By Chuddy Oduenyi
Today, Friday, September 26,2025 is the nineteenth anniversary of the death of Victor Ladi Akintola, a scion of the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola political dynasty that has produced a national legislator,two federal ministers and an ambassador of note who among other distinctions is the Bashoroun of Ogbomosho.
During his lifetime, the younger Akintola aka Lash was many good things to many people. To most of his age mates and contemporaries in the corporate world, he was Lash, but to me, he was first Mr Ladi Akintola and later,more endearingly, Uncle Ladi.
He was a chartered accountant who truly loved the profession. He was a sports enthusiast, writer, and commentator on vital national issues.He once affirmed to me that he would spend his last years doing three things.
First was to propagate the ennobling ideals of his accountancy profession .Two was the defence of his father’s legacy. His illustrious father, who was Nigeria’s first Minister of Communications and Labour, as well as the last Premier of the defunct Western region, has been pilloried mindlessly by detractors and revisionists who even denied him the due credit of moving the successful motion for Nigeria’s independence.
Third was his avowed fondness for his alma mater, Saint Gregory’s College, Obalende,Lagos.
Invariably, all three self-imposed tasks enjoyed his trademark commitment and accustomed creativity.
This England and Wales certified chartered accountant was a walking sports encyclopedia.A historian of sort, he penned the illuminating biography of his illustrious father fittingly titled Akintola:The Man,The Myth in which he also explored the myth associated with the reverred chieftaincy title of Aare Ona Kankafo of Yorubaland of which his father was the 14th personage to be bestowed the highly esteemed and fearsome title.
A man of epicurean taste he was very suave and affable.A humanist and quiet philanthropist, he was very cultured and vastly cosmopolitan. He transcended above tribe and tongue with effortless ease.Any wonder that his wife Erelonu was Igbo and numbered among his friends were Nigerians from various ethnic groups and people of various nationalities.One of his notable friends, the globally acclaimed musicologist,distinguished professor and renowned traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State Igwe(Prof) Laz Ekwueme did confer on him the very befitting title of Ochebe Aku na Oko for he was indeed a wealth keeper and protector of valuable resources.
Assuredly, his was a life of impact, and may he continue to enjoy eternal bliss in the bosom of his Maker.
Oduenyi, MD/Editor-in-Chief of Daily Query, is an adjunct faculty at the School of Media and Communication,Pan Atlantic University Lagos.
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