refuses to leave power, torments the people and imposes a corrupt, bloodthirsty and blood-lusting dictatorship and dynasty of barbarism and tyranny on his nation, coups, mutiny, rebellion, revolution and insurrection become inevitable: it is only a question of time.

The great Mexican revolutionary and courageous hero, Emiliano Zapata said “if there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the Government”.

This sentiment is what we see playing out in the hearts and minds of most Africans today: no justice for the people and no peace for the Government.

In addition to that the Holy Bible says “there is no peace for the wicked”.

Is it any wonder that sit tight rulers and life-long dictators like Kagame, Biya and others are scared of their own shadow, are shivering under their beds and enjoy no peace?

It is a fulfilment of scripture: it cannot be resisted or broken.

And what is our response to these vile, unjust and wicked leaders who, like King Louis XIV (the Sun King) of France, regard themselves as being the living manifestation and embodiment of the state?

Surely it is nothing but hate, defiance, contempt, disdain and rebellion.

It is the same response that you will get from a wounded and cornered dog whose back is up against a wall: it will strike back and fight for its very life in the most ferocious, gallant and fearless manner.

That is where most Africans that are saddled with life-time rulers and civilian dictators in their respective countries are today.

They harbour a burning rage and violent anger in their hearts and minds and rebellion and revolution is brewing in their spirits and souls.

And surely no-one can blame them for that.

As William Shakespeare wrote in his famous play ‘Macbeth’, “unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles”.

If you do not stand up, resist, fight back and “breed unnatural troubles” when confronted with wickedness, injustice and tyranny, you cannot expect to ever enjoy your God-given right of freedom and neither will you ever witness emancipation from subjugation and oppression.

How else would you remove and replace power-obsessed dictators like Ali ‘Make Some Noise’ Bongo of Gabon, Field Marshall Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, Papa Doc and his son Baby Doc Duvalier of Haiti and the mentally-ill Jean Bedie Bokassa of the Central African Republic (who declared himself the Black Napoleon and Emperor for life and who kept the freshly decapitated heads of his enemies in his fridge)?

How else can a cruel, sadistic, psychopathic, sociopathic, narcisstic, unjust, vicious, depraved and malevolent tyrant who has broken the spirit of his people, enslaved them for decades and turned them into what can best be described as grovelling quislings, servile and compliant zombies and snivelling lackeys be removed from power if not by resistance, rebellion and the force of arms?

To move against such monsters and topple them by ANY means possible is surely a divine duty and obligation and one which every single one of the Holy Books not only encourages but also insists on.

The Holy Bible, for example, enjoins us to “resist evil” in the same way that Jehu resisted Jezebel, Moses resisted Pharaoh, David resisted Goliath, Peter resisted Herod and Paul resisted the Romans.

 

Can we be expected to do anything less?

 

Is it not the injustice and tyranny that the French, the Russian, the American, the English, the Chinese and many others were subjected to hundreds of years ago that pushed them to the wall and inspired and provoked them to take up arms and unleash some of the most violent and bloodthirsty rebellions and revolutions in the history of humanity?

Was this not the right and proper thing for them to do and had it not been for their resistance to such barbarous oppression and subjugation from their erstwhile oppressors and slave masters would they be the free, civilised, great and powerful nations that they are today?

 

Had it not been for Flt. Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings’ revolution and coup d’etat in 1979 and 1983 respectively would Ghana be the great and stable nation and flourishing democracy that she is today?

 

 

Had it not been for Nelson Mandela and the gallant and heroic struggle, resistence and open rebellion of the ANC and its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (meaning “Spear of the Nation”), would South Africa had been rid of white minority rule today, would the cruel and inhuman system of apartheid still not be in place, would the majority black population still not be referred to as “filthy kafirs” and nothing but “hewers of the wood and drawers of the water” and would the Boers still not be in power up until today?

Had it not been for Fidel Castro’s revolution and armed struggle, with the support of great men like Che Guevera, would Cuba have ever been able to break the yoke of the hegemony and tyranny of the United States of America and rid themselves of their corrupt Yankee-loving President Fulgencio Batista?

 

We must learn from the history of others and not continue to accept injustice simply because we believe that we must keep the peace at the expense of our fundamental liberties, human rights, basic humanity and God-given freedom.

 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States of America said, “the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism: ownership of Government by an individual, by a group or by any other controlling private power.”

 

Is this not what we are witnessing in much of Africa today?

Is this not the elephant in the room that few care to admit exists much less talk about on our continent today?

If a so-called leader degrades you to a point of being regarded and treated as nothing but a worthless animal, dashes all your aspirations, controls your essence and very being and takes everything away from you, including your future and that of your loved ones, is it not logical and indeed mandatory for you to rise up in resistence, fight for your rights and, if necessary, break every state-imposed rule in the book in order to restore your God-given self-respect, self-esteem, dignity, freedom and fundamental rights?

Must the cruel will and vainglorious and gluttonous aspirations and desires of the few be imposed on the destiny and future of the many?

Must an entire nation bend the knee to one man and his family in perpetuity?

Were some born to rule whilst others were born to be slaves?

This is the tragedy of Africa and these questions need to be answered.

Can we boast of being a continent where justice reigns and men treat one another in an equitable, humane and just manner?

Why do we as a people glorify injustice and wickedness and why do we so readily accept it?

Do those that deserve to lead ever really get a chance to do so given the sit tight mentality, inexplicable cruelty and lust for power of most African leaders?

What makes it worse is that most of those “leaders” are loyal servants and willing slaves of the Western neo-colonial powers and imperialists who see no wrong in the pain, suffering, hunger, abject poverty, penury, bondage, shame and disgrace that they have thrown the people of their respective nation’s into.

As a matter of fact it is to the advantage of the western powers for such gutless and feckless quislings to remain in power for life simply because it guarantees the fact that Africa will remain servile, docile, impoverished, underdeveloped, weak and totally dependent on their goodwill, accursed aid and wretched loans forever.

This is what much of Africa has been reduced to by their “leaders” with thankfully a few notable exceptions such as the leadership in Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, Ghana and a handful of others.

The rest are in the main nothing but cheap and inconsequential peddlers of filth and falsehood, tin pot dictators, hopeless pretenders, clowns and court jesters and propagators of falsehood, rubbish and arrant nonsense.

When confronted and saddled with a such a depressing and uninspiring coterie of destructive leaders is resistance and rebellion not the only way forward?

Is it any wonder that, according to a statement published in the Iranian Government’s website, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whilst receiving Olivia Rouamba, the Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, a country which recently experienced her own military coup and armed rebellion “praised the resistance of African countries in the face of colonialism and terrorism and hailed their stance as a sign of vigilance and awakening”.

A vivid illustration and graphic example of the indignity and injustice that the people of Africa have been subjected to is appropriate here.

Consider the fact that just 11 men, namely Paul Kagame of Rwanda (23 years), Paul Biya of Cameroons (42 years), Teodoro Mbasogo of Equitorial Guinea (43 years), Dennis Nguesso of Congo (38 years), Isias Afwerki of Eritrea (30 years), Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (37years), Alhassan Outtara of Ivory Coast (13 years), Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo (38 years), his son Faure Eyadema of Togo (18 years), Omar Bongo of Gabon (42 years) and his son Ali Bongo of Gabon (14 years) collectively ruled different African countries for a total of 347 years!

