I don’t like politics — Senator Omilani, 80

Eighty-year-old insurance expert and Senator in the botched Third Republic, Olayinka Omilani, talks about his career and life with GBENGA ADENIJI

Tell us where and when you were born.

I am Olayinka Oladimeji Omilani born on July 18, 1936, in Ode Omu in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State. I got to know my birth date through my father, Jacob Omilani, who was a produce buyer. He sailed from the riverine areas in the country to Lagos buying goods. He only had a bit of education and was able to read the bible. My father had early contact with Christianity though some members of his family were Muslims. When I was born, the church he attended, Baptist, christened me. My birth was documented and my father gave me the birth certificate when I was old enough. He was exposed to many places and people in the course of sailing to deliver or buy goods from one place to the other. My mother, Alice Omilani, was a trader.

Which schools did you attend?

That question may be difficult to answer because I started school very early.  There were not many schools in my town in Ode-Omu at the time. The only school in the town then was St. David’s Anglican School. It was the African Church and the Baptist Church in the area that gathered some school age children of the members of the two churches to start a school. We were required to stretch our right hands across our heads to touch our left ears. That was the way to determine if one was old enough to start school. It was Baptist Day School, Ode Omu and we attended it in 1941. We sat on a mat and taught by a teacher employed by the two churches. One of my classmates in the school then was Prof. Femi Sowemimo. After three years in the school, the two churches decided to separate the pupils and establish a school individually. Each of the churches took the pupils that belonged to them after the separation. After sometime, parents of the pupils had to also look for other schools for their children to further their education.

I decided to go to Ife. I lived in a family house in Modakeke. I continued my schooling at the Baptist Central School, Ile-Ife in 1948. I graduated in 1952 and obtained a Standard Six certificate. After that, the Baptist Church sent me to Ogbomoso town in Oyo State to teach in a Baptist school. I lived alone in a big house.

It was in the late 40s.I taught for two years in Ogbomoso. I initially, I wanted to go to the newly created Oyo/Ondo provincial school in Ile-Ife to further my education, but the school was under construction at the time. Within that period, the then government of the Western Region had introduced an entrance examination for intending students. I took the examination and passed it. I returned to Ile-Ife after my teaching in Ogbomoso and was admitted into the Joint Provincial College, as a member of the second set. I recall that Chief Gunju Adesakin and some others were in the first set. It was from there that I bagged the Grade Two Teacher’s Certificate. Upon the completion of the course, I went to Lagos. On arrival in Lagos, I stayed with my aunt, Mrs. Laperi Fawole at Olowogbowo area before joining his son (my first cousin) Mr. O.T. Fawole (now late) who was then living at Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi. He was a civil servant.

Where were your parents when you travelled to Lagos?

They were in Ode-Omu. They lived in Ode-Omu.

What did you do when you got to Lagos?

My cousin asked me the kind of certificate I had and I showed him my Grade Two Teacher’s certificate. He helped me to secure a teaching job. I worked for about two years at a school behind CMS Grammar School and later got transferred to Anglican School, Ebute-Ero, a place not too far from the palace of the Oba of Lagos. We all later moved to my cousin’s house at No 1, Caulcrick Road, Apapa upon its completion. Every day, I took a ferry from Apapa to Lagos to get to work at Ebute-Ero.

At a time, my cousin travelled to London for a course and I told him that I also wanted to travel to the same place. But he told me that he had no money. In 1962, I obtained a passport through the help of a friend. I went to visit the friend and heard him and some persons discussing how to travel abroad. The place was like a passport office and that was how I got fascinated with their discussion.

How much were you earning at the time?

I cannot remember. But it was not much because if I had money, I would have paid my trip to the United Kingdom. There was someone I would never forget, Pa Ogunbiyi, who gave me £1 when I was travelling.

Did you have any particular thing you were going to do in the UK at the time?

I just wanted to travel to abroad. I knew that I would know what to do when I got there.

Tell us about your experience in the UK.

My experience in the UK was challenging and good. The trip changed my life. I first stayed with a friend who was my classmate in Ile- Ife. I told him I arrived with only £1 and he told me not to worry and directed me to an industrial area where I could find work. I was employed but it was in a factory. After the morning shift, I looked for a place to sleep. When they returned for the afternoon shift, they found me sleeping and wanted to know what was wrong with me. The job was tedious. I couldn’t stand up from the bed the following day. I did not return to the place. I was advised by someone to try the post office. I applied, took a test and passed. I later got the job of sorting emails.

Two weeks later, I received salary for the one day job I did at the factory. Not long after my arrival in the UK, I enrolled at the City of London Polytechnic, Moorgate, London, where I studied Insurance and Shipping Studies.

