The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Nike Oshinowo adopts low profile

    Man, like the animals that range in the wilds, has learned that adaptation is the best approach to survival. As one leaves familiar terrains behind and finds oneself in lands never trod before, one has to shed old skin like the cobra or adopt new one like the chameleon in order to fit into new surroundings.

    As man grows older, he also learns to let go of past glories and fame and hold fast to less ephemeral things like familial love and friendships. This is the case with one-time beauty queen, Nike Oshinowo. After decades of reigning as the top star on the social scene, the former Miss Nigeria has embraced the calm and repose that quietude brings. No longer does she actively seek out the klieg lights of high-octane events which she used to rule back in the days.

    Saddled with nurturing to wholesome growth the two kids she gave birth to through gestational surrogacy, the ex-wife of bearded doctor Tunde Soleye has no time for the goings on in high society.

  • Jennifer Obayuwana not in a hurry

    Nothing seems capable of holding back Polo Avenue boss, Jennifer Obayuwana, from enjoying life as she deems fit. Not a broken heart, and certainly not the pain of an upcoming marriage that turned into a mirage overnight.

    Cute Jennifer has learnt from her experience that it is best to sweep away memories of disappointment from one’s mind and look towards to more glorious future. That was evident last Tuesday as she stepped out to mark her birthday.

    Spotting a seductive and dashing dress, Jennifer struck a poise of calm confidence for the photographs as she celebrated her latest birthday with a photo-shoot. Her failed relationship with actor Peter Saleh seems to have been confined to the dustbin of history along with her other unsuccessful romantic forays with others like ace music act, DBanj.

    The beautiful daughter and heiress of billionaire boss of Polo Avenue, John Obayuwana, does not seem to be interested in kindling new flames of love or rekindling old ones anytime soon.

  • Accolades for Aregbesola at 60

    Conventional wisdom dictates that becoming a governor in a political terrain like Nigeria’s is no mean feat. To become a governor who enjoys the backing of the masses is even more phenomenal; something political office holders covet like a golden fleece. Although it is something desired by many, only a few have been able to attain it. The few include the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

    Aregbesola loves his people and his people love him with passion. Little wonder encomiums were rained on him from high and low quarters as he celebrated his 60th birthday on Thursday.

    The week-long activities commemorating the birthday of the people’s governor was bankrolled by his committee of friends. Kicking off on Thursday, there were prayers for the governor from the Muslim faithful yesterday while today is set aside for a 3-hour solidarity trek where thousands of appreciative Osun people would join the governor on fitness walk.

    The colourful birthday festivities will continue tomorrow with a novelty match between the executive and legislative arms of the state government. On Monday, the governor, popularly called Ogbeni by followers, will show his love for humanity by visiting several orphanages and lifting the mood of the children with loads of presents.

    On Thursday, there was a colloquium which had the movers and shakers of politics and society in attendance.

  • Happy times for Kemi Nelson

    These days, life for the matriarch of high society, Mrs Kemi Nelson, is like a boat ride on the calm sea. She has been the recipient of one good news after another in recent times. While the only way for some is down after they have reached the zenith, Madam Nelson keeps soaring higher and higher as she ascends to the stratosphere.

    One of such levels was unlocked recently with her appointment by the Buhari administration as an executive director at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). Since her elevation, the Yeye Sewa of Lagos and South West Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been walking on cloud nine. Her flamboyant headgear has become even more colourful as she continues to receive congratulatory messages from all and sundry.

  • What’s up with Dimeji Bankole?

    It is with slow, painful but unsuccessful attempts at flapping its wings that the cockerel came to the realization that it cannot fly. If recent developments are anything to go by, former speaker of the House of Representatives and Ogun State gubernatorial hopeful, Dimeji Bankole, may have come to the same conclusions.

    A few months ago, the state was buzzing with the news that he was going to contest the number one seat. Now the story appears to have changed. No sooner had he announced his interest in the coveted seat than he started traversing the state with a truckload of empowerment schemes to capture the hearts of the people. He also organised numerous meet-and-greet programmes with the various constituencies.

    While the story from his camp is that he is still very much in the running for the coveted seat, the conditions of most of his contact centres seem to be telling a different story. Gone are the days of hustle and bustle at the centres as they are now as quiet as a graveyard.

    Although no one seems yet to know the reason for this state of affairs, it is being speculated in some quarters that the youngest ever speaker of the House of Representatives is finding the gubernatorial battle too hot to handle.

  • Oba Tejuosho marks 28th coronation anniversary with praise, worship

    Those who thought the recent 28th anniversary of the coronation of the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, would be full of the usual rituals of songs and dance, traditional festivals and a visit to one or two shrines and sacred sites to pay respect to the ancestors have since found how wrong they were. Unlike many other Yoruba monarchs who dare not go against ancestral beliefs, Oba Tejuosho, a devout Christian, never hesitates in flaunting his faith even though he occupies one of the most revered stools in Yorubaland.