As my dear friend and brother Femi Adesina, the ersthwhile spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, would say: “Jumping Jehoshaphat!”

347 long years of bondage, suffering and trauma!

347 years of torture, incarceration, humiliation, slavery and the glorification and deification of a single man and his family!

347 years of an Orwellian nightmare unleashed and imposed upon millions of innocent, helpless and defenceless people whose dreams, aspirations and hopes were shattered and whose dignity, self-respect and sense of self-worth were crushed and buried.

347 years of pillaging, plundering, looting and stealing of their respective nation’s patrimony.

347 years of slaughtering, butchering and maiming of the few dissenting voices and courageous men and women who had the strength and fortitude to resist the evil and to rise up and say “no more!”

Is this not totally and completely unacceptable?

Is it not utterly repugnant and reprehensible?

Is it not a shame!

Worse still they have all done it in the name of democracy!

I am at a loss for words! I do not know whether to laugh or cry! The only thing I can say is “come and see AFRICA WONDER!”

A few comparisons are appropriate here.

The House of Romanov ruled Russia for 300 years. The House of Bourbon ruled France for 218 years.

The House of Plantagenet, Tudor and Stuart collectively and respectively ruled England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland for 500 years.

The House of Bourbon ruled Spain for 400 years. The House of Osman ruled Turkey for 700 years.

The House of Hohenzollern ruled Germany for 500 years. The House of Pahlavi ruled Iran for 54 years.

The House of Bernadotte ruled Sweden for 200 years. The House of Saud have ruled Saudi Arabia for 123 years.

The House of Alouite has ruled Morocco for the last 400 years.

The House of Orange-Nassau ruled Holland for 208 years.

These families of noble and bona fide Kings and Queens were all blue-blooded and were rooted in an enviable Royal heritage.

They hailed from a Royal lineage and they were indeed Royalty in every true sense of the word believing in the ‘divine right of Kings’.

The same cannot be said of our 11 pitiful and deluded sit-tight African rulers who have collectively ruled their domains for the last 354 years.

None of them can lay claim to blue blood or a royal heritage and lineage. Far from being blue their blood is rather something akin to the blood of rats.

Every single one of these 11 criminals and tyrants are unlettered, irreverent feral psychopaths whose bloodline is not worthy of mention.

Yet the truth is that all those African leaders, including the ones listed above, that have become sit-tight rulers and life-time President’s in their respective nations are NOT democrats: they are nothing but illegitimate pretenders, unhinged and psychotic meglomaniacs and irredeemable, unrepentant and vicious barbarians and power grabbers with no valid mandate.

They are also mostly social deviants and insidious cowards.

Simply put, they are an utter and complete disgrace to Africa.

The sooner they are removed from power the better for us all.

Thankfully in Nigeria, regardless of whatever challenges we may have been confronted with over the last 23 years, we have enjoyed reasonable and relatively sane Presidents, term limits, a credible Legislature, an independent Judiciary, a free press and the rule of law.

I would not endorse mutiny or rebellion against a democratically-elected, constitutional and legitimate Government such as ours which enjoys a lawful and freely-given mandate from the people and whose legitimacy has finally and rightfully been affirmed by the Presidential Election Tribunal.

I wholeheartedly oppose the agenda of coup plotters, rebels and subversives in Nigeria.

In the case of our country rebellion is a curse and not a virtue.

I do not believe that a coup is desirable or appropriate here simply because, firstly, our Government does not seek to discourage, muzzle, stifle or crush dissent or legitimate and lawful criticism and opposition and secondly because we are not burdened with a sit-tight and insane ruler who seeks to remove term limits from our constitution and impose a vicious and corrupt family dynasty and civilian dictatorship on our nation and people.

Permit me to add that I have nothing but pity and contempt for those reckless opportunists, lazy intellectuals, shameless dreamers and dangerous schemers who erroneously compare our situation and circumstances with that of ill-fated and beleaguered countries like Togo, Cameroons, Mali, Niger, Gabon, Uganda, Sudan, Guniea, Ivory Coast, Chad and Burkina Faso and who actually believe that a coup is equally appropriate here.

Nothing could be further from the truth and, given the circumstances, another coup in Nigeria would be the worst thing that could ever happen to us as a nation today.

This is because firstly there is absolutely no need or justification for one and secondly because our experiences in the past with military governments was, to say the least, shockingly horrendous.

It took us just under 40 years of resistance, struggle and suffering during which we as a people were subjected to the most inhuman, extreme and barbaric form of terror, subjugation, humiliation and trauma and in which many were murdered, maimed, tortured, jailed, driven into exile and destroyed, to break the military yoke.

Those young people all over the social media, most of whom are millennials, Obidients and members of what has come to be known as the “GEN-Z” generation, that are busy fantasising and toying with the idea of a military coup, indulging in masturbatory illusions and calling for the Army to topple our Government and take over the reigns of power are naive, gullible, ignorant and irresponsible.

They do not know anything about the frightful dangers of military rule or the vicious, oppressive, draconian, repressive, reactionary, bloodthirsty and inherently unaccountable and unjust nature of military Governments.

They were not born when the June 12th struggle took place in 1993 and they know nothing about the series of bloody military interventions and coups that took place from Major Kaduna Nzeogwu’s January 15th 1966 mutiny (with all its attendant bloodshed) right up until 1999 when General Abdulsalami Abubakar finally relinquished power and handed it over to the democratically-elected Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

They do not know that the first and second coups in Nigeria, in January 1966 and July 1966 respectively, led to the slaughter and reprisal killings of thousands of Igbos in the North, our civil war in which three million people were killed and thereafter led to bloody coup after bloody coup for the next 29 years!

They do not know that between 1966 right up until 1999 we only had 4 years of democracy and constitutional Government and that within those years of military rule hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, millions of people suffered, human rights ceased to exist, thousands were unjustly sent to jail and our civic and educational institutions were infiltrated, corrupted and utterly annihilated.

They do not know and apparently neither do they care that millions of innocent and gallant souls over the years gave their lives and paid the supreme price for the democracy, freedom, civil liberties, human rights, constitutional guarantees and free speech that they enjoy today.

They do not know that to advocate for a return to military rule in Nigeria today is indeed a manifestation of madness in its crudest, rawest and most perverse form: it is neither justifiable or defensible.

I am constrained to concede that in some cases resistance and rebellion is a necessary evil which can and must be employed to remove tyrants and corrupt unconstitutional civilian life-time dictators who refuse to leave power and who have no democratic credentials or legitimate mandate from the people.

That is indeed the essence, thrust and overall mesage of this contribution.

I believe that such acts of insurrection, mutiny and rebellion may be necessary and appropriate in nations that are living under the subjugation, bondage and hegemony of corrupt and repressive life-time civilian dictators but I do not believe that they are appropriate for Nigeria.

I say this because in our country, for the last 24 years and since the advent of democracy in 1999, reasonable leaders with solid and incontrovertible democratic credentials, that are restricted by term limits and that respect civil liberties, human rights and the concept of a free press and the rule of law have led our nation and not sit-tight and corrupt monsters who seek to impose a feudal dynasty upon us.

