They called him Pasewonda; others called him Omo – Iya teacher, while in political clime he is best known as ORP, but his real name is Olatunde Rotimi Paseda.
Sometimes, he is described as ‘Arole Awolowo’ (the heir apparent of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo) because of his belief in Awo’s political ideologies of free education, free and Qualitative healthcare, job opportunities and rural /urban integration, but today Otunba (Prince) Rotimi Paseda is the only man sustaining the political legacy of Pa. Obafemi Awolowo which is the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
At the sound of his name exudes humility. He is a mentor, philanthropist, father and grand father.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda hails from Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, he is a UK/Mexico based business tycoon. He came from a family of five, his mother was a retired teacher in public service and his dad was a store keeper at PZ, Paterzon Zokalis Nigeria Limited in the 60s. He started his career in PZ and ended his career in PZ. He was the longest service staff at that point. Today, he is well-known as Omo Iya Teacher.
Paseda attended Baptist Academy for his O’level at Ikorodu, Lagos state. He thereafter travelled abroad for his University education. He attended the University of London, UK where he studied Transport Management and later got his Masters Degree in Tourism and Recreation Management from University of Cardiff, Wales.
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, United Kingdom, and worked briefly as European Air Tour Operator with Euro Skylup International before establishing Skylink Travels and Tours over twenty-five years ago. This was his commencement of his self-employment venture in the United Kingdom and World wide.
Afterwards, he established his own company in UK which is currently being managed by his wife.
Along the line, he stumbled into a company in Mexico that manufactures heavy duty equipments. He recognizes the opportunity, bought into it and it became one of his main businesses. It is a big firm in Mexico and he is one of the three partners in the company. He is also into fire engines construction, which sells mostly in Eastern Europe, and Asia and Latin America. He has successfully established two engineering firms that are into fabrication and building of heavy machinery; they manufacture water tankers, fire engines, garbage /compacting trucks and the likes and they are doing very well.
Otunba Paseda owns four major companies across the world (UK, US, and Latin America). In Nigeria, he owns a couple of hotels spread across different parts of the country, little wonder, he was recently awarded alongside President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olusegun Osoba as Most Influential Industrialist among 100 Most Influential Ogun Indigenes Still Leaving.
One important principle that had helped him in life and which is always with him is MODESTY. He was not at anytime, right from his youthful days been swayed by peer pressure. The Yoruba adage “Ranti Omo Eniti Iwo Nse” interpreted as “Know The Son of Whom You Are” as been the guiding principle in the life of Otunba Rotimi Paseda.
God has given this man a special grace in life, so he knows his onions, he knows his place and where cap fits him. He has set a limit for himself and what the Yoruba called “OMOLUABI” could be found in him. His recent introduction into Yoruba Patriots Movement, a Pan-Yoruba freedom group was not incidental. For him, moderation is the key. But in the real sense of things, it has a lot to do with upbringing. Growing under the roof of parents who were strict disciplinarians to the core, waywardness was a taboo at home so Prince Rotimi Paseda was made to see and live life in the right perspective.
Paseda’s mother would always weep on his neck, most times to remind him of where he is coming from. She pitiably emphasized this and would always remind him of what she went through in life in an attempt to consciously inject virtues and values in her dear son.
This made the young Otunba Rotimi Paseda vowed never to put his dear mother to shame, but to make her proud. When Otunba Rotimi Paseda was given birth to and being the son, he became everything to his dear parents who loved him with passion. This is an inspiration to all parents.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is the legend behind Paseda Legacy Foundation, an NGO he established as a way of helping the needy and also to give back to the society.
His immense contributions to the development of Omu earned him the chieftaincy title of the Otunba Adeneye 1 of Omu-Ijebu, he was also installed as the Garkuwan Hausawan (the man of the masses) of Ogun State by the Hausa communities in Ogun State and the friend of the Igbos in the state, (Ezi Onyi Ndigbo). Would you now agree with me, Paseda is a man of all tribes?
