How Mimiko and Bunmi Tunji Ojo Recruited Me” – Ondo Lawyer
“How Mimiko and Bunmi Tunji Ojo Recruited Me” – Ondo Lawyer
Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola Shares Lessons on Leadership and Loyalty
Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola has shared a personal account of how former Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Minister of Interior Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO) identified and recruited him into their political circles, using the experience to highlight what he describes as the qualities of effective leadership.
Drawing inspiration from the example of Jesus Christ choosing His disciples, Odusola argued that true leaders do not wait for people to seek their favour. Rather, they identify individuals with proven character, conviction, and loyalty before bringing them into their team.
According to him, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko demonstrated this leadership style during his administration. He recalled that his relationship with the former governor began after he defended one of Mimiko’s government policies during a Facebook debate against criticism by Gani Muhammed.
Unknown to him at the time, Mimiko was reportedly following the online discussion and took note of his passionate defence of the policy. Odusola said the former governor later reached out through an intermediary, offering him an appointment as a Special Assistant after observing what he described as his sincere conviction and unwavering support.
He noted that his loyalty to Mimiko has remained intact because his support was never motivated by personal gain but by genuine belief in the governor’s policies.
Odusola also recounted his first encounter with Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, explaining that their relationship began from opposite sides of a public policy debate. He revealed that he had publicly criticized the allocation of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects outside oil-producing communities and even instituted a legal action challenging the practice while Tunji-Ojo was Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.
Despite attempts by Tunji-Ojo to persuade him during lengthy telephone conversations, Odusola said he proceeded with the lawsuit, which was eventually dismissed by the Federal High Court on the ground that he lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the action.
According to him, their relationship later changed after he voluntarily praised Tunji-Ojo’s performance as a guest speaker at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Lagos. He said the commendation was unsolicited and stemmed from his growing admiration for the minister’s leadership qualities.
Odusola stated that Tunji-Ojo subsequently reached out to him again, leading to a meeting in Abuja and the beginning of what he described as a strong mentor-disciple relationship.
Using both experiences, the legal practitioner maintained that leaders who desire lasting loyalty should recruit followers based on demonstrated integrity, courage, and conviction rather than on declarations of allegiance motivated by personal interest.
He concluded by advising leaders to identify and nurture individuals of proven character, insisting that such followers are more likely to remain loyal and offer honest counsel than those whose loyalty is driven by personal benefits.
