By David Kabiyesi
Oil and gas magnate, Femi Otedola revealed that the thought of what the future holds for his wife Nana and the children without him halted the idea of going ahead with his initial thought of committing suicide following the loss of $480 million in the diesel market.
Speaking at Akinfemiwa’s 50th birthday celebration in London on Tuesday, Otedola revealed that the sad event which happened in 2008 becomes extremely difficult to endure given the mockery he was subjected to by his colleagues when Akin Akinfemiwa, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Geregu Power Plc, wanted to work with him
“My relationship with Akin is what I would call, destiny prevails. In 2005 I had a friend that worked in Oando and she did mention to me that she has a colleague. And she called Akin and we spoke.”
“I set up my training company in London Fine Shade Energy, I was looking for a trader and I couldn’t find any good trader. I called Dimeji Edwards who was Akin’s boss. Akin picked up the phone to come and see me.
“So he came, and I said to him, Listen I want to give you a job’. Come and work for me. Then of course he went back to Wale and Mofe who were his bosses then (at Oando). And they said you want to go and work for that man? That has sacked 6 CEOs in 6 years.
“Now when I say destiny prevails, the business collapsed. I built a massive empire. I had 93% of diesel at my fingertips. I was a bit playful, and the business collapsed. The option I had then was to commit suicide. Then, of course, I thought of Nana and the kids. And I said no, I won’t commit suicide,” he said.
