Daniel Omotilewa: Nigeria Requires Reorientation, Strong Institutions, Committed Leadership
Call him his mother’s love child and you wouldn’t be wrong. Like his mother, Daniel Omotilewa is tenacious, hardworking, and uncompromisingly honest. Growing up in his native town of Osi-Ekiti, the first twelve years of this cool child were defining, as they taught him character, contentment, honesty, and a life of principle and community; all of which have formed the bedrock on which his life and world view are hinged. He moved to Lagos years after the trio of late Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu and Yakubu Mohammed of the defunct Newswatch spurred him into thinking of a career in Journalism. Upon Dele Giwa’s, death, the need to be in a profession he could practice without gory memories, influenced his incursion into the legal profession. He speaks with Adedayo Adejobi on Nigeria, how the legal profession closed a door on him, how he met his wife and why he loves Tai Solarin and Barak Obama. Excerpts
Growing up
Growing up was fun. I am an Ekiti man to the core. I was born in Osi Ekiti, in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State. For the first 12 years of my life, I never stepped out of my local government. We enjoyed the rural life the community offered us. Electricity, television, and money did not matter to us. You don’t envy anybody. The people we looked up to then were in the teaching profession, priests and very few public servants.
What key values have shaped you?
The ethos while I was growing up was to always remember the son of who you are. The Ekiti people are principled, honest, and brutally frank. So, striving to be an Omoluabi was a task for every one of us while growing up in Ekiti, and it subsequently shaped our worldview.
What kind of child were you?
I have been cool since childhood. Not a child to rock the boat. The last child of a polygamous home. I was pampered a bit, but it never got to my head. I was a good boy in the neighbourhood which possibly influenced my having some old papas as friends.
What fond childhood memories do you hold strongly?
There were many, but one that I will not forget easily happened on a particular Christmas Eve when I was around the age of 8 to 10 years. My mum was a petty trader, which included selling kerosene in bottles to end users. Earlier that day, I had helped her sell some bottles of kerosene and I kept the proceed in the inner pocket of my shorts/nicker. Around 8:00 pm, as I was ready to join other children in celebrating Christmas eve which we enjoyed in those days by buying fried fish, meat etc, I went to the front of our church, where a gas lamp had been placed. There was no electricity in those days in my town. I prayed silently calling on God to give me money for the enjoyment of my Christmas Eve. About 30 minutes later, I checked my pocket only to discover one kobo in the inner pocket of my shorts/nicker. I was happy that God had dropped money in my pocket, so the enjoyment started. For a repeat performance of the miracle, I ran back to the frontage of the church which was a door to door opposite our house, and prayed again. A few minutes later I dipped my hand to the same inner pocket only to discover another coin, this time of bigger denomination but smaller in size than the one kobo. Upon a deep introspection, I discovered it was not miracle money but the proceeds of kerosene I sold for my mum earlier in the day. I then went home to confess my sin to my loving mother who laughed at me and forgave me.
What were your best and worst subjects in secondary school?
My best subject was Government, and I ended up winning the award for overall best student for it in my final year at Eyemote Comprehensive High School, Iyin Ekiti. Mathematics was my lead tormentor. Till today when I come across people who enjoy mathematics, they earn instant respect from me.
At what point in life did you decide on a career path, and what influenced same?
The trio of the late Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, and Yakubu Mohammed of the defunct Newswatch motivated me to think of a career in journalism. I was so involved with them, that people were commiserating with me when Dele Giwa was wickedly killed by that parcel bomb. The fierce battle by Chief Fani Fawehinmi to bring to justice, the alleged killer of the late Dele Giwa and the need to be in a profession I can practice without much ado, influenced my detour into the legal profession. The truth is, I established my law practice even as an NYSC member, doing the mandatory one-year National Service scheme. Ever since then, my life and the profession of Law have become like co-jointed twins, and there has never been any regret about the choice.
Can you relieve memories as a student in the university?
I attended the first and the best university in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan. Indeed, it was then and I still believe it is a citadel of learning, a purely academic environment. Hardly, was there a public lecture that was delivered then in the University of Ibadan, especially in the area of art, politics, religion, etc that I was not attending. My other side of socialisation was, however, weak. If I will have the opportunity again, I will not allow my non-academic social life to suffer, which is my only regret.
Can you share the experience on your first job?
Let me put it this way. My first job as a Lawyer was to work for myself, if that answers your question. I was in Enugu State, for my National Youth Service where I was posted to a chamber, Ukpabi Ukpabi & Co. Earlier, I had applied for redeployment of service from Enugu State to Lagos State, which was only granted after I had spent about five months in Enugu State. By the time I resumed work in Lagos State for the completion of the one-year compulsory service, I was posted to an engineering company where my services were almost not needed. This allowed me to start running around on my own. That was the beginning, though very rough. I later picked chamber employment on a salary of N4,000 a month. The employment lasted only six months and I pulled out again to continue my hustling. The beauty of it was that, we allowed integrity to mark all our interactions with people in the course of our duties, which started paying off with time.
What else would you be doing if not Law?
