Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola has spoken about his personal approach to prayer, contrasting it with the religious routine of fellow billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.
Otedola made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Dangote Refinery, where he reflected on several significant moments in his life when he said he turned to God in prayer.
Otedola recalls four occasions he prayed
According to the businessman, there have been four major occasions when he specifically remembers praying to God.
He mentioned his father’s campaign for the Lagos State governorship, the financial crisis that led to his bankruptcy in 2008, his 2017 visit to the Dangote Refinery and the eventual commissioning of the facility.
Reflecting on his relationship with prayer compared with Dangote’s, Otedola said:
“Aliko is probably one of the religious people I’ve come across with. I only talk to God when I need a favour,” he stated.
Otedola also recalled his business partnership with Dangote, saying the two businessmen worked together from 2007 and acquired stakes in the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
He said they held a 20 per cent stake in the facilities before the project encountered difficulties, which he attributed to alleged acts of sabotage.
Otedola’s previous controversies
Otedola has also been involved in several controversies during his career, including the fuel subsidy scandal under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the time, he was accused of benefiting from the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme. Otedola denied the allegations, maintaining that his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, was involved only in diesel trading.
He also alleged that the money involved was connected to a sting operation conducted with the Department of State Services (DSS), a development that became part of the case involving former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan.
Otedola’s latest remarks have attracted attention online, particularly his comparison of his own approach to prayer with Dangote’s religious routine and his reflections on some of the defining moments of his business career.