One of my teachers in the college was also working in an organisation at the time. He was the one who offered to admit me in his department. That was how I got my first job that was good in P & O Shipping Company. Later, I worked with Willis Faber & Dumas Lloyds Brokers. I was elected an underwriting member of Lloyds UK in 1988, a licence I still hold till date.

Were you sending money to your parents at the time?

Yes, I did that.  I also sent to my family members. My parents gave their support to me when I was travelling. When I had worked in Lloyds for some time, the company appointed me as Lloyds Representative in Nigeria.  I took over from an expatriate. Rather than return to Nigeria through a passenger boat, I took a cargo boat. I wanted to explore Europe and other countries since I was not too keen on returning to Nigeria. The civil war just ended at the time. The man I was to take over from had already sent his wife to the UK and was only waiting for me to arrive so he could return to the UK. Ordinarily, if I had travelled on a passenger boat, within 10 days, I would be home. But I took a cargo boat which took weeks. I was enjoying myself, sighting-seeing countries. I decided to waste a lot of time on the boat to enjoy myself because I was initially unwilling to come and I knew the person I was to take over from would not leave since I was travelling.

When I eventually arrived, I went to our office in Apapa. I saw the white man seated on a chair and he said to me, “So you are the one who detained me here for this long? This is your office, bye bye.’’ He stood up, waved at me and left. There was no handover note. I later sent a message to our office in London, informing them of my arrival and the departure of the expatriate I took over from. I served as the Lloyds agent in Lagos between 1970 and 1976.  It was there that I cut my business teeth and acquired all enormous skills. I am a fellow, Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria and an associate of several professional bodies such as the Chartered Insurance Institute of London, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, British Institute of Export and the Institute of Shipping & Forwarding, London.

Tell us about your wife.

I am married to Anike (nee Atobatele). She is from a good home and morally upright. She is a god-fearing, educated and from a good home. She is a disciplinarian who did not spare the rod. She is a very supportive wife. I really appreciate her. Our marriage is blessed with eight children who give us joy and are doing well in their chosen fields.

You are an expert on insurance. What led you to politics?

I do not like politics. But I am close to my friends that we stayed in the UK together. One of them became the commissioner for finance in the Old Oyo State. He urged me to join politics but I said I did not have the time. I think my wife was also told and she encouraged me. I wanted to know how much it would cost and they told me. I paid the amount that it would cost me to contest as a senator. I also asked for the time for electioneering and they said only two weeks. It turned out to false because we spent more than two weeks. I represented Osun State in the Senate. Politics is not something to be done without giving one’s time to it. I was the South-West leader of the Senate caucus at the time. It was during the botched Third Republic.

I started my participation in politics from behind-the-scene. I was an active participant in the Leaders Caucus of the Unity Party of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983. I contributed meaningfully in a principled manner to the development of the party. I was also a card carrying member of the Action Group. I served as the National Vice-Chairman, South-West, of the Peoples Democratic Party between July 2005 and February 4, 2008 and also a member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

How did you feel when you won even though your time in office was short-lived because the military regime truncated the republic?

I did not feel any different.

Tell us about your experience in the National Assembly.

All I can say is that things were different during our time. The majority of us then were not looking for money but for the progress of Nigeria economically and administratively.  We had no house we lived in Abuja. We stayed in a hotel and we met twice weekly for plenary.

Many Nigerians believe that the country’s lawmakers are self-serving and self-seeking to the detriment of the people who elected them and the country as a whole. Do you share this view?

I agree with that position. They are in the National Assembly for self alone.

If you have an opportunity, would you still contest for political office?

No. I won’t

Why would you not do so?

What else do I want? The politicians should come to seek knowledge on how best to serve the people and deliver on their electoral promises.

What is your opinion about the Buhari administration?

I am not close to him but I like his determination to kill corruption in Nigeria. But a tree cannot make a forest.

What did you do after leaving Lloyds?

I established Yinka Omilani & Associates, a wholly Nigerian name, deliberately chosen, to show that Nigerians could also play in the big league of international Loss Adjusters. My investment portfolio ranges from insurance, banking, publishing to manufacturing.

How do you relax?

I relax by participating in church activities. I am a deacon. I am involved in the programmes of the Baptist Church I attend. I am also a teacher in the Sunday School.

Do you belong to any social clubs?

 Yes. I am a member of the Island Club, Ikoyi Club and the Metropolitan Club. I joined the clubs when I was young. I am in the Elder Caucus. I do not pay.

Do you have any favourite food?

I eat any good food.

How do you feel being healthy and young at 80?

I feel that God has favoured me.

Do you have any regrets?

I have no regret. God has been very kind to me.

Did you ever think you would live long?

It is not something I can say I dreamt or thought of.  It is God.


















Punch