That is the difference between the Nigerian experience and that of others.

Still on the dangerous, misplaced, asinine and thoroughly irresponsible notion that a coup d’etat and military intervention is the remedy to the challenges and problems that we are faced with in Nigeria today consider the following.

On September 3rd 2023 my good friend Charly Boy Oputa, a proud and diehard Obidient, posted the following on his X account:

“Oh lord how can we be praying in Nigeria and you are answering prayers in Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali”.

This saddened and disheartened me because it came from a man who I consider to be one of the most brilliant artists, keen minds and free thinkers in our nation and history.

Sadly on this occassion he has missed the mark and his words are nothing but disingenious and specious sophistry and dangerous talk in their worst and most primitive form.

Charly Boy is not only playing with fire but also encouraging others to indulge in treason and insurrection.

I wholeheartedly condemn his incendiary disposition and counsel and reject his malevolent and nebulous aspirations and prayers for our country.

Compounding the problem are comments like “our democracy is not working” coming from hitherto respected individials who are very much part of the system and who are leading members of the ruling party like my dear friend and brother, the Minister of Solid Minerals and former Governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Kayode, who I have known for many years and who I have always had a soft spot for, is a staunch democrat and has an insightful and brilliant mind but on this occassion his comments are open to being misconstrued by the less discerning.

Such contributions do not help matters and may inadvertently encourage the gullible tribe of dissaffected and dissolutioned young and gullible radicals and hot heads in our country that are openly calling for a military coup to continue to indulge in their madness and to proceed in their wilfull and misplaced determination to climb the slippery slope of perfidy, delusion and ritualistic self-immolation with grave consequences for us all.

Simply put we all need to be careful about what we say and we must do nothing that will encourage or mislead others into charting a dangerous and violent course in Nigeria.

The remedy to the challenges in our country cannot be to kill democracy by encouraging the military to take power or to throw out the baby with the bathwater and treading such a damned path would be indicative of a curse.

The remedy lies in staying the course, keeping faith with the system, providing good governance, meeting the needs of the people, getting rid of the pervasive hunger and debilitating poverty in the land and gallantly defending our hard-earned democracy.

Let that sink into the minds, bodies, spirits and souls of the puerile ignoramuses, deluded reprobates, masochistic miscreants and suicidal fools that are praying for a coup d’etat in our land.

May God deliver them from their fecal dispostion and mental affliction and may He reject their unholy petitions!

Permit me to end this contribution with the following.

Reno Omokri wrote,

“How can such a tribal, fascist, intolerant mob like the Obidient movement think they can intimidate the judiciary into giving the third place winner victory? After today’s verdict, the DSS and the police must fish out that Obidient who threatened Justice Tsamani’s children, and any Obidient that continues to call for a military coup should be mercilessly dealt with irrespective of their status in society. What an utterly disgusting and reprehensible movement. Nothing but disgrace will be their portion! Because your yes daddy candidate lost you want coup. Never!”

I do not often find myself in agreement with my younger brother Reno but on this occassion I am glad to say that I most certainly do.

Even though we are on different sides of the political divide, with these words, he has expressed my sentiments and that of millions of other reasonable and rational Nigerians.

Those Obidients that are calling for a coup in Nigeria on social media simply because their candidate lost the presidential election and failed at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal are sick and they should be called to order.

Outside of that they should be picked up, locked up, charged with treason and either shot at the stake or jailed for life.

A word is enough for the wise.

Glory Hallelujah!

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Opinion

To Uncle Mike at 71 by Olusegun Awolowo

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My Dear Uncle,

Happy birthday Chief Mike Adenuga ! The Big Bull himself! Your life is a testament to resilience, determination and unwavering commitment to excellence.
You are certainly a titan amongst men, a visionary whose strides have reshaped industries and inspired countless dreams.

Your remarkable impact on Nigeria transcends mere success; it is a legacy of inspiration and transformation. Through your visionary leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, you have not only built a business empire but have also paved the way for countless others to dream big and achieve greatness.

Your influence has been profound. Your achievements serve as a beacon of hope, reminding me that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

As we celebrate another year of your remarkable journey, I am reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela:

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Dear Uncle your life is a testament to this profound truth.
As you continue to bring joy and laughter to the lives of countless people may the good Lord reward you with His grace and mercy .

Here’s to many more years of success, good health and continued impact.

Happy birthday, Uncle Mike

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Opinion

We Can All Learn Tolerance from Globacom and the Yoruba

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By Reno Omokri

When the Central Bank of Nigeria relocated some departments to Lagos, there was an uproar on social media. Tinubu wants to move everything to Yorubaland.

But now that the Nigerian Navy is moving its training base headquarters from Lagos to Onne, in Rivers State, there is silence online. Nobody is saying that the Chief of Naval Staff, who is from Enugu, is moving that critical infrastructure closer to his region. And that is the right thing to do. Onne is a better location for the navy.

Please note that the Naval Training Command headquarters is a more significant infrastructure, and has more human resources than the departments of the CBN that moved to Lagos.

Recall that some individuals tried to pull off a Yoruba nation agitation in Ibadan a few weeks ago, look at how their own Yoruba kith and kin clinically dealt with them. And not even by the Federal Government, but by the Oyo State Government, which is in opposition to the Federal Government. Elsewhere, secessionists are protected, and even celebrated by the local population, and the State Governments look the other way.

One man even boasted that, “They are not terrorists. I meet them and live with them.” Please note that this is a direct quote.

Let us learn to imbibe the tolerance of the Yoruba, and Nigeria will go well.

The Omoluabi culture of tolerance stems from their culture, not from their DNA, so it is something all of us can also learn. It a not a racial trait, like their ability to have more twin births than any group on Earth.

It is built on two platforms. Iwa, which means moral character (Omoluabi actually is short for Omo-ti-Olu Iwa-bi, meaning children that the Lord of moral character gave birth to).

The second platform is Ebi, meaning family. Omoluabi Yoruba are taught to uphold fraternal relations above money and power. And not just among Omoluabi, but with all peoples.

That is why, for example, Colonel Fajuyi rejected the offer to surrender Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to rebellious Northern officers, and replace him as Military Head of State. He voluntarily chose to follow Ironsi to his death. That is a combination of the Iwa and Ebi ethos.

And it continued even after Fajuyi’s death. How?

After Ironsi and Fajuyi’s death, Fajuyi’s successor as Military Governor of the Western Region, Adeyinka Adebayo, looked after Ironsi’s children, who lived with him in his house. I bet you never knew that. Please, fact-check me.

Do you know the most Islamic state in Southern Nigeria? It is not Lagos. Please research it. The state with the highest percentage of Muslims in Southern Nigeria is Osun State.

Yet, the indigenes of that state voted for a man who is both officially a Christian and a Muslim as their Governor. Yes. Please fact-check me. Senator Ademola Adeleke regularly attends church and not so regularly attends mosques. At best, he is a Chrislamist. But officially, he has been tagged as a Christian in certain publications.

