As regards the late Alex Ekwueme, his inclusion on this list is for obvious reasons. Any significant game changing in 2018 must build on the foundation he laid- the innovation of the six-zone structure, perhaps with useful amendments here and there. Otherwise any restructuring of the nation would be an insincere white-wash, creating a situation worse than the present.
As for Subomi Balogun, our list committee was of the view that his relationship with Ekwueme before, and subsequent events after the Nigerian-Biafra civil war epitomize the value and benefits of true friendship: one good turn often deserves another. This is particularly relevant in country where the Zero- sum game has become the norm – your colleagues progress is regarded as a set-back to your’s and must be prevented at all costs, through acts of commission of mission. People are loath to take the long view.
The pre-civil war competition between regions is now a distant memory. We used to be ranked with South Korea, for instance, as nations with huge potential Today, South Korea, with no petrol, has made so much progress that it appears to belong to another planet. Nigeria , on the other hand, has nothing significant to show after more than half a century of independence.
At the end of the civil war the two friends took different career paths: the young
architect Ekwueme plunged into the political arena and become Vice-President. The irrepressible Subomi went into finance, eventually founding a bank (First City Monument Bank) FCMB that is now a major player in the sector.
Next is a graphic summary of the high points of the relationship between two friends- Subomi Balogun and Alex Ekwueme:
“During the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, many Igbo people fled other parts of the country for the East because they were being killed and massacred wantonly and the government was doing nothing about it.
Many abandoned their homes, property and businesses for safety. Of them, was a young Igbo architect who had a young Yoruba banker as a neighbor in Apapa, Lagos. He also abandoned his home and with his family fled for the East.
However, the young Yoruba banker, while the war lasted, rented out his neighbour’s house and kept every kobo for him while he was in the East. After the war, the Igbo architect returned to Lagos and the Yoruba banker handed over the entire proceeds of the rent and also the house to the Igbo architect.
Some few years later, the Igbo architect became the Vice President of Nigeria and the Yoruba banker established a commercial bank, the first by a private citizen in the country’s history.
However, he could not get a license to begin banking operations. Many people were against him because it was unheard of at the time. At this time, the banker remembered his neighbor who was now the Vice President and tracked him to the Christ Church Cathedral, Marina, Lagos on a particular Sunday. He had tried to get appointment to see him in his office but without success.
He and his wife then decided to go lay ambush for him in Church but the security men did not allow them. They then decided to sit by the pew close to the aisle to beat the security in the hope that the Vice President would see them while he walked to the front
row. Yet, he still didn’t see them.
After the church program they positioned that he will see them on his way out. However, the people following him out and security blocked his view.
That was when the banker’s wife decided to take a risk and like the woman with the issue of blood, she pulled the Vice President’s cloth get his attention who then turned and saw his old friend.
The young banker then narrated his plight and told the Vice President how he had tried to see him and what he needed to see him for. He told the him about his application for a bank license.
“”Don’t worry yourself. Just come tomorrow at Federal Executive Council meeting which I would preside because President Shehu Shagari would not be there,” the Vice President assured him.
By 3.00pm the next day, the Finance Minister called the banker on phone that his license was ready. Rest they say is history.
That young banker was Otunba Micheal Olasubomi Balogun while the architect in this narrative was one of Africa’s elder statesmen and former Vice President of the Republic of Nigeria, Later Dr. Alex Ekwueme. The bank is now First City Monument Bank.
One good turn truly deserves another and it is good to love our neighbours as ourselves.
Have a historical year ahead. “During the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, many Igbo people fled other parts of the country for the East because they were being killed and massacred wantonly and the government was doing nothing about it.
Many abandoned their homes, property and businesses for safety. Of them, was a young Igbo architect who had a young Yoruba banker as a neighbor in Apapa, Lagos. He also abandoned his home and with his family fled for the East.
However, the young Yoruba banker, while the war lasted, rented out his neighbour’s house and kept every kobo for him while he was in the East. After the war, the Igbo architect returned to Lagos and the Yoruba banker handed over the entire proceeds of the rent and also the house to the Igbo architect.
Some few years later, the Igbo architect became the Vice President of Nigeria and the Yoruba banker established a commercial bank, the first by a private citizen in the country’s history.
However, he could not get a license to begin banking operations. Many people were against him because it was unheard of at the time. At this time, the banker remembered his neighbor who was now the Vice President and tracked him to the Christ Church Cathedral, Marina, Lagos on a particular Sunday. He had tried to get appointment to see him in his office but without success.
He and his wife then decided to go lay ambush for him in Church but the security men did not allow them. They then decided to sit by the pew close to the aisle to beat the security in the hope that the Vice President would see them while he walked to the front
row. Yet, he still didn’t see them.
After the church program they positioned that he will see them on his way out. However, the people following him out and security blocked his view.
That was when the banker’s wife decided to take a risk and like the woman with the issue of blood, she pulled the Vice President’s cloth get his attention who then turned and saw his old friend.
The young banker then narrated his plight and told the Vice President how he had tried to see him and what he needed to see him for. He told the him about his application for a bank license.
“”Don’t worry yourself. Just come tomorrow at Federal Executive Council meeting which I would preside because President Shehu Shagari would not be there,” the Vice President assured him.
By 3.00pm the next day, the Finance Minister called the banker on phone that his license was ready. Rest they say is history.
That young banker was Otunba Micheal Olasubomi Balogun while the architect in this narrative was one of Africa’s elder statesmen and former Vice President of the Republic of Nigeria, Later Dr. Alex Ekwueme. The bank is now First City Monument Bank.
One good turn truly deserves another and it is good to love our neighbours as ourselves.
Have a historical year ahead.
