Ogun 2023 And The Man, Otegbeye With Uncontroversial Certification
The diverse and sophisticated people of Ogun State have courageously distinguished themselves among their other compatriots within the Nigerian nation-state since the creation of the State in 1976, exhibiting a rare dexterity and acumen in all human endeavours, especially in the area of quality leadership and administrative savvy, making many around the country to conclude that the State remains the face of the Southwest geo-political zone.
Against this rich pedigree of Ogun State, as an arena of intellect and political ideology, entrenched in civilized world view, majority of Nigerians expected an outstanding leadership at the helms of affairs of the State, to sustain this enviable legacies of excellence and be a model for others.
While the mess caused by military incursion could be forgiven, there was high expectations from many quarters on the nature and scope of leadership that would emerge in the Gateway State and speed of development thereafter.
However, and rather regrettably, analysts of varying backgrounds have adjudged the period between 2011 and 2019 as the only time the State experienced purposeful leadership that engendered desired transformation in all the sectors of the State and social strata.
Majority of Ogun residents can not forget in a jiffy the obbesian nature of the State in the pre-2011, with insecurity and misery on the geometric increase, coupled with large deficit in infrastructural development, until the emergence of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, which brought about a creative narrative and developmental thinking.
It is therefore, pathetic that the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun came into the saddle in 2019 in reverse order, retrogressing the giant strides of Amosun in the State, and thereby dragging the entire State into abysmal and precarious condition of living; the situation that compelled the entire State to vociferously call for change of government and a relief of some sort.
Meanwhile, to avoid the mistake of 2019, in which contrary to the pedigree of the State, a personality with controversial certification in all ramifications was allowed to sneak into the corridor of power in the State, the people unanimously clamoured for a clear-headed leader with requisite Alacrity, Dexterity and Competence(ADC), akin to what the State enjoyed between 2011 and 2019, when lives were in abundance and secured.
In the course of searching for individual with these qualities, a quintessential with enviable backgrounds and without doubtful credentials came on board as a liberator to end this present political impasse and economic predicament in the State.
In the indelible thoughts of Jim Rohn, ” A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.”
The above postulation clearly defines Olubiyi Oladipupo Otegbeye, a great thought leader of impeccable character, sagacious, shrewd and urbane, with unmatched passion to liberate the poor and downtrodden and help the society at large to grow to the point of eldorado.
Born into the family of teaching parents, with paternal root in Ilaro, Ogun West senatorial district and a mother from the Bamgbose family in Odopotu, Ogun State.
Otegbeye bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Insurance at the University of Lagos in 1984 at the age of 20 and his Masters’ Degree (MBA) in Financial Management and Accounting between 1985 and 1987, and later graduated with LLB in Law at Lagos State University in 2001.
He was admitted to the Nigerian Law School and called to the Bar in 2003 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and professionally qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute London (ACII) in 1988.
The young and erudite scholar started his career at the United Nigeria Insurance Company Limited (UNIC) in 1986. Between 1990 and 1991 he was the General Manager of Capital Asset Insurance Brokers and in 1991; he became CEO of Excel Insurance Brokers. In 1993 and at the age of 29, he founded Regency Insurance Company Limited. In 2007, he led Regency to the capital market to become a publicly quoted company. Till date he remains the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Regency Alliance Insurance Plc.
This leading light of Yewa extraction has been recognised from all fronts for his professional acumen, intellectual strength, leadership forthright and huge philanthropy.
These recognitions and laurels include: Member, Olabisi Onabanjo University Development Foundation; Fellow Lecturer, University of Lagos; Fellow, School of Management, The Bell University; Fellow, School of Management, Caleb University; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD); Merit Award and Ogun State Chambers of Commerce & Industry. Merit Award, Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro Old Students Association, otherwise known as the Compronians; Merit Award University of Lagos Alumni; Top 25 CEOs in Nigeria in 2015; Three times Merit Award and Distinguished Son of Yewaland; Vice President, Boys Scout, Kosofe Division, Lagos State and Major Rank Nigerian Legion.
He founded Building Opportunities For Tomorrow” (BOT), an NGO as a platform to drive his philanthropic gesture among Ogun indigenes, empowering the people and putting smiles in their faces.
Otegbeye, having successfully made great impact in the private sector, consciously heeded to the warning of the 35th American President, J.F. Kennedy, who said ”Those who refuse to participate in the politics of their environment end up being governed by their inferiors”, as he accepted to serve as a member of the fact-finding panel of Gateway Industrial &Petroleum Institute in 2012, he was later appointed as Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in April 2013 by the Federal Government.
In 2015, he contested for the Senatorial seat in Ogun West under the Social Democratic Party, he also served as a member of Ogun State Judicial Service Commission.
By his irrevocable conviction and progressive political ideology, he believes in the principle of natural justice, which encapsulates Liberty, Equity and Fairness.
He has been a strong advocate for equitable power distribution among different political blocs in Ogun State like many other individuals around the State, hence, his readiness to champion the age-long agitation of Yewa/Awori for Governorship position.
Otegbeye, by his nature of determination and responsiveness has promised to bring his huge wealth of experience in both private and public sectors to bear in the administration of Ogun State and quickly reverse this ugly trend in the State.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr” The real freedom of the people can always be measured by the amount of responsibility which they must assume for their welfare and security”.
It is on that note that I call on the electorates in Ogun State to come together in unison and liberate themselves from this present suffocation of ineptitude administration and political jobber as a matter of responsibility and for the purpose of ensuring their welfare and security.
