Connect with us

news

Olusegun Oluwatoberu Ogundimu: A Life of Impeccable Legacy and Service To Humanity

Published

on

 

+ An Extraordinary exploits of a life fully lived

+ As Former Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola Mourns

There’s something exhilarating about Dr. Olusegun Oluwatoberu Ogundimu. Even in death, he defies the deceased soul stereotype. Ogundimu wouldn’t slip into oblivion, rather he exerts a commanding presence in the lives of his beloved family, friends and associates.
It hardly matters that he has passed on to join the choir invisible of the immortal dead, fond memories of him persist in lives and minds made better by his presence. Thus Dr. Segun Ogundimu lives on.

Hardly anyone understands his staying power; perhaps it’s due to his creative genius and enthusiasm in the interests of the collective that his memories live on in the minds of lives enriched by him.
This among many other things, makes him a very interesting character in death as he was alive. A former two-time commissioner for health in Lagos State, Dr Olusegun Oluwatoberu Ogundimu died on Friday, July 23, 2021, after a brief illness. He was aged 71.

Ogundimu left behind an impeccable legacy and life well spent to the service of humanity. He founded Jon-Ken Hospital, Akoka and Clearline Health Insurance, a foremost Health Maintenance Organisation in Nigeria

He was also a strong advocate of democratic governance and the One Nigeria dream, aimed at promoting healthcare development in the country.

Ogundimu began his career in active politics at a relatively young age. He had vied for the position of the chairman of Somolu Local Government in Lagos State, as an independent candidate and came third in the polls.

Buoyed with a strong sense of purpose and determination to change the narrative and make an indelible impact, Ogundimu, in 1992, ran for the position of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the now defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) party which ended up giving that honour to Bashir Tofa.

He was later appointed as chairman of the Lagos State Water Corporation during the tenure of Sir Michael Otedola. He was later appointed as the Commissioner of Transport, Lagos State, where he was also the Chairman of the Petroleum Distribution Task Force before being appointed as the Commissioner of Health, Lagos State.

Ogundimu, as a commis­sioner during the military ad­ministration of Buba Marwa, embarked on numerous health programmes that promoted the healthcare delivery system in Lagos State, particularly for the benefit of grassroots people.
He was appointed member, Lagos State Hospital Inspec­torate Committee in 1985, Chair­man, Lagos State Water Corpo­ration in 1992 – 1994, member TaskForce, Traffic Decongestion and Control, Lagos State in 1993.

Upon his appointment at the Federal Ministry of Health, Ogundimu resuscitated the moribund National Health Insurance introduced by the late Prof. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, with a lot of hard work and perseverance. He, alongside other notable patriotic Nigerians, were able to realise the dream of the National Health Insurance Scheme during the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ogundimu was later appointed as the Chairman of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State by former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. This happened to be his last appointment by the Nigerian government.

In his condolence message to the deceased family, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the former Military Administrator of Lagos State and former governor of Osun State, paid tribute to the man he described as his brother and friend.

“I became acquainted with Dr. Olusegun Ogundimu when I was Military Administrator of Lagos State from 1993 to 1996. He was my commissioner for health during that period. Dr. Ogundimu served Lagos conscientiously and with uncommon dedication. Together, we initiated health policies and executed programmes and projects in Lagos which have endured the corrosion of time and politics. He was a patriot. He was also my friend and brother.

“Life is about service to God and humanity. From the way he lived, this appeared to be the motto of Ogundimu’s life. His death has robbed Lagos and, indeed, Nigeria a leader with progressive ideas. The medical profession has lost an icon and a voice in critical circles. Our circle of friends has also lost a valuable member. We all miss this great man who had no enemy,” he wrote.

Oyinlola prayed to God to grant Ogundimu’s family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear his loss.

According to a statement released by son of the deceased , Damilola Ogundimu, the funeral ceremony of Ogundimu will kick off on Wednesday, August 11, with a Christian Wake Keep/Service of Songs, at the prestigious Darlington hall, Plot CDE Industrial Crescent, off Town Planning Way, Ilupeju, Lagos, while the burial service will hold on Thursday, August 12, at All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery road, Yaba

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

Continue Reading
Advertisement

news

Uromi killing:stop going to other states with guns prophet Ikuru warns the Northern

Published

on

 

By Collins Nkwocha

 

The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has castigated the Northern people, especially the Fulanis for always travelling and entering other states with arms.

