By Princelyn Oduenyi
“COURAGE, in accordance to the good and courageous Aristotle, is the 1st of human attributes since it is the quality which assures the other people.”
The renowned physicist, the revered Isaac Newton postulated that in lifetime, “we build as well many partitions and not plenty of bridges”
Bridge setting up to every single intent and objective, has stored the entire world universally just one. And as the environment pivot around its empherical pole, so do we have first rate men and girls who make certain the unity and peaceful co-existence of their surroundings. 1 such outstanding spirit is Kehinde Olufunmilola Martins fondly phone KLM by his many admirers, close friends and perfectly-wishers.
Born 65 a long time in the past in Lagos to the spouse and children of the late Pastor Joseph Oluyinka Martins and Mrs. Susan Olanrewaju Martins, the two college administrators, Kenny whose stylish and quite attractive dress feeling stands him out, has kept his spotty and youthful look, even at 65. He can go for a male in his mid – fifties.
One more issue which character bestowed on this apparent-minded gentleman is his deep intelligence. Individuals in authority in and outside the house Nigeria, once in a while seek out his smart counsel on state issues.
A high networth participant, while not a socialite, there is even so no boring minute with this restless and really bold enigma. He by no means believed one particular can not realize a established target. To him, you never prepare to fail, but prepare to gain.
A activity changer in electric power dynamics in Africa in the last 30 several years, this unassuming clean operator has seen to the effective emergence of many governments. His, in accordance to him, is to make his pretty modest contributions to the sustenance of great governance not only in Nigeria but the complete Africa.
Nigerians might have not neglected how in the wake of the General Abdulsalam Abubakar-led changeover programme in 1999 to midwife the common elections, the Niger – Delta militants threatened and were very decided not to make it possible for elections to keep in the entire south – south region.
He intervened by rallying collectively some influential south – south leaders for a peace meeting at the palatial house of the Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion in Benin – metropolis. It was attended by leaders of the many militant groups, which includes the dreaded Egbesu boys.
That singular go snowballed into the relative peace we at this time love in that location. It observed to the gradual peace restoration immediately after which a peace pact was attained and election peacefully held in the region.
A multi – dimensional businessman who has designed results of his decided on occupation, Martins, had his secondary training at the In depth High College, Aiyetoro, Ogun condition soon after which he proceeded to the United States to even further his studies. On his return to Nigeria, he joined his father’s chain of companies as a younger executive. Soon after a when, he was seconded to administer day to day running of the relatives school – then Premier High College Yaba. After understudying the rudiments of enterprise, youthful Martins, still left the family members small business to build his very own chain of companies which cut – throughout Printing, Motor Motor vehicle Distributorship, Actual Estate, Refined Petroleum Goods Shipping and Marketing and advertising among other folks. It is reckoned until day, that his, was the first indigenous shipping and delivery corporation to fly the Nigerian flag. The ship was named Asaba queen. In reality the unfavourable remedy he suffered in the palms of the powers that be, whereby the then Federal Secretary for Petroleum suggested that the ship, which was then, the Nigerian pride and currently sailing to Nigeria, will not be allowed into the Nigerian territorial waters due to some irreconcilable variances. This frustration further pushed him into party politics.
Kenny’s patriotism and nationalistic attempts to re-direct the in the vicinity of pitiable condition the Nigerian Police found alone following the December 31, 1983 coup was thwarted by the Nigerian factor as orchestrated by a couple of unpatriotic Nigerians. Whole implementation of the foundation’s blue print for the Nigerian Law enforcement as replicated these days by the Lagos Point out Security Trust Fund, would have ensured a improved and extra helpful policing in Nigeria. Today, all of us are witnesses to the comatose stage of insecurity in the region.
A detribalised Nigerian and a potent advocate of the continued unity of this state and the relaxation of Africa, Martins’ palpable and tangible restlessness, have positively outlined the contour and basic texture of the quite superb spirit that have exemplified his lifetime at 65.
This restlessness, coupled with his sanguine determination to the intrinsic disposition to the ongoing peace our expensive region urgently need at this instant of its sojourn, observed him with like minds, like the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Islamic Council, organising prayer periods for Nigeria and a Presidential debate in the run- up to the 2019 basic elections. This debate was attended by key contenders to the business office.
Most current in this attempts, is the lately organised consultative assembly of the steering committee for another national prayers / peace summit to be organised by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Fee (NCPC) led by Rev .Yakubu Pam. This consultative conference which had nearly all the Christian leaders in the South – West geo – political zone in attendance, was facilitated by this distinguished bridge – builder. In a communiqué, issued at the conclude of the conference, the need to have to revisit the 2014 confab report was unequivocally echoed by all the Christian leaders.
A historic intersection in his lifestyle memoir which is however to be on the cabinets, is a visitors delight as it exposed specific intrigues involved in power perform. The voluminous piece of background would have been presented to the typical public to mark his 65th birthday now but for the un-envisaged instances of COVID_ 19, which delayed the last operate, is a blockbuster that is pretty participating. It places the reader into more probes. Some of the critical actors in the dynamics of electrical power also manufactured their modest contributions on the part every played at each individual presented chance. To then survey the entire terrain on which humans transverse, one will surely conclude that Kehinde Olufunmilola Martins, a higher chief of the Yoruba caught, without a doubt, experienced made some critical conquests at 65.
- Oduenyi is a Lagos-based media entrepreneur / marketing consultant