By Azuh Arinze
First, I want to confess that this story was inspired by Bolu Akin-Olugbade, the Owu, Ogun State-born billionaire who died days ago. And some of the stories I’ve been reading about him.
Now, without meaning to play God, arrogate to myself the designation of a juror, or to put it more succinctly, dance on a dead man’s grave, I want to say upfront that I have nothing against the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Owu land. His family and loved ones are indeed in my prayers, especially as they grieve over the shocking and sudden loss of their patriarch and benefactor.
Back to business: What will you be remembered for? Chief Bolu Akin-Olugbade, the billionaire businessman and lawyer who passed on recently allegedly from complications arising from Covid-19, has gone to be with the Lord. But the striking talking point everywhere has remained his love for Rolls Royce. Two online websites, as a matter of fact, described him as Mr. Rolls Royce and Rolls Royce collector, thereby making it look as if Rolls Royce was all that the stylish man lived and died for.
It reminds me of yet another great man, Alfred Nobel, of the Nobel Prize fame, who lived to read the horrifying obituary publication that announced his alleged death. This once-in-a-life-time luck forced him to change his style, especially after being described as the ‘merchant of death’. Eventually, Nobel wrote his name in gold with The Nobel Prize, which the whole world is celebrating today.
I know without any shadow of doubt that Aare Akin-Olugbade must have assisted, supported, employed and helped dozens of people. Unfortunately, nobody is talking about his philanthropy and other good sides of him. Perhaps, because they do not know, or he didn’t project them while alive. Now, all they are talking about is his love for Rolls Royce, especially the ones he customised with Bolu 1, 2, 3, 4…, which takes us back to my question again; what will people remember you for?
What legacies are you going to leave behind? What will people say any day the Lord chooses to invite you home? Time is still your friend, especially if you can read and above all, allow this to guide your thoughts and actions, going forward. In fact, there could not have been a better time than now to begin to write your story. Give more attention and time to your chapter, inject all the necessary twists and turns, make it so interesting and inspiring that whoever reads it will say to himself or herself that indeed a good man, a good woman passed through this route and in the course of doing that, he or she touched too many lives in a terrific and spectacular way.
Now, I repeat, is the best time to begin. Tomorrow may be late. Which points to the fact that time is of the essence.
As a society reporter, I encountered the late Akin-Olugbade a couple of times at some high profile parties and events. But because he’s no more, I would rather leave my impression of him for another day.
Finally, I pray that his soul finds eternal rest in the Lord, and above all, urge and implore those of us that are still living to think about what we would want people to say about us any day the curtain falls on us. We must therefore begin to consciously and unconsciously work on making our lives terrific, spectacular and fabulous.
Thank you and have a blessed day!
Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of bestsellers like The CEO’s Bible, Success Is Not Served A La Carte.