So, Osun has a Chrislam Governor, who just happens to be half-Igbo (Senator Adeleke’s mother was Igbo and he was born in Enugu), a Christian Deputy Governor, and a Christian Speaker. Please note that Osun recently changed Speakers, and I do not know the religion of the new Speaker, Prince Adewale Egbedun. But his predecessor, Timothy Owoeye, is a Christian.

Recently, I had cause to defend Chief Eric Umeofia over the attempts by some people to destroy his business, and I cautioned them to understand that he had 4,000 employees. Though this fellow is not from the Southwest, those who led the effort to save his reputation and business are from the Southwest.

This is the type of pan-Nigerian spirit that we can learn from the Yorubas as we all imbibe their Iwa and Ebi ethos.

And nowhere do we see that culture on display better than at Globacom. This is a company wholly owned by an Ijebu man, Dr. Mike Adenuga. Yet, even when there were prominent Ijebu and Yoruba artists who were the biggest singers in Nigeria at that time, Globacom deliberately chose to promote the principle of One Nigeria.

Sunny Ade was there. D-Banj was then the hottest artiste in Nigeria. Paul Play Dairo was at that time ruling the airwaves with Mo Sori Ire.

But Globacom ignored them. The company took a relatively unknown as at then group. They took P-Square, and made them the face of their brand. And they sent them to etiquette school. Glo had P-Square on billboards all over Lagos and Nigeria. You could not go from Ikoyi to Victoria Island without seeing a giant Goo billboard with Nigerian music stars.

Dr. Adenuga bought P-Square their first brand-new Mercedes G-Wagon. Then he bought them brand new Range Rovers.

As Glo ambassadors, P-Square were featured on CNN for the Glo with Pride campaign, which blew them up worldwide. They thereafter bought houses in America, and would have become even more prominent globally, until quarrels over business made the twins separate for almost five years, which affected their fame.

But then there happened to be a quarrel between one of them and Seun Kuti, and in the heat of the moment, Peter Okoya called his own father “a nobody”. Not Seun’s father. Fela was never a nobody. No. Peter Okoye referred to his own father as a nobody.

Such a thing can NEVER happen in Yoruba land. Never a thousand times. And if by mistake a Yoruba man dares do that, the community will beat him to a pulp the way Ibadan people beat the Yoruba nation agitators three weeks ago.

There is nothing wrong with Air Peace using an Isi-Agu costume as the uniform for their flight attendants. I defended them publicly. Please research it. My defence of Air Peace went viral.

But let me say here that if Air Peace had been owned by Dr. Adenuga, they would have taken a different approach.

Happy 71st birthday to one of Nigeria’s most outstanding entrepreneurs ever, bar none. Dr. Mike Adenuga Junior.

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Opinion

Mike Adenuga – A Septuagenarian Like a Mighty Oak: Life As a Destined Journey

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By Hon. Femi Kehinde

On the 6th of March 1979, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo attained a septuagenarian status of 70 years. The Military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978 lifted ban of party politics, and Obafemi Awolowo and his Committee of Friends had formed the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), perhaps as an off-shoot of the defunct Action Group (AG). At a campaign rally in Mapo Hall Ibadan, attended by a mammoth crowd of jubilant party stalwarts, Awolowo was erouded into the campaign rally with deafening shouts of the usual “Awo! Awo!! Awo!!!’. The impressed Obafemi Awolowo in appreciation of the large attendance decreed that being now a septuagenarian i.e. as a 70 year old man, he should now be addressed as “Papa Awo”, and the crowd instantly changed the tune to “Papa Awo! Papa Awo!! Papa Awo!!!” in ecstasy and frenzy.

Micheal Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga, a Nigerian successful business man, a philanthropist and an entrepreneur attained the septuagenarian status age of 70years on the 29th of April, 2023, and thus like Obafemi Awolowo at 70, has now become “Papa Mike Adenuga”. What a sweet elevation in God’s grace, splendor and magnificence.

Yoruba epistemology and mores believe that whatever happens to Man, whatever happens in life, has already been predestined. Man chooses his destiny -‘AYANMO’ while coming into the world, and man knees down to choose his lot – ‘AKUNLEYAN’ before the presence of God. The great music maestro and philosopher – Chief Ebenezer Obey, had sung in a beautiful lyrics – “Ayanmo mi latowo oluwa ni, eda aiye kan ko le yi mi ni po pada…”
Man’s destiny is Unalterable. Navigating through the labyrinths of Mike’s destiny is certainly “Ori olowo, Ori olola, Ori oloro” – The head that has a Midas touch – a Greek myth in which King Midas turned anything he touched to gold.

Here is the chronicle;

Micheal Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr. was born on wednesday, 29th of April, 1953 to Oloye Micheal Agbolade Adenuga Sr. who was a school teacher, and Omoba Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga (nee Onashile) who was a business woman. They were both natives of Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State. Micheal grew up in Ibadan where he had his early life (infancy and adolescence) in Oke-Ado Ibadan, which was then Ibadan’s epicenter before the advent of Bodija Estate in 1958.
Oke-Ado was the home of Ibadan elites, academicians, entrepreneurs, business men and women of the moments. It was the home of the first sets of Indegenous intelligentsias – the men and women who would eventually shape the cause of Nigeria’s history. Oke-Ado was where the noveaux riches who arrived with independence lived, it was home to Chief Obafemi Awolowo – First Premier of the Western Region, Pa T. L. Oyesina – Foremost Educationist, Proprietor of Ibadan Boy’s High School and Ibadan City Academy Eleta, Ibadan, Akin Deko, S.A Tinubu of Iresi, Justice Morgan – Chief Justice of the Western Region who succeeded the Ghanian Quarshie Idun as Chief Justice, Justice Olujide Somolu – Chief Awolowo’s best man on the 26th of December 1937, Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa on Ajanla street – Author of “Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irumole”, Amos Tutuola – Author of
“the palm wine drunkard”, The Otudekos, J. B. Oye (GoodWear Tailors), Chief Ogunsola – Premier Ladoke Akintola’s private secretary, the Craigs, the Italian Construction Firm of L. Dalberto, the home of popular textile trader and woman activist, Alhaja Humoani Alaga built in 1951, Bola Babalakin, Surveyor Ososami, Bola Ige, Wole Soyinka, Chief Isamosta Ashiru, Victor Esan – one of Ibadan’s first early lawyers, while his wife Wuraola Esan was the founder of People’s Girls Grammer School, Molete-Ibadan and Ibadan first woman senator, Chief T.A Oni (Oni and Sons) – the popular Ibadan Construction giant, Omololu Olunloyo, Duro Ogundiran – Lawyer and First Republic Minister in the Werstern Region, and a host of others. Oke-Ado was also then the fleet street of legal practice in Ibadan that had the law firms of Obafemi Awolowo and Abiodun Akerele, Bola Babalakin and Co, Olu Ayoola and Co, Duro Ogundiran and Co, Rosiji and Co, Ogunkeye and Co and a host of other legal titans. Many entrepreneurs thrived on this popular road – Titi Oke Ado. There was the popular Ogunkoya Stores, the Osibodu’s House, the Rab and Lally Chemist of the Irabors, the Toye Chemists, the Palms Chemist of the Akinkugbes, the Trumed Chemist, Mama Oyin Adenuga Stores – the mother of the communication guru, Micheal Adenuga. It was behind Dr. Doherty’s hospital, which was also close to the Owuru family house, the Ladega Family House.

