A former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, has described the autobiography of elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Oba Olu Falae, as a compelling account of Nigeria’s political, economic and democratic evolution.
Mimiko, who was the reviewer of the 501-page book titled ‘The Triumph of Grace’, emphasised that the book captured the country’s struggles and missed opportunities as well as enduring hopes.
The former governor, who stated this on Thursday during the public presentation of the book, emphasised that the life and times of the former presidential candidate are linked to the story of modern Nigeria, making the memoir an essential text for understanding the nation’s trajectory.
According to the former governor, the autobiography transcends the boundaries of a personal memoir to function as a historical document of national relevance.
Published in 2025 by Liwat Creations, Ibadan, the book spans 22 chapters and traces Falae’s journey from his early life in Akure through the civil service, banking, partisan politics, pro-democracy struggle, business and traditional leadership.
He stated that “it would hardly be an exaggeration to suggest that the story of Nigeria in the last half-century cannot be fully told without reference to the life and career of Oba Olu Falae.”
Mimiko said Falae’s record in public life had elevated the book beyond personal recollection into a historical document of national relevance, stating that “from the era of national development planning, through the turbulent years of structural adjustment, to contemporary debates about restructuring and federalism, he was more than an observer; he was an active participant.”
The former governor noted that the opening chapters of the book reveal the family values, discipline and educational exposure that shaped Falae’s worldview and public conduct.
He particularly referenced Falae’s account of his years at Igbobi College, where school rules, according to him, applied strictly to all students regardless of status or background.
Mimiko recalled one of the anecdotes in the book in which the late Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, was reportedly denied access to his son because it was not an official visiting day.
“That was an era when institutions still had moral authority and rules were not bent to accommodate privilege,” he said.
On Falae’s public service career, Mimiko said the autobiography presents the portrait of a gifted technocrat whose rise was driven by diligence, competence and intellectual depth.
He said one of the notable examples was Falae’s role as a young planning officer in drafting the Mid-West Regional Development Programme after the creation of the Mid-West Region in 1963.
According to him, such commitment to duty partly explained why Falae rose to become a federal permanent secretary before the age of 39.
He also said the book offers useful insight into some of the policy debates that shaped Nigeria’s economic history, including the Second National Development Plan and the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP.
