The news of the unexpected and painful passage on to glory of our dearly beloved compatriot, quintessential community leader, diligent Assistant Comptroller General of Customs rtd, social engineer and reliable stalwart of All Progressive Congress, Sir Jimmy Olumudi came as a rude shock but has continued to reverberate and painfully sound in my ears and mind. The sad event which took place in the unforgettable after of Thursday 26th June, 2020 is one that has left the entire Okere royal family, Owe people, Okun community, Kogi indegene and entire nation sad, perplexed, touched and bereaved.
Sir Jimmy Olumudi, a committed Catholic, loving father, responsive Boss and responsible leader is(was) one individual who spent his little above seventy years serving humanity with such unequal humility, ACG Jimmy Olumudi is(was) a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation at the Nigeria Customs Service with candour, demeanour, integrity, commitment and retired very meritoriously, as an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs. His uniqueness and outstanding traits are embedded in his humble disposition, benevolent characteristics and uncompromising tendency.
My first encounter with the iconic man and fulfilled elder statesman, was as a Bulletin Boy at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kabba, almost three decades ago. He was such a generous serving customs officer that he would ask that I keep the change whenever he picked a Bulletin, no matter the denomination of the currency, besides his generosity at the church gate, sir Olumudi was the biggest donor for any church or community donations that time. As a former student union leader, I had course to interact with him severaly almost two decades ago, one unforgettable one was with Henry Irewole(then President of Okun students and now a Customs officer) and Motunrayo Alamoh(the now popular Òlòwò Sibi presenter on Africa Magic Yoruba), Daddy Olumudi in a short, modelled us, mentored us and encourage us into the future we are now proud of.
After meritorious retirement, Sir Jimmy Olumudi shocked the entire Owe people and his friends when he refused to live in the luxurious VI Lagos, alluring Maitama Abuja or any part of the world like people of his calibre do, he imbued the act of patriotism and returned home, established industries such as Jivco Bread, Jivcon Hotels, Jivco Quarry and many more, all in the bid to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths of Kogi State. Sir Jimmy Olumudi stayed behind at home, nurtured a business he would never need a kobo from, grew people he would never need their help, established social clubs he would never seek help from, mentored youths that were never his biological children and helped sustain an egalitarian society he didn't wait to benefit from.
As a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs who ordinarily should always return there to get contracts and favour, he once said ever since he retired from Customs, he never stepped his feet on the soil of Customs again, that was the level of contentment and principles he exhibited. In the community, one will expect a typical Nigerian highly placed and well connected like Sir Olumudi to demonstrate affluence, abuse privileges and take advantage of his contact to oppres, acquire wealth and also be deep rooted in self inclined political activities, he rather humbled himself, carry himself with every sense of humility and demonstrated very uncommon candour.
It is impossible to pen the best words to describe a man who assisted without noise, a man who gave without notice and a man who lived for others to live. As mortal we are confident that sir Jimmy Olumudi has done his part and now resting at the feet of Jesus, we are consoled by his useful life and immeasurable generosity, we immortalize him in our hearts as we remember his good works, we celebrate rather than mourning because he came, he saw and he conquered.
Adieu Okèrè lila
Adieu Owe'mèlèbò
Adieu Sir Jimmy Olumudi