Ladega later became the Ayangburen of Ikorodu. Not very far was the home of Rev. T. T. Solaru, whose wife was the leader of the Action Group Women Association. In the belly of Oke-Ado was the Palm Tree Club, almost opposite the Odeon Cinema and also Rex Cinema that kept Oke-Ado bubbling. Shortly before the Odeon Cinema was the Seven Sisters Club and Independence Club. Oke-Ado then bubbled with actions and activities. This is a reflection of the environment Mike grew up. He attended Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Oke-Ado Ibadan, between 1959 and 1964. The school was a grade one primary school under the headmastership of Mr. F. Owo Adekoya, a stern disciplinarian. The school was the elementary school of the children of popular Ibadan elites at the time – The likes of Gabriel Rusewe (Rusewe Motors), Theophilus Adediran Oni (Oni & Sons), Chief Z. A. Koya (CEO Abiodun Printing Works), the Agbejas, the Fagunwas, and the Sanyaolus, among others. Also, children of Top Civil Servants, Politicians and “who is who” in Ibadan and within the Oke-Ado neighbourhood attended Ebenezer African Church Primary School. Interestingly, Oni & Sons would bring his children of about 15 to school in a bus. The school apart from its seasoned and highly disciplined headmaster, had good teachers – Mr. Akinpelu, Mrs. Makinde, Mrs. Onafuwa, Mr. Ojosipe, Mr. Odeyemi, and Mr. Olorunisomo (the games master).

After successful completion of his primary education in December 1964, Micheal Adeniyi Agbolade Adenuga was admitted to Ibadan Grammar School in January 1965 to begin another phase of life.

Ibadan people value and treasure education. In 1901, the Baale of Ibadan, Baale Fajinmi (1897-1902) made a proclamation that made it compulsory for every household to send at least one child to school or pay a fine of 5 pounds; following the example of the Akinyele Brothers – Alexander Babatunde Akinyele (1875 -1968) and Isaac Babalola Akinyele (1882 -1964). The two brothers bestowed the environment of Ibadan in the field of education, religion, tranditional monarchy, social responsibility and politics, each like a colossus. Alexander Babatunde Akinyele was the first Ibadan university graduate in 1911, having graduated at the Fourah Bay College in Sierra leone with a Bachelor of Arts degree of the University of Durham in England. He was a clergyman and later became a bishop. Bishop Alexander Akinyele on the 31st of March 1913 founded the Ibadan Grammar School single-handedly, he was its first principal until 1933. Whilst as principal, he encouraged wealthy men and Ibadan elites to take their children to school. Two of Sanusi Adebisi Idikan’s children – Azeez Zakariyyah and Salawu Adebisi attended Ibadan Grammar School under the principalship of Bishop Alexander Akinyele. There were no higher educational institutions then in Ibadan after Ibadan Grammar School. Bishop Akinyele visited Sanusi Adebisi Idikan to encourage him and also intimate him on the prospects of gaining a university admission for his two sons in Europe, who had just left his college, with the hope that it would be an encouragement to other Ibadan wealthy men and elites. But Adebisi whilst thanking Bishop Akinyele for his concern and also acknowledging his episcopal visit, told the Bishop and Principal, that he would not like to expose his children to the danger associated with schooling abroad. According to him, the man of means would always employ the man of Knowledge. Sanusi Adebisi Idikan – First Ibadan notable entrepreneur and philanthropist born in 1882, died in 1938 at the age of 56years. Following his elevation to the position of Assistant Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Alexander was succeeded by Reverend Latunde, later Reverend E.A Odunsanwo, and later his son in-law, the legendary Archdeacon (then Reverend) E.O Alayande in 1948. Archdeacon E.O Alayande was the principal until 1968, when he was succeeded by Rev. Ayo Labiyi, former Principal of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan who assumed duty in January 1969, when Mike Adenuga was in his final year.

Ibadan Grammar School started in 1913, in the first 31years of its establishment, it only admitted boys, it officially became co-educational in 1941, and later 1966. It moved from Alekuso, later to Oke-Are, and permanently moved to its present site in Molete, Ibadan. It was at the molete site that the school blossomed. In 1965, Mike joined his senior brother, Ademola Adenuga who was already a top senior student of the school. He was admitted into Form 1C. His school hostel was at the Olubadan house. There were four (4) hostels – Akinyele House, Olubadan House, Irefin House and Olubi House.

One of Mike’s classmates, a Russian trained Medical Doctor and retired Permanent Secretary in the Osun State Civil Service, Dr. Olufemi Adefioye has a fond memory of their studentship in Ibadan Grammar School between 1965 and 1969. According to Dr. Adefioye, among Mike’s roommates in Olubadan House were – Olagoke (Bros Jenko) who was the House Captain, Late. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu (former Governor of Ondo State), Prof. Seye Odebiyi (Late) – Prof. of Biochemistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, (the school headboy, 1965), Titus Ajayi, Dr. Adeola Mohammed (now Pastor (Dr.) Adeola Bankole), Adewale Akinloye, Abiodun Abodunwa (Retired Banker), Engr. Siji Oluwole, Shipeolu. Mike’s classmates were – Dr. Oladapo Samuel (Orthopaedic Surgeon, Newcastle in UK), Dr. Adeola Mohammed (now Bankole), Arch. Alexander Adedotun Dedeke, Arch. Sasore (Late.), Muyiwa Kupoluyi, Titus Ajayi, Bolaji Fowler, Chief Femi Lanleyin (Solan) (son of Chief Owoola Lanleyin) – A First Republic top Politician, Femi Peace Ojaere, Nwosu Effiong, Muyiwa Esan, Prof. Archdeacon Kolawole Jayeoba (former Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University). Prof. Kolawole Jayeoba has an interesting story, his grandfather and his father, himself and his two children attended Ibadan Grammar School. The school again became a mixed school with the admission of girls into the school in early 1966. The girls who joined them in class were – Ibiyemi Fakunle (now Prof. Mrs Ogunlade) a retired Professor of Chemistry, Nurse Kehinde Ladapo (now Mrs. Arojojoye), Elizabeth D’Amelda, Omowunmi Owolabi (now Mrs. Ogundele), Taiwo and Kehinde Olomojobi. Mike was a friend to everyone in school, but was personally close to James Babatunde Daudu (JayBeeDee) and Titus Ajayi. Mike’s teachers who turned out to be old boys were – Prof. Fakuade (Mathematics), Bode Alalade (Literature), Bayo Akinnola, Mr. Adekanmbi, Mr. Akinbanji (English), Mr. Adepeju (Geography), Late. Pa Wusu (Fine Art), and Saka Bamidele (Physics). The school sponsored Saka Bamidele and Bode Alalade for Post Graduate Diploma in England in 1969. There were also many expatriate teachers – Mr & Mrs Wood Robbinson (Biology), Mr. Tyler (Physics), Mavin Powell (Geography), Late Rev. Fletcher (Economics) who was also the Football Coach and Vice Principal in 1965, Mrs. Fletcher (French), Miss Jackson (French), Miss Bull (Basic french and Latin), Mr. Aigbokai (Geography), Mr. Schurff (Chemistry). Mike’s Seniors in school then were – Olusegun Kokumo Agagu (5years ahead), Late. Col. Alalade (4years ahead), Engr. Foluseke Somolu who was Chairman Nigerian Society of Engineers (5years ahead), Ademola Adenuga (5years ahead).