    So it was that at his recent coronation anniversary, all those who had looked forward to a celebration rooted in traditional rituals went home disappointed. The prayers of a chief priest were replaced by those of a pastor. Folk music gave way to gospel ministrations led by talented singer Tope Alabi. And instead of a show by masquerades, there was a 28-hour marathon praise organised by Oba Karunwi Evangelical Movement as a form of thanksgiving for his longevity on the throne.

    The people of Oke-Ona have become used to their monarch’s ways. Although opposition from traditionalists has sprung up now and then, his seat remains as secure as ever.

  • Dapo Abiodun in double celebration

    Anticipation is at fever pitch among the friends and associates of Heyden Oil supremo, Dapo Abiodun. The excitement that is currently coasting through the veins of elite society has nothing to do with Democracy Day but with Dapo Abiodun’s day. Monday, May 29, is the day the charismatic and highly connected oil baron will mark another birthday.

    Those that were privileged to attend his birthday last year are still excited at the memory of an event that redefined what a birthday bash should look like. And to make this year’s instalment doubly special, May 29 is not only for the birthday celebration but also for the launch of the Ogun-born dude’s newest venture, 12 Temple; an exclusive lounge cum networking epicentre catering to only men of taste and finesse on member-only basis.

    Nestled within a relaxed atmosphere in Ikoyi, the latest lounge in town is a chic place that would redefine highbrow relaxation once it is launched.

  • Lawan on the flip side of life

    A crack is all it takes for the edifice of integrity to crash. Anyone in doubt should ask Farouk Lawan. The former leader of the cacaus of self-proclaimed integrity campaigners in the House of Representatives and poster boy of progressive politics has been stranded in a desert of political irrelevance since he was implicated in a bribery scandal that rocked the House.

    Although he has been part and parcel of the political equation since 1999, Lawan rose to fame when he and his group took the then Speaker of the House, Patricia Etteh, to the cleaners over a $620,000  renovation scandal. Occurring at a time the nation was looking for credible leaders, the revelation instantly shot Lawan to the stratosphere of public adulation where he remained until he came crashing back to earth after he was implicated in a $620,000 bribery scandal involving oil magnate Femi Otedola.

    Gone with the scandal was Lawan’s ambition to rule Kano State and even his bid to represent his constituency for the fifth time. Now abandoned by those that formerly paraded themselves as his friends and rejected by erstwhile supporters, he is now in every sense in political cocoon.

  • Jimoh Ibrahim to fly 200 friends to Oxford

    Great people know that to succeed, one must constantly be on the move, looking out for new things, innovating and discovering virgin terrains. They have the eagle eyes to detect, even from a distance, ventures that will yield fruits and those that might bring ruin.

    Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim is one of such fellows. He is blessed with a discriminating acumen that tells him when to move on from old loves and embrace new ones. Thus, as the embers of his dying oil business gave off another fatal whiff, he shelved sentimental attachment to the venture that had fetched him much. He sold most of his fuel stations to Dapo Abiodun, the Chairman of Heyden Oil, who was all too glad to acquire them.

    Having got rid of the once beloved child that had become a burden, Jimoh moved like the conquering heroes of yore into global banking and investment. To say he has enjoyed success in this regard would be to state the obvious. His thriving investment banks in Hong Kong, Ghana and Sao Tome now stand as testimonies to his genius and foresight.

    Now the toast of many governments, Barrister Ibrahim has a palatial residence in Dubai where he has been named as an official investor in the country because of his large real estate holdings there. As if these accomplishments were not enough, he would also be graduating from the University of Oxford in May and has resolved to fly a 200-strong contingent to the event.

  • High society mourns with Mutiu Sunmonu

    Death is a robber that steals life’s most precious possession. It comes stealthily like a thief and turns day into night within seconds.

    For former MD of Shell and current chairman of Julius Berger, Mutiu Sunmonu, death is the malevolent creature that has stolen the love of his life. After stalking her for some time in the detestable garb of cancer, the grim reaper finally did its worst on Monday, plunging Mutiu and the entire Sunmonu family into inconsolable grief.

    The late Mrs Sunmonu was known to all and sundry as an exemplar of the good wife. She used her husband’s considerable fortune to better the lot of many and was loved for her caring acts towards the downtrodden. She was like a beacon of hope for them, and for others, a model of virtue and grace.

    Still reeling from the shocking news, members of the high society have been visiting the home of the Sunmonus to console the family and offer the little comfort they can to Mutiu and his children in their trying times.