Gists
Why Otudeko Didn’t Celebrate 80th Birthday
is not like every other person
Boardroom guru, Obafoluke “Oba” Otudeko clocked 80 years on August 18, 2023.
But he didn’t roll out the drums like every other person would.
But then, Otudeko a former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria who flourished Honeywell Enterprises founded in 1972 into Honeywell Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in foods and agriculture, telecommunication and infrastructure, real estate, and financial services that just boosted the operations of FBNHoldings with the inflow of over N105 billion (amounting to 15.1% stake) is not like every other person.
FBNHoldings is the parent company of Nigeria’s oldest bank, First Bank.
The checks by SocietyNow.Ng points to the consideration for prevailing circumstances as reasons the former President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange did not roll out the drums to celebrate the landmark age.
One of the chief reasons, according to those in the know, pertains to efforts to protect the interests of direct and indirect dependants on the operations of the Honeywell Group.
The other has to do with honoring a friend.
The angles that have to do with protecting the interest of Honeywell Group’s stakeholders revolve around perfecting the “officialdom” required to affirm the conglomerate as the largest shareholder by units at FBNholdings as well as ensuring the securing of the N72.2 billion in damages against Ecobank.
The judgement is a recompense for the huge loss Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP) suffered with the ex-parte order Eco Bank secured against its operation while seeking to recover a disputed loan.
The two vital moves are expectedly facing pushback moves from some other persons.
“So for Otudeko, this is not the time to celebrate but to sacrifice personal pleasures to ensure everything turns out well with proper conduct and attention to details” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.
Further revelation has it, that the death and burial of friend Subomi Balogun, the noble Nigerian is still “fresh in minds” added to the burden that made Otudeko not celebrate his 80th birthday.
Subomi Balogun died in London on May 18, 2023, after a slight illness at the age of 89. He was buried on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state after week-long burial activities.
Also not unconnected with this development is the fact that the former Chairman of FBNHoldings, Airtel Nigeria, and FAN Milk – at different times -loves to keep personal things “very private” SocietyNow.Ng learned.