The students of Ibadan Grammar School during Mike Adenuga’s time were under a stern mentorship, training and discipline of their Principal, Archdeacon Alayande. He knew the students could be rascally, and that the boys could be boisterous, and he was ready for them. Most times, Archdeacon Alayande would drive to Ibadan City hangouts in the night to fish out some of his boys who sneaked out of the school hostel, usually slanged ‘Gbofe’. He would catch some and a few of them would escape before driving them back to school. There was a story of a son of a foremost Nigerian politician that was caught at the popular Mokola hangout with some of his friends, he caught them, and asked them to sit at the back of the Pick-up Van. Rev. Alayande drove them back to the school, only to discover that the boys had disappeared, jumping out of the Pick-up van. The students ran to the hostel, Rev. Alayande found out that they were already asleep on their beds, he denied ever being caught by Baba Alayande at any Mokola hangout. Abdulahi, an albino was sighted in town by the Principal, Baba Alayande. The school bell rang, and Baba Alayande asked Abdulahi to come out, that he saw him at Molete some moments ago, Abdulahi denied ever moving out of the school premises, that the principal probably saw an Albino who was his look alike in Molete, but he was actually the one the principal saw, he had ran back to school before the school bell rang. Some boys upon the sight of the Principal would dive into the nearby Kudeti River (popularly called River Jordan by the students) close to St. Luke’s Teachers Training College. They would swim across the river, and landed straight at the back of Irefin House. A prolific and fruitful mango tree in front of the office block was a forbidden tree. Baba Alayande would say “man plucks mango, man goes” that is, immediate suspension from the school for whoever plucks mango. Boys would sneak out of the hostel in the night to eat Itele (cow foot), and there were city hangouts, clubs and cinemas that were patronized by the boys – Skala in Sabo, Odeon Cinema in Oke-Ado, Queen Cinema in Adamasingba, Rex Cinema in Okebola, Premier Hotel swimming pool, Seven Sisters Club and Independence Club in Oke-Ado, Chrisboh Garden in Odo-Ona.

Ibadan Grammar School was of great delight and patronage with sufficient and well trained teachers and adequate staff quarters in a serene environment, well mowed and luscious lawns that were of horticultural delights, sufficient classrooms and laboratories, halls, dinings, libraries and so many other facilities that made learning very conducive. Those were the good days of public schools. No wonder, Mike Adenuga’s set did outstandingly well in the School Certificate Examination of 1969. Ibadan Grammar School was really cosmopolitan with students from all over Nigeria. The likes of children of Audu Bako (former Governor of Kano State), Nwosu Effiong made the school register. Amongst Ibadan Grammar School products are – Justice Franklin Atake, Chief Ayo Rosiji (a consummate first republic politician and lawyer), Prof. Micheal Omolewa, Oba. Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III (Alake of Egba Land), Chief Bola Ige (former Governor of Oyo State), Prof. Akinmaboogunje – Emeritus Professor of Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, Justice Atinuke Ige, Chief Gbadegesin Ajeigbe, Chief K.O. Latunji, Chief Odelana, Justice Ayotunde Phillips (former Chief Judge of Lagos State), Ken Nnamani, Alfred Diete-Spiff (former Governor of Rivers State), Alex Ibru, Abdul Hamid Adiamoh, Olusegun Agagu (Former Govenor of Ondo State), Barr. Yinka Ogungbemi and Dimeji Mako (Late.) – Immediate past president, Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association.

After a sterling performance in his Secondary School Certificate Examination, Micheal Adeniyi Adenuga proceeded to Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, Ogun State for his Higher School Certificate (HSC). Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro was established in 1963 by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ford Foundation, the defunct Western Region Government, through the ideas of the founding fathers, Chief B. Shomade and Dr. Adams Skepson. He did very well in his A-level studies, and proceeded to the United States of America for further studies. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Pace University, New York, with degrees in Business Administration. Whilst in America, as an undergraduate, he drove taxi cab to augment his income to support his university education aside from parental supports from home.

After completion of his university education, a world of business in Nigeria attracted him, having been a son of a very successful business woman, Chief Mrs. Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga. He came back to Nigeria to follow the footsteps of his hugely successful business woman mother by selling soft drinks and lace materials amongst many other business ventures, and made his first million at a young age of 26 years. In his early days, Mama Adenuga had shown her children (Olu, Folashade, Ademola, Yetunde and Mike Adenuga) the way of commerce. According to Mike’s immediate senior sister, Chief Mrs Yetunde Olubunmi Adegbola, “We all remember selling special bags mama brought from London, and sold by all the children with Niyi making more profit than all of us. We didn’t actually come from a poor family, the money was there, but our parents made us to work and value hard-work and money. We were made to appreciate money; that it is not easy to get money. In those days, Niyi was a very good footballer as a child. They called him goalkeeper. Our mother made us to hawk chaff after school. I would go and hawk mine, he would be playing football, after selling mine, I would come and take his and help him to sell”.

Money is like a ravishing vapor, whenever it smiles on you, you must hold it with a hand of steel, hence it disappears, beautifully conceptualized in Yoruba myth as “Alejo lowo”. Mike did just that, following the Adenuga’s philosophy of money and financial husbandry and made it when mother luck smiled on him. As soon as Mike Adenuga completed his studies in the United States, he returned to Nigeria. Mama Adenuga was fully entrenched in business and it was under Mama’s tutelage that he began trading. Mike Adenuga began by selling removable car stereos, ran the family sawmill factory in Ogun State, grew the business, and included importation of sawmill equipments, most especially, CD machine’s bandsaws, circular machines, etc. He also veered into importation of beer and lace materials (fabrics) where he made it big. It was a business he picked up through chance, destiny and mother luck. He had missed his British Airways flight when returning home from a trip in the United States and had to fly Swiss Air. On the flight, he was lucky to sit next to the owner of one of the biggest lace manufacturing companies in Austria. It was the man who convinced him before the flight touched down to give lace importation a shot. He took his advice and he made it big. He also later ventured into tomato puree and vegetable oil.

Success begets success. Success like life itself could be an aphrodisiac. When life is pleasant and pleasurable, it could be an aphrodisiac, spurring you to more successes and greater heights. But when life is sad, hard, and sordid; everyday looks like a gloom and apocalypse.

Micheal Adenuga at the age of 26 years had seen success and made money, which he wanted to sustain. He decided to re-brand and reshape his business enterprise into a conglomerate – Micheal Adenuga Group of Companies, where he is the chairman. Trading, importation, banking & finance, oil & gas, real estate, investments in critical sectors of the economy and all sorts were his avidity.

