The name Olatunde Oginni means different things to different people; while some see him as very consistent and a successful businessman, some see him to be too controversial. But from whichever perspective you might like to assess him from, what you cannot take away from him is, his brain and the never die spirit. Also, the philanthropic side of him. He has been making money right from the younger age; by 24/25, Oginni had has companies and properties here and there. Which gave him a kind of upper hand above his peers and since then he has been giving back to the society in his own little way.
Today, Olatunde Oginni sits atop a vibrant business empire which include Tiger Beach Limited, Flogin Natural Resources Limited, Tiger Flo Security, Olatunde Oginni Property and many more. Recently, Oginni shared his experience with Dare Adeniran as per his lifestyle as the Olodogbo of Odogbo-Ijesha. He opens up on so many interesting issues and the controversy surrounding his tittle ‘’Olodogbo’’. It is an explosive interview session with this stylish man called Tunde Oginni. He was able to talk about his new life as a traditional ruler and how he quickly adjusted to the trend. Why hearsay doesn’t bother him anymore and his main objective and vision concerning development of his community, to build it into an enviable town in Osun State. Read on.
What is the experience like since you became the Aro of Odogbo-Ijesha and later the Olodogbo, having used to a very comfortable lifestyle and now have to adjust to the new life?.
It has been a wonderful experience living very close to my people even though I have been always in tune with them while I was living in Ibadan. But I’m now more happier seeing the great developments in place. And we are still going to do many more especially in partnership with other great sons and daughters of the town and the state government in particular.
For instance, ‘’when the present governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola noticed our efforts and asked me what do I want? I told him the road to my community; he promised that he was going to do it and thank God the road has been done today’. Let me also chock you that in the whole of Ijesha land, Odogbo has the largest farmland filled with plantain, palm-oil tress and what have you. Once that road was done people in the area have been in a joyful mood. These are the kind of developments we are here for, the kind of development we want to record during our time. In fact, there are so many things on ground that I would not want to talk about here. I want you to go to the place and see for yourself. Seen is believing as they say.
You also shocked many people when you became Aro of Odogbo-Ijesha and decided to relocate to the community. How difficult or easy was it for you to adapt into the system, having used to a comfortable life?.
There is nowhere like home. I could remember when I was young as a soldier, I was part of the troops that escorted General Ibrahim Babangida (retired) to Minna. Am talking about 1987/88 or thereabout. Minna wasn’t what it is today. I saw lots of constructions going on in the community, tiny place, local people but whenever the general comes out ‘’he would say leave my people let them come and eat’’. So I have been nurturing that idea since then that, whenever I make it in life, I will go back to my community and establish it like Minna.
‘’Coincidentally, when my father died, in one of his letters to me, he emphasized it that I must take care of his people and that was quite touching. It then came back to mind that I must go back to my community like General Babangida’’. And I realized then that my immediate need in Odogbo-Ijesha was the road, which was very bad. But thank God the road has been done now. People work in Lagos and live in Ibadan. Odogbo-Ijesha to Ilesha is just 10 minutes’ drive and once I have a very good roads there, electricity, water and generator, what else? So, going back to Odogbo doesn’t make any difference. In fact, if I have my way I will remove everything I have in Ibadan, Lagos and Abuja back to Odogbo. Where I will be eating fresh fruits, fresh foods, fresh bush meat and what have you.
Now that you live very close to your people, how does being close to them make you feel?.
It makes me feel better and happy. It gives me good health because am happy when my people are happy. They also show me love in return and alone is enough for me.
Has being a traditional ruler changed anything about Tunde Oginni?.
It has definitely changed so many things. ‘’I don’t go out anyhow as a leader anymore. I go to very important parties and outings I should be’’. Traditionally too, you have mentors that you are looking up to and as well you have some people that are looking up to you. ‘’Your behaviors, character and attitude at every point in time are being monitored. So you must lay a good example all the time’’.
I can even tell you now that am more matured; gone are the days that l will go out in the night with full escort. ‘’But now am looking at lives of the likes of Baba Owa Obokun, Alaafin of Oyo and co. I can’t afford to disappoint them. My reasoning has also changed because people will come to you with different issues and you have to attend to them and give them advice or proffer solution in most cases’’.
Whereas all I used to do in the past is my business and how to make money. ‘’Though as early as 23/24 of age I have being tagged the philanthropist but I have now realized the more reason to give and to be a good giver at that. I thank God I have never relented’'.
