Billionaire banker and philanthropist, Otunba Subomi Balogun, speaks with TOFARATI IGE on his personality, career, family and other issuesI think the assessment is in the hands of the divine authority
, our God. All I would say is that I am extremely grateful to my maker for making me still very agile, meticulous, articulate and behaving like someone who is 60 years old.
I am at peace with my God. I marvel on every occasion at why He has been so kind to me. I don’t have any airs about me; I am always myself. I can only credit this to the amazing grace of God. At the climax of anything I may have achieved, I attribute everything to the awesomeness of God and His love for little me. I spend all my time talking about God. A friend recently called me and said he noticed that before I say three words, I would mention God.
Many people know that in 1959, I was called to the English Bar. Many people also know that the then government of the Western Region trained me as the first parliamentary draftsman. When the British were passing the Nigeria Independence Act, I was the first black face to be seen in the official box. This is the only background I have.
Meanwhile, I only got converted to the faith at the age of 13 but I never went around misbehaving. The only things I have weakness for are my white clothing and white cars. Then, I attend churches every Sunday. If I am not in the church, I would probably be spending the time having a service or worshipping somewhere else. I never thought I was doing anything extraordinary but people noticed me.
Let me tell you another story. The Ijebus were having a registration, and my wife and I went to Ijebu-Ode Grammar School to register ourselves. I was dressed simply and we joined the queue. I did not announce my presence. All of a sudden, the man, who was conducting the registration, got up and asked the people on the queue to allow me to register. I was reluctant but he insisted. As I went forward, I greeted everybody on the queue.
Sometimes, when I go to church, people would queue to get things from me. Even when my car is moving, they would mill around me and I would always do whatever I can. There are some people that wouldn’t like you, no matter what you do. But if you consider that, you wouldn’t be able to do anything. It’s not easy for anybody who is successful not to be criticised. The mere fact that you succeeded would make some people not like you. But our God sees the mind.
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