General Ibrahim Babangida as the President of Nigeria at a time, decided to break the monopoly of foreign operators in the oil and gas business in Nigeria by encouraging indigenous operators to come on board and apply for license. Micheal Adenuga applied for one (Mike Adenuga’s company) – Consolidated Oil applied and was granted some oil blocs. It was a very risky and novel decision that even the business guru mentor, his mother, Mama Oyin Adenuga advised against throwing money into the Atlantic. Mike’s company spent over $100million on evaluation, interpretation and drilling. This courage, tenacity, aciduity and audacity paid off at the long run, nothing ventured, nothing gained. This unique courage paid when Consolidated Oil became the first Nigerian company to explore, discover, and produce oil in large commercial quantities, now known as Conoil Producing Limited, which is currently the leading Indigenous oil and gas exploration and producing company in Africa. Mike Adenuga’s venture into the oil and gas sector became successful as one of the wells that was being drilled struck oil on Tuesday, December 24, 1991 making his company the first Indigenous company to discover oil in commercial quantities.
Before the advent of Consolidated Oil, Micheal Adenuga had also forayed into the banking sector by founding and promoting Equitorial Trust Bank Nigeria Limited and Devcom Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited. In the year 2000, Micheal Adenuga’s Consolidated Oil bought over National oil of the Federal government by acquiring majority shares and renamed the company “Conoil Plc” after injecting fresh funds. Conoil Plc has over 450 retail outlets all over the country. Interestingly, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Late.) (former Governor of Oyo State) before he ventured into politics was once Managing Director of National Oil and Conoil Plc respectively.

Adenuga ventured into telecommunications and mother luck also smiled on him but not without some bruises, skirmishes and hiccups. He had applied for the first GSM license and lost money, but was persistent until he made it the second time. He however ran into heavy power play by men of the moments at the time. The Awujale of Ijebu-Land – Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona acknowledged the pivotal role of his maternal aunt, Chief Mrs Oyindamola Adenuga who according to him was the force behind his mother – Chief (Mrs.) Wulemotu Ajibabi Adetona’s determination to see him educated. In his growing up years, Oba Sikiru had lived at various points in time with Mike’s mother, Chief (Mrs.) Oyin Adenuga in Ibadan. In reciprocating this motherly love and affection of his mother’s younger sister in his early upbringing, Oba Sikiru had always been protective of her interest and that of her children. On the 9th of July, 2006, according to the Awujale, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had come brusquely on Mike Adenuga; they broke his gate and swarmed into his house, and also kept him under house arrest. The Awujale swung into action and raised a legal team to defend him. Consequently, Mohammed, son of Ibrahim Babangida (former Head of State) was also quizzed, because of an allegation that Atiku Abubakar, the Vice President of Nigeria and Chairman of Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) had placed some of PTDF’s funds in Mike Adenuga’s Equitorial Trust Bank which had assisted Mike in paying for the Globacom license. Mike debunked this and showed evidence of payment for the license through a loan from the BNP Paribas Bank of France. Former President, Ibrahim Babangida was also suspected to be a shareholder in Globacom. Mike subsequently went on exile to London and whilst in London went on vacation with the Awujale to France. Coincidentally, President Olusegun Obasanjo was also in France to attend a Conference of African Presidents on the invitation of President Chirac of France. The Awujale used this opportunity to visit Chief Obasanjo to further explain Mike’s case and how he was just being a pawn in a political chess game and conundrum. At the lobby of the Embassy Hotel where Mike had waited for the Awujale who had gone for a private meeting with Chief Obasanjo, he told Mike that he had nothing against him and a clever Mike, replied back to the Man of Power “Your Excellency, I understand, thank you”. Through thick and thin the Awujale fought for Mike’s cause until it was finally resolved. The Globacom later became a big brand and a big player in Nigeria and African Continent.

Globacom is now the second largest telecommunications in the country. Despite the fact that he was 2 years behind the others when he launched the network his entry strategy was to wage a price war by introducing per second billing rather than per minute billing of earlier operators; it was a master stroke. He demystified Telecommunications Services by making his services available and affordable by slashing the price of Sim Cards. Mike Adenuga now earns income per second. Glo innovately was the only operator in Africa to launch his operation on 2.5G network which now enables the convergence of voice, data, and multimedia technologies. Globacom now has a network base of about 60.7million subscribers as at January 2023 in a country with a population of about 200 million. It has a vast network already laid fiber crisscrossing all parts of the country. It has highly successful subsidiary networks operating in other West African Countries: GLO-1 (Globacom-1) – This is the only solely-owned high capacity submarine with connection to the USA and running from the UK through African and European countries. It has been and continues to be a huge commercial success at the heart of the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Mama Oyin Adenuga – Mike’s mother was a hugely successful business woman of her time, who apparently nurtured and encouraged her children (Olu, Folashade, Ademola, Yetunde and Micheal Adenuga) to be successful in life. She could certainly be placed alongside Ibadan business women of her time. In the women folks were the likes of Alhaja Humoani Alaga, Madam Janet Alatede Aboderin (Mother of Moyosore Aboderin, Olu Aboderin and Ajibola Ogunsola), Alhaja Rabiatu Adedigba Akindele (Mother of Chief Bode Akindele) and the first Ibadan woman to go on holy pilgrimage; these were great Ibadan women of great business acumen in the early days. Mama HID Awolowo was also prominent in the textile business and her textile store was located in Gbagi, Ibadan known as “Awolowo Corner”. As resentment to non-admission of non-christian girls to a Girls Mission School in Ibadan, Alhaja Humoani Alaga single-handedly established Isabatudeen Girls Grammar School in Ibadan in 1964. She established her textile trading business in 1928 and by 1933 she had become one of the most successful merchants who had properties in the United Kingdom. In 1961, Mama Oyin Adenuga had built a magnificent four (4) flats storey building somewhere in Molete, Ibadan ready for occupation. Alhaji Jimoh Odutola of Ijebu-Ode, a great Nigerian business pathfinder and industrialist had come to claim that the land was his and that she should remove her building from the land. The visibly disturbed business woman – Mama Oyin Adenuga visited the Governor of the Western Region, who was also the Ooni of Ife – Oba (Sir.) Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi, to report this incident to him and ask for his Royal intervention. Oba (Sir.) Adesoji Aderemi had then succeeded Olola Sir. John Rankine as the Governor of the Western Region in 1960. The Adenugas had lived in Ile Ife before relocating to Ibadan and had courted a friendly relationship with the Royal Palace and more particularly, Mama had been friends with Olori Rebecca Morenike Aderemi – mother of the Late Justice Aderoju Aderemi and Prince Towo Aderemi. Olori Rebecca Morenike Aderemi took the visiting business woman and friend to see the Governor and the Ooni of Ife at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan. She narrated her story. The Ooni immediately called Alhaji Jimoh Odutola who also had once lived in Ile-Ife and Royally advised him to leave Mama Oyin Adenuga alone. He admonished him to forget about the land dispute. That was the end of the matter.
Otunba Ademola Adenuga, an Elder brother of Micheal Adenuga nourishes and relishes a fond memory of their mother. According to him “My mother had one credo, that what she had in her lifetime should go to all her children. She bought houses for all of us apart from the ones we shared after her death. She bought houses and warehouses in Ibadan for her children. For Christmas, she normally gave us fat cheques to help us in our lives and in our businesses. I remember there was a time each child got forty thousand pounds, which was a very big amount. There was a time each child got 1.5million before she died. Even when she died, we shared money too. She was the best mother ever. We cannot forget her and our father; may their souls continually rest in peace”. Otunba Ademola Adenuga is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Ibadan, also, an old student of Ibadan Grammar School and an accomplished business man. He is the Chairman of Demus Mayor Group of Companies and was once the Chairman, National Salt Company Plc. In March 1974, he was employed by the Nigerian Breweries and according to him “My Sister (Mrs Folashade Akande) and Mama, without telling my father bought me a brand new Toyota Corona. I started work in the Nigerian Breweries with the brand new Toyota Corona, courtesy of my sister and mum”.

