In an emotional open letter, Fatai Okoya, widely described as the alleged first son of billionaire industrialist Chief Razaq Akanni Okoya, has publicly apologised to his father after more than four decades of estrangement.
In the letter, pride aside, Fatai reached out with humility, saying:
“More than four decades have passed, and today, I write with a humble heart, putting aside all pride to say: Dad, I am truly sorry. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me… No matter what has happened, you remain my father, and I will forever be your first child.” 
He ended the letter expressing hope that love would speak louder than the pain of the past and that they could begin again while there is still time.
SEE ALSO: Razaq Okoya: His Wives, Children and Business Empire
Chief Razaq Okoya’s View on His Older Children
The letter comes against a backdrop of public statements Chief Okoya, who is the CEO of Eleganza Group, has made recently about his children.
In interviews, the Aare of Lagos has openly spoken about the challenges he faces with some of his older children. In a video from April, he said many of his older children do not want to follow him into the family business and prefer to go their own way.
“I have a big problem too. A lot of my senior boys, senior girls, they don’t want to follow me. They want to be on their own. They want to do things on their own. Good luck to them,” he stated.
In another interview in January, Okoya stressed that he is clear about his succession plans. He has repeatedly emphasised that he is deliberately grooming the younger children he shares with his wife, Chief (Mrs) Shade Okoya, so they do not “fail like their senior ones” or “go astray like the older ones.” He has described the younger set as the ones who “hold the future” of the Eleganza empire.
These earlier comments now give Fatai’s public apology more meaning. After decades of distance, the man who describes himself as the first child has chosen to humbly break the silence.
Nigerians React to the Public Apology By Fatai Okoya
Some see the letter as a sincere, long-overdue step toward healing. Others question the timing and whether private family matters should play out so openly.
As of now, there has been no public response from Chief Rasaq Okoya or any official statement from the family.
SEE ALSO: How Razaq Okoya Went From Tailor to Industrial Giant
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