I have tried to write the story of Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi a number of times in the last fourteen years. But it had been a gargantuan task I have postponed a number of times, and circumstances had postponed a few times. Although we did not agree ideologically, but he was a humanist whose point of connection with people were their humanity, intellect and capability. A man of ideas, when you made a good point, he conceded. Even when you are on different sides on an issue, he still reached out. He was Chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which many Nigerians see as the government’s instrument for increasing petroleum product prices, and thereby adding to the suffering of the people. In 2004, while on my way from Abuja to coordinate a publicized mass street protests against fuel price increase in Lagos, I met him in the aircraft. Naturally we discussed the planned protest. When we landed, he asked if I had a car, I shook my head and he said let me give you a lift. I hesitated and explained that I knew he was headed for Lagos Island or Victoria Island while I was going to Yaba, which was off his way. He smiled and said “You are going to the NLC Office?” I nodded. “ Don’t worry, I am not complaining, I will drop you off” He was politically committed without being partisan. In 1990 there was a split in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) over the choice of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State between Femi Agbalajobi and Dapo Sarumi. Rather than lose the election, there was a clamour to pick a neutral person in Gbadamosi. But he made it clear he would unavailable to be the SDP’s flag bearer in an election the party was greatly favoured to win.
Gbadamosi was considered an establishment man and a highly successful industrialist to whom partisan politics was an anathema. So WHEN THE MILITARY REGIME DECLARED CHIEF MOSHOOD KASHIMAWO ABIOLA WANTED FOR DECLARING HIMSELF PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA DESPITE THE ANNULMENT OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY, THEY COULD NOT HAVE SUSPECTED GBADAMOSI TO BE SHELTERING HIM. Gbadamosi was one of Nigeria’s best sons who began an unbroken service to the country 43 years ago when at the age of 29, he was appointed Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Development. He was one of the 49 ‘Wise-men’ who drafted the country’s 1979 Constitution and Minister of National Planning.
Very few Nigerians have traversed as much area and made as significant an impact on various facets of the Nigerian national life as Gbadamosi. His life, taken along with that of his father, Alhaji Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi, read like the industrial history of Nigeria. That story began with the father establishing his own business in 1934 and taking on the transnational United African Company (UAC) in a trade war over garment manufacturing in the country. To gain the upper hand, the Senior Gbadamosi imported Japanese machines to produce cheaper under-wears than the UAC. He subsequently went into tobacco distribution, ceramics production, brewing and was instrumental to the establishment of one of the first indigenous banks, the National Bank to rival the British colonial banks; Barclays Bank and the Bank of British West Africa.
Gbadamosi who returned to the country after his graduate and post-graduate studies in Britain and United States, started work in his father’s company. He built on his heritage by becoming a major player in virtually all sectors of the economy, from construction and engineering to metal works, textile, insurance, pension and computers. He was a pioneer manufacturer of bottled water with his Ragolis brand; the name derived from his initials, R.A.G. So the Gbadamosi story is in a way, the critical narration of the Nigerian story from the perspective of one of its most active, articulate, brilliant and conscientious sons. It is the story of Nigeria from the prism of a man who served it with demonstrable distinction in the public and private sectors, was entrusted with ministering to the country’s planning needs and who was conferred with the national honour, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in recognition of his distinguished contributions. His story and that of the country are neatly woven in five major areas.
First, it covers part of the country’s industrial development in the last seventy years. Secondly, his story in the past four decades, is a history of public service at top policy positions across areas like Economic and Industrial Development, National Planning, Constitution Drafting, Electricity, Railways, Tertiary Education and External Debt Rescheduling .
This also has international dimensions including his leading the Nigerian delegation to the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) 1998/99 meeting and assisting in the relocation of sixteen United Nations agencies from Lagos to Abuja. Thirdly, it encompasses the oil sector; the country’s monoculture in which he was for over a dozen years involved in its monitoring, policy formulation and sustainable development. The 323-page book, _THE STORY OF THE DEREGULATION OF THE NIGERIAN DOWNSTREAM OIL SECTOR_ which he co-authored with two others; Funsho Kupolokun and Oluwole Oluleye, is a veritable resource material on the sector.
Fourthly, the Gbadamosi and Nigeria stories are linked in the genre of literature, visual arts and music; areas which defined various stages of social life. Gbadamosi, a master story teller himself with six plays and thirty short stories to his credit, interacted or worked with masters in these fields from Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, through Femi Osofisan and Bruce Onabrakpeya to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Ola Rotimi who was his senior in secondary school. He worked closely with Fela whom he met in a London underground train in 1961.
In 1970, they co-founded the Nigerian Association of Patriotic Writers and Artists (NAPWA) Gifted musician, Wole Bucnor was NAPWA President, Fela, Vice President and Gbadamosi, Secretary. Until he passed away, Gbadamosi helped to keep Fela’s legacy alive. He also contributed to the construction of the new Afrika Shrine. Gbadamosi is also one of the three major art collectors in Nigeria, and financier of various art genres including film, and emergent talent.
Fifthly, he worked with, interacted or was familiar with many builders of modern Nigeria from Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Fatai Rotimi Williams and Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, to Generals Mobolaji Johnson, Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdulsalami Abubakar. At the level of industry, he interacted with men like Dr. Christopher Kolade and Chris Ogunbanjo while in the media, he was home with the giants like Alhaji Babatunde Jose, Sam Amuka, Alade Odunewu and Segun Osoba, who was his classmate. Despite his demise, I have not given up trying to write the Gbadamosi story; he earned his place in the history of our country.
Written by Owei Lakemfa.