 

The prophet of the nation who outrightly condemned the killing of Northern people in Uromi also enunciated that it’s wrong for the Northern people to invade other states with arms based on the tensed security threat the nation is facing at the moment “I want to condemn the killing in Uromi because nobody has the right to take another person’s life,they should have been handed over to the security operatives, the killing in cruel and barbaric,but it’s wrong for the Northern people to keep invading other states with arms, the rate of insecurity in the nation is high, anyone seen with a gun is dreadful and harmful,Fulani Herdsmen have perpetuated so much heinous and callous act for people to be apprehensive of their presence,my in Law was a victim of their heinous act,they assaulted her in her farmland,their presence with arms is really terrifying and it’s making farmers to desert their farmlands, prompting food scarcity ”

 

The prophet of the nation advised the government to take a proper look at the possession of arms by these men and reiterated that the North is big enough for thousands of hunters and herdsmen to explore “travelling to other states with arms is not good, the North has got the largest landmass in the country,why leave the North to other states with little Landmass , the North is very massive, it’s very obvious that their is hidden agenda,why will someone leave a river to look for fish in a swimming pool, the government need to look at these area critically,arms should be prohibited, anyone that is not a security operative shouldn’t be seen with arms ”

Continue Reading

news

Rivers Crisis: Pro-Democracy Group Demands Reversal of LGA Appointments, Urge Tinubu To Rein in Sole Administrator

Published

on

Budget Constraints, Infrastructure Woes Stall Diplomatic Deployment

 

Citizens for Democratic Watch (CDW), a pro-democracy group, has condemned the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State by the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, describing it as “a dangerous abuse of power and a direct attack on the constitution”.

This latest action, which came just 24 hours after a federal high court restrained Ibas from making such appointments, has triggered widespread concern over what CDW calls “the rapid erosion of democratic institutions under the guise of emergency governance”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Hassan Dantani, Executive Director of CDW, called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.

“Appointing 23 sole administrators in clear defiance of a federal court order is not only unlawful — it is tyrannical,” Dantani said.

“No state of emergency gives anyone the license to override the judiciary, erase local governance, and act above the law. This must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

Dantani noted that the local government system is a constitutionally recognised tier of government, and any attempt to run it without democratic structures sets a very dangerous precedent.

“This action by Ibok-Ete Ibas is a grave violation of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils,” he said.

“Our democracy cannot function if unelected individuals are imposed to run local governments under military-style appointments.”

CDW warned that if allowed to stand, the appointments could embolden future political actors to trample on the rule of law and weaken the judiciary.

“The blatant disregard for a valid court order should alarm every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation,” Dantani said.

“When leaders ignore court rulings and impose their will, what remains of the rule of law? If we allow this to stand in Rivers, it could happen anywhere else.”

The group called on the National Assembly to urgently summon the Rivers sole administrator to explain his actions and ensure that all constitutional boundaries are respected.

“We urge the Senate and House of Representatives to treat this matter as a priority,” he added.

“Democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency or political convenience.”

Dantani concluded by demanding the immediate reversal of the LGA appointments and a return to constitutional order.

“The people of Rivers State deserve legitimate, elected representation — not handpicked appointees. We must not normalise authoritarian shortcuts in a democratic society,” the group warned.

Continue Reading

news

Alia, you’re a priest, don’t neglect Akume that brought you to power, prophet Ikuru tells Alia

Published

on

 

By Collins Nkwocha

The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has warned the governor of Benue state,Rev.Fr.Hyacinth Alia of the dangers and consequences of neglecting and being obstinate to George Akume,the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that made him relevant by making him the governor.

Prophet Ikuru warned governor Alia of the dangers of “fighting” with Akume, urging him to respect his priesthood and not behave like a politician “this thing has been a very serious problem in Nigerian political scene,if you support someone and make him a governor, senator or help him to attain any political position, immediately the person grabs power,he becomes obstinate and neglects the person that aided him to attain that seat, governor Alia is not the first to do such,but I’m disappointed that a priest like governor Alia could do this,I want to advise him to respect the anointing of God upon his life and not behave not behave like the normal politicians that are full of ingratitude because only a foolish man drinks and throws away the cup”.

There has been reports of rivalry between Akume and Alia over political control of the state.The face-off was said to have started shortly after the governor was sworn in two years ago.

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending