Olumilua: a legacy engraved in dignity and service, by suffoyan ojeifo

There are men who roar through history like thunder. And there are others, more silent, more stable, whose light does not last because they were looking for fame, but because they lived for too lasting values ​​to be forgotten. The evangelist Bamidele Isola Olumilua was such a man. A statesman in an era of strong men. A diplomat without cunning. A governor without arrogance. A servant of servant whose story never concerned the progress of the titles, but to keep the line of principle when others flee from the trenches.

This is a tribute not only for the man he was, but for the life he guided and the path he authorized for a generation of believers in an intentional ethical leadership.

Born in 1940 in the ancient city of Ikere-Eekiti, Bamidele Olumilua entered the world not with a silver spoon, but with a forged spirit in the crucible of faith and service. His first education for the Christ the Apostolic Church Primary School offered him more than literacy. He cultivated the discipline of a life full of faith. He continued to promote his education both in Nigeria and abroad, achieved in economics and law and finally joining the foreign service of Nigeria.

But the securities have never been its value measure. Even as a diplomat, its real currency was a character. Roomed in Canada, he became known not only as a representative of the Nigerian state, but as a moral compass, involving communities, resolving conflicts and supporting the honor of the nation for the quiet dignity.

Olumilua’s entry into politics was, on his behalf, accidental. He was, training and by temperament, a diplomat and a preacher. Yet the story found him, and in responding to his call, he made a generation of governance in the old state of wave.

It is easy to forget that his time as governor, although short from 1992 to 1993, remains a case of study on how public service can be a noble call when exercised with vision, moderation and a profound respect for people.

He entered office at a time when Nigeria’s policy was in flow. Democracy was still loosening. And expectations weighed heavily on elected officials.

Olumilua never jumped. He embraced the moment calmly and tenacity. Within the constraints of the time, he ruled with unusual prudence and foresight, laying the foundations for institutions and policies that would overwhelm his time in charge.

Among its most important results, it was guaranteeing recognition for the state of ondo as a region that produces oil, which has opened its doors to its first derivation payments. It was a milestone that many had considered beyond the scope. Yet Olumilua’s approach was not that of posture or pride. He simply did the job, often outside the spotlight, always for the biggest good.

His establishment of the Ondo State Road Materials Company and the environmental protection agency was equally indicative of his government philosophy. He saw governance as the resolution of problems, less on great visions and more on practical solutions to daily challenges. His administration, limited in duration, however, has exuded a length that is rarely seen in politics.

Yet perhaps what the most distinct Olumilua was not his political acumen, but his personal integrity. In an era in which the advantages of the office were seen as a personal booty, remained above the fray. The story of his daughter denied the admission to study the law due to a technical error and his refusal to intervene has become a moral legend stuff. “I won’t fold the rules for mine,” he said. How many leaders would have maintained the line so firmly today?

Before politics, Olumilua had already served Nigeria with distinction as a diplomat, which represents the country to Addis Ababa, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. He carried with the decorum that suited these posts, but never with the arias. Colleagues remember a man who has combined international Polish with local humility. When he returned home, he was not to luxuriant in prestige, but sowing in the ground of the aspirations of his people.

Faith was the compass with which life sailed. As an evangelist, he was not a performative. He lived his faith in a peaceful conviction. He prayed seriously, believed deeply and acted with spiritual purpose. A remarkable case saw him gather prayer warriors for the presidential offer of the head of the Olu Falae, not for political personal interest, but by faith in the cause. He mixed the worlds of governance and spirituality without confusing their roles.

At home, it was both disciplinary and a Nutter. His children speak of punishments “Angle 90” and rigid moral codes, including double penalties to lie. Yet love has never been in doubt. In a polygamous family that challenged the dysfunction of the stereotype, he promoted unity, not the rivalry. The family, for him, was both a mission and a ministry.

Olumilua’s political career was booked by moments of deep national tension. It was removed from the office after the 1993 stroke of Abachac, an interruption that stopped many of his initiatives. However, he did not transport bitterness. Politics, for him, was a vehicle, not a destination. At the turbulent consequences of the cancellation of June 12, he supported the legal routes to justice. While others led the flames of chaos, Olumilua remained firm in his belief that legality and legitimacy were not excluded each other. Time has claimed its position.

During his life, Olumilua remained consistent in his values, even if the other zigzaggia for comfort and relevance. It was the rare leader who understood that the compromise would never have to arrive at the expense of the character. He is saying that years after his disappearance, his name still opens the doors. Not because of wealth or influence, but because of what it represents: integrity. Service. Principle.

He did not leave behind extensively held extended or stories of opulence. What he left inheritance was deeper: a name not recommended by the scandal, a life not married by excesses. As his son Muyiwa witnessed, the name Olumilua continues to inspire trust and admiration in clubs at the top and at the bottom. It is a rooted legacy not in rhetoric but in the example experience of decency and discipline.

The update of the College of Education, IKERE-CEEKITI, to the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Bouest, Ikere-Eekiti, in his honor was more than a symbolic gesture. It was a recognition of a life that educated the example. A reminder of future generations that is dignity in the peaceful excellence and honor in the public service. His story is not simply that of what he has reached, but how he brought himself as he did.

Olumilua did not see leadership as an opportunity for domain but as a management platform. He believed that the most true measure of power was as it is used at the service of others. At a time when governance is often transactional, its life offers a refreshing counter-narrative: that values ​​are not a weakness in politics but a source of lasting force.

His memory lives not only in the physical reference points but in the hearts of those who met his grace. Those who sat under his guide, those who broke the bread with him, those who observed the harmony between his public life and private values; Everyone testifies to a man who walked his speech. It was not perfect, but it was in principle. Not infallible, but always intentional.

Even in the twilight of his years, Olumilua remained intellectually committed and vigilant spiritually. He did not retreat from the purpose. His advice was requested, his presence welcomed, his advice listened. It has become, in the best sense, an elderly statesman; measured, wise and generous with intuition.

On June 4, 2020, his earthly journey ended. But death was unable to erase what it represented. His life, lived with clarity and consciousness, continues to speak. In an era that often rewards noise compared to the nuance, its quiet strength resonates more than ever.

Bamidele Ishola Olumilua was not just a governor, an evangelist or a diplomat. He was a man who brought dignity in all things. Not only a good name has left behind, but also a model for how leadership, faith and service can intersect significantly. His steps were kind, but their imprint remains indelible.

May his memory inspire us to guide with honor, to serve with humility and travel our paths with the same quiet force that he defined his days.

■ Mr. Ojephe, editor/editor of the Conclave, was the correspondent of the state of the newspaper of the newspaper champion between 1992 and 1993, when the deceased Evangelist Olumilua was governor of the old state of ondo.

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