As said earlier, my love for the pen-pushing profession was legendary. This informed my going back to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) for a Diploma in print media about 10 years ago. I am yet to collect the certificate up till today.
Beyond journalism, I love academics. I would probably have become a professor by now. The only regret I have about my career journey so far is not taking into full advocacy or pursuing a PhD in Law, and becoming a Law teacher.
If you look down memory lane, would you say you are fulfilled as a Lawyer?
The answer is a categorical yes. The Good Book says no one lights a lamp and puts it under the table. It will be put on top of the table to illuminate the environment. So is a Lawyer, who realises his or her true calling to his or her environment. Therefore, to be a Lawyer is to be privileged and I will not be ready to trade it for anything. Economically, the profession is putting food on my table and also paying my bills. It has opened doors for me and at the same time given me time-tested privileges. Notwithstanding, let me tell a story of how being a lawyer closed a door on me. Sometimes, about 20 years ago, I went to LUTH, Idi Araba, for a medical consultation. Normally, a patient was supposed to be referred from a primary-level hospital to such a hospital. This requirement can, however, be waived if a doctor, after listening to you, gives his or her nod. So, I was referred to this particular doctor, who agreed that I should be attended to without reference from another hospital. As he was writing my approval card, he asked what I do for a living, and I told him, I was a lawyer. Instantly, he dropped his pen and vowed to cancel my approval. I thought he was joking, but he stood his ground and resolved to continue the process of my approval only if I paid a mandatory fee to the hospital. I then went to the accounting department, paid a particular amount, and was issued a receipt which I then took back to him. The doctor said he adopted that strict position against lawyers because of their attitude towards money. Paraphrasing his statement, lawyers, even when you greet them, expect you to pay for it.
The bane of leadership in Nigeria is corruption. What would be the ideal role of lawyers in solving this problem?
Corruption simply means dishonesty. This has permeated the fabric of our society. Can we say of any sector of our society that is corruption-free? Is our religious sector faring better with what we see and hear daily? It will amount to a fallacy to believe that lawyers have a magic wand to change things suddenly in our country. It is equally not the absence of law to regulate our life. What we have now is a steady and consistent decline of morals in society. A society that worships money will naturally become what Nigeria has become today. What we need is a total reorientation, strong institutions, and committed leadership. It will be a marathon and not a dash, but it is possible. can lawyers play some roles in this regard? Yes, just like every member of the society.
How did you meet your wife?
She was a young lawyer then. I think she was tired of practicing law in her father’s chamber in Akure, therefore relocating to Lagos. My nephew’s wife visited Lagos and brought her to my office, and that was how the journey started. I was a super mature bachelor then with some ideas in my head of who could be my wife. Before you can say jack Robinson, we became husband and wife.
How would you describe her in five words?
A virtuous woman and a pillar of support. That is more than 5 words anyway.
What kind of a man are you at home?
A restless man, a fun creator who can equally be mischievous. Simply put, our home is a bastion of hope, fun, and comraderies put together; and I am at the centre of it all.
How often do you find or take time out to treat your wife?
Trust me, I do it but not in the English way. I am not a flower person neither do I compose poems, but behind this facade is a loving tender heart. I however think my wife will answer this question better.
Away from attending to legal briefs, what things do you do to unwind?
Reading, especially biographies. Surfing the internet, and more importantly, YouTube and watching animal channels on the TV.
What famous international figure do you admire and why?
I have read a bit about Jawaral Nehru. My heart naturally palpitates towards his humanism tendencies. Barack Obama is another figure I admire. He is smart, disciplined, and gifted with a gift of gab. If American Constitution allowed it, he would have been overwhelmingly retained for a 3rd term in office. He was open and transparent about his life. His book “Dreams from My Father” laid it bare. There was no scandal of any kind about him throughout his tenure as the President of America.
Who would you consider your strongest influence?
My mother. She is tenacious, hardworking, and uncompromisingly honest. She was a giver. If you refer to her as a reckless giver, you will not be mistaken. The first and last article of her faith was “do unto others what you will expect them to do unto you”. Also, in terms of personal hygiene, she was incomparable. Secondly, Dr. Tai Solarin was a big influence in my life. His autobiography “To Mother with love, – An Experiment in Autobiography,” is a book I have read about 10 times. In fact, I have read virtually everything he wrote in life. He was such a selfless man. He paid part of my fee when I was in law school.
You recently clocked 60, what and how does it feel being 60?
Honestly, I don’t feel any changes in my body. I think my wife will answer this question better. I have been terrorising her more in the house with this 60-year-old thing. I am always quick to remind her of the need to treat a 60-year-old man specially.
What do you look forward to doing in the next 60 years?
I am not going to live for the next 60 years, it is unnecessary. The good book even admonishes us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom. What is important is to always make every day count. To live every day as if it is your last. To keep illuminating our world and be a source of joy unto others within my reach.
What lasting legacy would you want to be known for?
That one Omotilewa, meaning a child from a good home, came, imparted our world positively, did all the good deeds he could do, and left the world better than he met it.