But you are been addressed as the Olodogbo of Odogbo-Ijesha, which has been generating lots of controversies. Some argued that Odogbo tittle is illegal that Odogbo community only has Aro, who is the leader of chiefs of the community. What is the true position of things?.
‘’The noise you just talked about has to be so because the existing tittles established from onset in Odogbo-Ijesha are Looja, Orisa, Odofin, Saba, Sajuku and Aro which my father was in his lifetime, before I also became the Aro of Odogbo-Ijesha’’.
There wasn’t anything like Olodogbo. ‘’It was based on my visible investments, achievements and immense contributions to the development of the community that made the chiefs, the late Looja, Orisa, Odofin, Saba and the Ejemo, confided the tittle ’Olodogbo of Odogbo-Ijesha’ on me’’. It was all over in the newspapers So, there is no controversy whatsoever to this, except if somebody, somewhere is trying to be mischievous.
Was it gazetted in the Osun State traditional chieftaincy laws?.
It wasn’t in the gazette. It was the king-makers ideas. Even Odogbo or any tittle in Odogbo land wasn’t in the gazette. Odogbo wasn’t known to many before now, it was after my father’s death that I came in and changed the whole story.
When we came here, it was a very bushy place with no development whatsoever. No signs of any government assistant in this community. So I started by giving them a police station because any development would amount to nothing if there is no security and peace within the community.
‘’ I built nursery and primary school; I constructed a standard market with lockup shops for the community. We renovated the existing hospital and so many other things we have been put in place’’. It was all these things that made indigenes of the community decided to bestow on me the tittle of Olodogbo.
They wanted me to stay because it is not as if am gaining anything, but because of the love for the people and the fact that one has to contribute his own quota to the development of his community. This is my hometown and since they chose me as their leader am now fully on ground.
In fact, the greater parts of my investments are presently in Odogbo-Ijesha and I’m happy about it. So if you are saying Olodogbo is not a king or something; that is your own problem. I’m not dragging anything with anybody. I’ve been in business ever since I was very young; I might not be that rich but I’m very comfortable. I thank God for all He has done for me.
You are one of the young successful men around, cool, calm, intelligent and handsome. A known socialite and philanthropist. You use to be a show stopper back in the 80s and 90. But it got to a point that you just shunned the social circle, what changed about Tunde Oginni then?.
Yea, that was then when we were going round, playing and all that. Things has changed and the fact that one is not getting any younger is another factor. If you don’t want to die young event must change and that was exactly what happened. My social life remains but at a very moderate level now. Old age is settling in naturally…. (laughs).
How do you now juggle between being a ruler and at the same time manage your businesses scattered all over?.
It is very easy for me because the community is peaceful. Though we might little, little disputes here and there but thank God we have been managing them well.
What gladdens your hearth the most about Odogbo-Ijesha community?.
The fact that am doing what my father wanted, you know I love my father and the fact that the community is at peace.
You seem to be very close to other young rulers outside your domain like the Oluroye of Iroko-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ekundayo and co. What explains that because one would have thought that you should be close to traditional rulers from your environment?.
I have good relationship with all the traditional rulers in Osun State and other states across the country. I think what you should have said is the fact that I have personal friends that are also traditional rulers and business partners.
’’ My businesses cut across, not confined to Ijesha alone’’. ‘’Like the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama has been my friend over the years. Likewise Oba Sunday Ekundayo, the Oluroye of Iroko-Ekiti; we travel together and do things together’’. He is from Ekiti while am from Ilesha but there is no law that says I should not be friend to A,B and C. Most of these people we have been friends before I became the Olodogbo. I’m close to Oba Fredrick Enitolorunda Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo land too.
There is this kind of misconception about your personality; some see you as a very consistent and successful businessman while some see you as being controversial. Why do you think people mix things up about your person and how do you feel each time you hear or read negative stuffs about yourself?.
‘’What people should understand is that we can never be the same; even those that were born by same parents, their characters cannot be the same’’. So, the fact that am a good man doesn’t make me a fool. I still have things that turn me on or off about people.
‘’Whatever that is being said about me doesn’t bother me anymore at this stage of my life’’. Don’t forget that am a leader and ruler of a community. And when you are in this kind of position you should know how to deal with people and issues. Traditional issues and other sensitive issues. ‘’As a traditional ruler you must create an atmosphere where peace and tranquility reign’’. Another thing is that if you bother yourself with unnecessary issues you will look older than your age.
