By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan – THE three Military Governors of the then Western Region, Major General David Medaiyese Jemibewon (Old Oyo), Group Captain Ita David Ikpeme (Old Ondo), and Major General Saidu Ayodele Balogun (Ogun) who founded the Odu’a Investment Company Limited have told governors of the six owner states that posterity would not forgive them if they allowed partisan politics to destroy the legacy.

From left- Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ekiti State
Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola
Ajimobi, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode during the Southwest governor’s economic forum, at Exco Chamber, Oyo state Governor’s office, Ibadan, Oyo state on Monday 21/11/2016.

The former governors said this yesterday at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the conglomerate which was founded in 1976.

According to the ex-governors who spoke separately, the governors should please put aside their partisan politics and make the interest of Yoruba race their priorities.

“History will not forgive you if you ruin this legacy. Keep your partisan politics aside when you are discussing national issues. The interest of Yoruba land is beyond the interest of individuals. Keep this race going”, the Military Governors of the Old Ogun State said. The three Military Governors of the then Western Region were honoured with distinguished awards for setting up the conglomerate in 1976.

At the epoch-making event, the Governor of one of the six owner states, Governor Abiola Ajimobi who was flanked by his counterparts from Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos States advised the conglomerate to diversify into agriculture so that its impact would be felt more in the zone.

The governor who commended the leadership instincts of the Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr Adewale Raji, said: “What we are celebrating today is survival and not improvement.

There are fundamental problems plaguing the development and one of them is that our value system has collapsed. Just as it needs be rejuvenated, we should also rejuvenate Odu’a Limited. “The current management has improved on the achievements of the previous management. We, however need to re-think towards our development. My advice is that instead of dwelling much on property development, you can veer into agriculture. It is people who have money that can buy houses. We have enough lands where you can invest in cassava planting and the rest. Invest in this. This Premier Hotel can also improve if the management engages qualified investors who can run it better and you will make money”, the governor noted.’’

The governors of the owner states were ably represented at the event. Governor Akinwumi Ambode was represented by the Secretary