The determination to succeed against so many odds encouraged Prince Paseda to forge ahead. He believes that if he can succeed out there in the UK, he should be responsible to his people at home by contributing his quota to the development of his home state, Ogun state and Nigeria at large.
ORP has fondly called is a strong advocate of job creation for millions of Nigerians, who need a means of survival. He believes that with the kind of manpower Nigeria has, it’s quite disheartening to realize that we are yet to unleash the potentials of our zealous youthful generation.
This made him contest, although unsuccessful for the Governor of Ogun state in the 2015 general elections alongside Senator Ibikunle Amosun of APC and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is the major financier of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Nigeria and he personally believes in Awolowo’s ideology of free education, free health care, cheap housing scheme and rural integration, etc.
Otunba Rotimi Paseda is married to Chief (Mrs.) Yeye Vivian Oritsejamene and the union is blessed with children who are doing well in their respective field of endeavors.
However, there is one astonishing fact about this Ijebu-born politician that is unknown to many. What many people do not know about Rotimi Paseda is that, he loves drinking cassava flakes “garri” as you called it in local parlance with smoke fish (eja yiyan) .
Not only does he likes garri, but he has made it part of his life wherever he goes. At any point Paseda travels out of the country, Garri is number one item Madam Vivian packaged in his suitcase.
Otunba Paseda finds it unstable to eat outside the country without taking garri as his breakfast before any other food item. Garri mixed with iced block and roasted Guinea fowl, sauce with fresh tomato and dry pepper are sure combination of what makes delicious food for this Ijebu man.
To many, Paseda only dress sense is white, but unknown to them, he wears Polo T-shirt and other casual clothes whenever he wants to unwind.
Another exciting fact that will shock many is that, Paseda is sportmania. He owns an amateur football club named Paseda Legacy Football Club, registered under Paseda Legacy Foundation. Though, the launching process is still underway.
Although, he is a socialite per excellence, but his best alcoholic drink is Water, while he also detaste smoking.
Not known to many about Otunba Paseda is that, he embraces all religions. Despite being a Prophet in the Celestial grapevine, he has special passion for Islam and its faithful, little wonder, he named himself Muhammodu Taofeek.
His love for Muslim Duah remain uncouched as no fewer than 50 people have benefited from his self sponsorship programme to Mecca for their Holy Pilgrimage, while the Christian faithful have also drank from his olive branch.
Paseda’s kind of politics is unmatched, as he remain among many, the only politician that walk his talk. He preaches youths involvement in governance and has demonstrated that in his little capacity as the Executive Chairman of Paseda Legacy Foundation.
In fulfillment of his plans for the youths, Otunba Paseda donated the sum of N10 million Naira to some youths who trained under his skill acquisition programme, powered by Ultimate Achievers Initiatives to start their business.
Also, no fewer than 50 indigent students benefited from his free scholarship scheme across higher institutions in the state.
On his Agenda for Good Governance, Otunba Paseda who addressed a mammoth crowd at Ibafo area of Ogun State recently averred that, “As a seasoned entrepreneur, I have at different fora established a platform for the youths to exhibit their God-given potentials. I have taken it upon myself and an act of oath with Nigerian youths to absorb them with a mission to transform Ogun State into Eldorado of sort.
“My highly esteemed and ever dynamic youths, I salute your perseverance and doggedness, but don’t worry, your future is here and secured with me in our agenda for good governance come 2019.
“I referred to Ogun State as an enterprise not for any metaphorical analogy but to paint the picture that the fortunes or God forbid it, misfortunes of a state can be defined or determined by the type of government or people who are voted into government to paddle the state’s canoe. I can assure you that, God willing, with your support and the people’s vote come 2019, we shall together steer the ship of this state to a safe harbor.”
So, Ogun State people, I present to you, the man of many tribes. The man of the people and a grassrooter. Someone who is ready to serve but not to rule. Paseda encompasses the vision, mission and objectives of the late Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo.
Let us support Otunba Rotimi Paseda, ORP to be the next Governor of Ogun State, together we can achieve the dreams of the founding fathers.
Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji is my name, but they call me D-PRESS, I just want to make common sense #dassol