By Segun Michael
Mr. Harmony. That is the name given to the incumbent Governor of Ondo State when he was the Deputy Governor to the departed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Here is a man who personifies loyalty, humility, and other commendable virtues, which mark him out among his colleagues across the country as one the nation’s brightest stars; qualities, which, unfortunately, are rare to be found in Nigerian politicians generally. He is the most powerful man today in the Sunshine State. A man of outstanding character, and in fact who was a most outstanding Deputy Governor of the Sunshine State where an unflinching loyalty to his principal, the Executive Governor, was concerned. That is our luck. which settles on us through a man who bears Lucky as his first name.
Unlike what usually is the case in some other states that were as not as lucky as Ondo State, Ondo State flourished in harmony across the three tiers of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, and this rubbed largely on appointed and career office holders in the discharge of their duties to the people of the whole state. This largely accounted for the comparative peace in Government giving the Executive Governor time to concentrate on his onerous task of attending to the needs of those who look on to their leaders, particularly the Government full of hope. With this singular attribute of the illustrious Aiyedatiwa as Deputy Governor of Ondo State, which he richly displayed openly and even off camera round the clock, and which unfortunately is rare to find within our country’s political space, he has, unknown to him, but known to his numerous admirers and bookmakers, written his name in gold in the annals of the history of this Sunshine State of heroes.
Undoubtedly, he will occupy a lofty place in the Sunshine State’s Hall of Fame whenever history decides to honor him. He has been so exemplary and has demonstrated the rare golden virtues of an Omoluabi of whom the entire Yoruba Race will always be proud. Not only that, he has shown himself truly worthy of higher positions of responsibility at the state, national, and even international levels. This man has taught us how to be a true leader. And this, simply is by first being a good, humble, and loyal follower, who, with his whole being, works hand in hand harmoniously with his leader. A man in whom the leader has unquestionable trust; a man who is contented, selfless, always ready to give and serve genuinely the needs of others who look up to him full of hope.
That is Aiyedatiwa the immediate former Deputy Governor of the Sunshine State. Due to his golden qualities as a follower, and then as a leader, remarkable peace flourished through his relationship with his leader the Executive Governor, and with other officers of Government down the ladder. Notably, it is sad that these and other necessary attributes are rare to find in the political space of our Country, Nigeria. And this largely accounts for the instability and crises among politicians, and most unfortunately, political officeholders across the land. Ondo State is indeed lucky to have a man who personifies humility, who has displayed openly and off-camera demonstrated the rare attribute of being the most outstanding in his exemplary loyalty to his principal.
Life’s journey from the cradle
A native of Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was born into the family of the late Mr. Titus Akande and Mrs. Rosanah Moyebi Aiyedatiwa on the 12th day of January 1965.
He had his elementary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982. Thereafter, he proceeded to Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos where he obtained his Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government in 1986.
After a period as a classroom teacher and subsequent diversification into business, Aiyedatiwa later attended the University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration with distinction in 2001. An alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos with Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009, he is also an Alumnus of the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 2013.
Aiyedatiwa has worked in other organizations and institutions, which include: – SCOA Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, as Inventory/Store Officer, 1982-1983; – Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan, Assistant Head Teacher, 1987-1990; – Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos as Marketing Officer, 1990-1993; – Global Trust Limited, Gbagada, Lagos, as Assistant Investment Analyst, 1992-1993: and – Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, as General Merchandise Manager, 1994-1996.
He established his own business in 1996. He is a business development professional and successful businessman with interest and substantial experience in Marketing, Financial and Human Resource Management, New Product Development, Forex Trading and Management, Construction, Real Estate, Hospitality, Public Relations, Travels and Tours. He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies, which was established in 1996, and which includes: – Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company; – Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company; and – Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours, an IATA licensed Travel Agency and Logistic Company. Besides, he has attended further training and acquired knowledge and skills in business management, project management, crisis management, leadership, strategy, and new product development nationally and internationally.
His desire to be a blessing to his fellow human beings on a large scale attracted him like a magnet in 2011, when he joined active politics as a card-carrying member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014. There is this saying that goldfish have no hiding place. This fits Hon Aiyedatiwa appropriately. For immediately he joined politics, his rare and golden attributes, streamed ahead of him into high places to touch and dazzle all he crossed on his blessed path, especially the powers in the party. Thus he was nominated as one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the APC National Convention held in Abuja in 2014. His star continued to shine brilliantly far ahead of him into distances beyond his imagination. This naturally attracted powerful forces that later played decisive roles in his political career. It guided him eventually to other sensitive leadership positions that Fate laid on his path; positions in which he would reach further deeply into himself to cull out those innate refined qualities that are his unique gifts, and deploy same in the genuine service of his fellow human beings.
And so he was chosen as the House of Representatives Candidate of his Party for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election. Increasingly, more powerfully and more brightly, his rich inner qualities streamed ahead of him to touch and dazzle stronger powers, attracting help and dispelling dislikes along the path and holding only to similarities. This way, His Excellency, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was touched. The result was that he was appointed by Mr. President as the Federal Commissioner who represented Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), 2018-2019.
Before his appointment by the President, he had also held other positions in other social and professional bodies. For instance, he was the:
- National Public Relations Officer for the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), 2004-2010;
- Chairman of South West Zone of ABCON, 2010-2011; – Trustee/Treasurer, Ilaje League of Professionals;
- President of Chief Executive Class (CEP18) of Lagos Business School Alumni Association; and
- Executive Member of Lagos/South West Network of University of Liverpool Global Alumni.
A man destined for the heights, whose path is richly laden with helping forces that guide him along his journey of life, it was not surprising therefore that when it was time for him to pick his running mate for the October 2020 Governorship Election for his second term, the Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akerefolu, SAN, was guided to pick the unassuming, humble and loyal Aiyedatiwa.
Like twins spotting the white beard that had been the trademark of the irrepressible Governor Akeredolu, Lucky and his principal crisscrossed the nooks and crannies of the state campaigning for votes. And luckily, the electorate of the state approved of the joint ticket. They voted the duo in. So, Lucky was elected in a joint ticket with the returning Governor of Ondo State as Deputy Governor on October 20, 2020, on the APC platform.
Ever since he assumed duties, he has been a blessing to the Akeredolu administration by the prevailing harmony understanding, and cordiality existing between the topmost officials of the state. This conducive environment tremendously helped the administration to continuously record successes repeatedly in its people-oriented projects.
Lucky is married and the marriage is blessed with children.
- This piece was originally written on June 15, 2022. It was under the title “Aiyedatiwa: Profile of Ondo Deputy Governor”.