Micheal Adeniyi Adenuga enjoys a close-knit relationship with his siblings, even till date.
Mike’s immediate elder sister, Mrs Olubunmi Yetunde Adegbola also reminisces on her growing up years with her younger brother and last child of their parents. She said “I keep going back to Mike’s years as a kid growing up, because that is the part I am very nostalgic about. As a kid, his favorite food was eba. I remember we had this radio announcer next to us called Brother Dipo, he was so close to Deniyi – you all call him Mike, I call him Deniyi. Deniyi loved this I.K Dairo song, Osupa roro loju orun (meaning the moon is shining in the night sky). On coming on air he would put on that record and Deniyi would stand by the rediffusion box like he wanted to enter it. He loved singing. He enjoyed the music of Victor Uwaifo and I.K Dairo. They were his favorites when he was young. The radio announcer would play that record and he would be so happy. Let me end by saying, “I am proud to be his sister”. I love him for his person not for his name, not for his achievements, but what he has been to me. We are not talking about today. He has always been generous from his childhood. He would spend all his money on his friends. He had so many friends he was looking after. “That’s Deniyi for you. He is still childish at heart”.

A childhood friend of this writer and former staff, and later Executive Director of Equitorial Trust Bank nourishes a sweet memory of his work relationships with his boss – Mike Adenuga for about 18 years. I informally and briefly asked him to give me a brief narration of his working experience, and quite unprepared for my question, after exchanging some social banters and our own early days memorabilias, he went into sweet eulogies and down memory lane, and he said “some of the things I can tell you about him is that “he’s a very hardworking man, a workaholic, he works till 1.00 am, 2.00 am and he could have his meeting up to 2.00 am. He’s just somebody that doesn’t joke with his business. Most of the office work passes through his table. He knows virtually all the subjects: banking, commerce, economics, etc; he knows everything. You can’t beat him in all the subjects. If you know your job, you know your onions, and if he notices you to be very hard-working, you will be seriously rewarded. He doesn’t hesitate to reward his staff for excellent Job done and his reward system should I say is strange or funny, because it is uncommonly surprising and usually unexpected. You know sometimes they will just call you from his office as a staff, saying you have something waiting for you in the Chairman’s office. Mike Adenuga listens, he seeks opinion of people before taking decisions. I remember before I became Executive Director, I never expected it; it was the time we had issues with Lamido during the administration of President Yaradua. I thought the issue was taken to him and President Yaradua pleaded that CBN should regulate us, I was about the most senior person in the bank then. Most of the people had left; those who were GM and above were relieved of their jobs while some resigned because of the crisis, but I decided to stay back. He sought opinion on who he could use as E.D., so some people suggested me. So, on one Saturday afternoon, I was called to hold on for the Chairman (I was even at a party then, so I told the person to hold on because I was in a noisy place). The next voice I had was from my boss (Mike Adenuga). He said, Sola how’re you? Ah! It‘s been a while. Did you eat anything left for us? Very humorous and pleasant character. I replied, “not at all, Sir, we are just managing, Sir”. Then he said “You know this problem we have with the CBN and I have been trying to resolve it. We have just decided to make you one of the Executive Directors; just keep it to yourself. Don’t tell anybody; congratulations!”. That was it. My hand was shaking. I came out of the car. A friend, Kunle who was with me at the party asked me, what happened? I told him not to worry, that it was something good that was coming. Before long, I was asked to submit my CV and it was taken to CBN. Approval was received by CBN. Behold, that was how I and one other guy represented him at the board for two years. Mike Adenuga values integrity and transparency. He is a man of morals and mores, he respects culture a lot. He is blessed and he blesses people. I remember when I did my father’s burial, he gave me money. The following year, my mother died, he also gave me money. I didn’t spend anything because the money was more than sufficient enough for me. He is an indoor person, very shy, but if you have an opportunity to go out with him, you will not be tired. Infact, he will serve you whatever you want to eat or drink. If you’re talking about someone who likes to hide himself, he is. He is very kind and generous. I’ve stayed in one of his houses in Ibadan free of charge despite paying my housing allowance as a component of my salary. He recognizes people doing something special. He doesn’t forget his helpers. He is very warm and affable, he is fun to be with; very jovial. He’s a special person. You know sometimes, you can’t also be successful if you’re not very strict in Nigeria. Some of the things we learnt from him is that he is serious minded and result oriented. In the meeting, if you don’t have anything reasonable to say, you better keep quiet. Once he knows you’re good, then you’re good. If you are focused and committed, you will steal his heart. He gives room for development for his staff. He is happy at everyone’s progress. Then in terms of pay package, he does us well. If he finds out you’re going because of the pay you’re receiving, he will just tell you to go find out the top three paying banks in Nigeria. He will ensure no one is shortchanged but instead his staffs are better paid than their counterparts. He has this unique style of operation which puts his staff at an advantage over colleagues in other organisations.

A very prominent Nigerian and Legend, told this writer of Mike’s benefaction; and gleefully said “Whenever I wake up every morning, I report him to God to continually bless him and uphold him for his numerous act of kindness and benefaction towards me”.

Another Childhood friend and brother of this writer – Akinrogun Dele Momodu has the following sweet words on Mike Adenuga when he was 70 years old last year – “every man should wake up and pray to meet and become good friend with the spirit of Africa. Trust me, it is worth every second of it. Just imagine a man who dashes out the same kind of cars he drives to his friends. He buys his expensive cars in multiples. I have a friend who got a Range Rover, while his wife got another jeep. How nicer and kinder can one be? No amount of money is too much for Adenuga to shell out on his family and friends. And he really does not expect anything in return. If you have done him a favor, then you are truly triply (not doubly) blessed. Dr. Adenuga never forgets such favours and offers recompense even beyond your wildest dreams. He believes that his friends are entitled to the same kind of material things that he wishes for and buys for himself. He has no jealous or mean streak in him in that respect”.

Micheal Adeniyi Adenuga has certainly dispelled the popular Yoruba aphorism “Owo ko niran”- Money has no pedigree. Money certainly has pedigree if it is well tended. Culturally, the Oak tree is a symbol of strength.

Wishing Dr. Micheal Agbolade Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga further successes in his chosen and destined Journey of creating wealth for the benefits of mankind, on his 71st Birthday Anniversary.

Hon. (Barr.) Femi Kehinde, former Member, House of Representives, National Assembly, Abuja 1999-2003 representing Ayedire/Iwo/Olaoluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State. Principal Partner Femi Kehinde & Co (Solicitors).

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