These individuals at different times served the country in different capacities after which they exited, but for what they stood for while they served, it’s difficult to forget their track records; that is the reason for the spotlight on them this week; IDACHABA SUNNY writes.
Oba Otudeko
Chief Oba Otudeko is someone who has served the country in many capacities both in public and private sectors. Way back in 1972, he established the Honeywell Group of companies that has become a household name in the country today. He has over 23 year-experiences in the banking sector especially First Bank of Nigeria where he rose to become its chairman in 2010.
Prior to this time, he was also the 16th president of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) where he tried all he could to transform the stock exchange market into a world class institution. Otudeko was also the former chairman of Nigeria South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) during which time he fostered closer business ties between Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa in what is today known as the benefits of the Bi-National Commission between both countries.
Under his watch as chairman of NSACC, there was exponential growth in the volume of business transactions from South Africa to Nigeria. Some of his last known public appointments are as board member of New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and as chairman of Business Support Group for the delivery of National Integrated Infrastructure Master plan in 2013. Within the same time too, he was appointed chairman of Digital Africa Conference in Abuja where he played a leading board room role in shaping the image of the country.
According to ‘The Enterprenuer’, a business publication, “Oba Otudeko started his profession as a clerk in the defunct Co-operative Bank Ibadan. With perseverance and hard work, he rose to the position of general manager and acting chief executive officer before he resigned in 1983. It wasn’t a surprise that Oba ventured into business after his resignation as his mother was an industrious entrepreneur. Under the leadership and foresight of Oba Otudeko, Honeywell Group evolved into a diversified conglomerate with many subsidiaries in different sectors of the economy.”
In 2003, he established a non-governmental/charity organisation called Oba Otudeko Foundation with the aim of giving back to the society where it has touched many lives especially in the educational sector. Since 2013, not much has been heard about this Oyo state-born technocrat again even though he is very much on ground.
Ifeanyi Udeze
Ifeanyi Udeze is a former international footballer who was among other football stars that brought honour to the country. In his hay days as a footballer, he was simply a defender playing from behind and preventing the ball from reaching the net. He started his football career with Bendel Insurance before he transferred his services to West Bromwich Aibon in 2003. At various times, he also played for AEK Athens and PAOK FC. Udeze was part of Fanny Amu’s squad that beat Spain 3-2. He also featured for Nigeria at the 2002 African Cup of Nations and the World Cup, respectively. For instance, at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali, Udeze was selected among the CAF team of the tournament. In his active days at play, he was Super Eagles second choice left back to Celestine Babayaro.
On some occasions, they switch positions just to confuse their opponents about their tactics. He was noted for intelligent marking on the field of play and speed of recovery. Oftentimes, he was seldom dispossessed of football without a fight back; in the process he would get a free kick. His last public outing for Nigeria was in 2005 during the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Angola. Since that time, not much has been heard about this ex-footballer who is said to be in his early forties.
Tanimu Yakubu
Tanimu Yakubu is the former economic adviser to the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua between 2007 and 2010. That was not the first time he began to serve in government. He was, prior to that time, the finance commissioner in Katsina state when Yar’Adua was elected governor of that state in 1999. He was later appointed managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) by President Olusegun Obasanjo in consideration of his background in banking and financial management as a trained economist.
When Yar’Adua was elected president in 2007, he appointed Tanimu as his deputy chief of staff and chief economic adviser. Tanimu was believed to be the most powerful political appointee in Yar’Adua’s government, often touted as a member of the inner kitchen cabinet.
He, alongside other inner kitchen cabinet members, were alleged to be the de facto leaders in the country in the days that the late president was in and out of the country on account of illness even though Jonathan was around as vice president. Many years after he left office following the death of Yar Adua, not much was heard about him until sometime in 2016 when he allegedly came under attack from hoodlums in Kaduna.
This Katsina state-born technocrat, it was gathered, was said to have been appointed as chairman of the moribund New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) owned by the entire northern state governments in order to transform the ailing company, but since that announcement was made a long time ago, not much have been heard about him or steps being made to inject new life into the ailing company.
Analysts are of the opinion that Tanimu who seems to possess the magic wand that can transform non performing institutions into viable ventures should have brought his experiences to bear in helping the present administration especially as he comes from the same state as the president but not much of him has been heard lately.
