The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Okowa, wife celebrate 30 years of marriage

    A few days ago, the home of the Delta State governor was in celebratory mood. But it had nothing to do with the festive season. The first couple of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa and his beautiful wife Edith, celebrated the 30th anniversary of their union.

    Like a ship steered by a master captain sailing serenely on the high seas, the Okowas’ marriage has outlasted all the snares life has tested it with. That is why the Okowas threw all restraint to the winds to hold a spectacular celebration in honour of a love that is still growing strong.

    The lush event featured a display of pomp and exquisite entertainment. The joyous couple totally gave themselves over to the moment as they relished the day in the company of family members and friends.

  • Son’s death casts pall on Stella Oduah’s birthday

    Son’s death casts pall on Stella Oduah’s birthday

    Former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, clocked 54 on Thursday. In times past, this would have been cause for massive celebration. Courses would have been prepared, costly wines imported, musicians booked for performances and expensive attires ordered. But this year, it was as quiet as a sermon session in the home of the Anambra senator whose tenure as a minister in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government was enmeshed in controversy.

    Since the senator lost her son, Master Maxwell Toritseju Chinedu Otoromi, last August, the usually rambunctious senator has had a change of demeanour. Gone are the vivacity, boisterousness and self-assuredness of the old times. These days, she looks wan as she wears her grief on her sleeves.

  • Concerns over collapsing top Kogi govt official

    Repeated collapse of a top female official of the Kogi State Government at public functions is beginning to generate concerns among her friends, associates and well-wishers. She attracted huge attention for the second time in a few months when she fell down as she climbed a staircase at the Government House, Lokoja, on Wednesday last week.

    She had collapsed on the rostrum in a similar fashion at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state at the township stadium in Lokoja last year, leaving the crowd to roar in a combination of concern and amusement.

    But not a lot of people believe she has no one to blame for the ugly occurrences but herself, given her knack for tight-fitted skirts and high-heel shoes. Not a few people who had thought she would learn her lessons after she fell on the rostrum at the township stadium last year expressed their disappointment penultimate Wednesday that the woman was once again a victim of her own fashion sense.

  • Between President John Mahama and Otunba Mike Adenuga

    Between President John Mahama and Otunba Mike Adenuga

    If you ask the outgoing Ghanaian president, John Dramani Mahama, who his favourite Nigerian is, the name of Globacom boss, Otunba Mike Adenuga, will not be far from his lips. Such is the Ghanaian president’s love for the Glo supremo that he does not miss any opportunity to sing his praises to high heavens.

    For those who don’t know, Otunba Adenuga has been the toast of the Ghanaian leader and others in the West African country since he successfully launched Glo there to challenge the foreign companies which had hitherto been monopolising Ghana’s telecommunications sector. The giant strides Glo has made in Ghana in just a few years eventually culminated in Dr Adenuga being conferred with Ghana’s highest honour, Companion of the Star of Ghana (CSG). This makes Dr Adenuga, who also has Nigeria’s second highest honour, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), one of the very few recipients of national honours in two African countries.

    So deep-seated is President Mahama’s regard for Adenuga that he even spent much of his time on the podium at the recent Ovation Hall of Fame induction ceremony extolling the virtues of the Otunba Apesin of Ijebuland, even though it was he and not Otunba Adenuga who was being inducted.

  • Faysal Harbs lies low

    Like an emperor whose long disappearance from his kingdom has left his people buzzing with speculation, Faysal Harbs is still a hot issue for discussion in celebrity circles. Like a big ball of hot akara, his name remains on the lips of everyone as they wonder where the handsome dude has disappeared to.

    Faysal Harbs once bestrode the city of Ilorin like a conquering Caesar, dominating its economic sphere and making waves as the king of its social circle. In those days, no event was complete without him, and wherever he went, celebrities were sure to gather like attendant flock at the behest of their shepherd.

    Of recent, the popular dude, whose friends occupy high and mighty seats in the political hierarchy, has been conspicuous by his absence at social functions where he hitherto reigned supreme. His whereabouts are known only to a few of his cronies as he shuts himself away from the bright lights of publicity. There are whispers that this is not unconnected with the recession that has hit the man’s businesses, but so far this has not been proven.

    While Faysal Harbs enjoys what many hope will be a soon-to-end sabbatical from the social scene, his wife, Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Harbs, is keeping her husband’s torch alive as she remains visible, mingling freely with top celebrities at social occasions.

  • Things fall apart for Ubi Franklin and Lilian Esoro

    Things fall apart for Ubi Franklin and Lilian Esoro

    When the going was good, Ubi Franklin and Lilian Esoro were the epitome of a love-struck couple. The two were the darlings of the social media as they regularly uploaded photos and made posts celebrating and serenading each other. But all that has changed since their marriage crumbled like a castle of snow melted by a vindictive sun.

    Though the couple have a child to show for their one year of marriage, the two, especially Lilian, are doing everything possible to leave no one in doubt that the union is dead and buried.

    Lilian has since dumped her wedding ring. She has also stopped acknowledging anything that connects her to the Tripple MG boss, such as the lounge he built in her name.

    She did not stop there either as she has since taken the bold step of changing her Instagram profile name back to Lilian Esoro from the Lilian Esoro Franklin she was proudly using when things were rosy.

  • Interesting times for Iwo monarch

    Interesting times for Iwo monarch

    While the poor may spend all day casting envious glances at the glittering homes and wealthy purses of the privileged, they will do well to remember that life is not a bed of roses for anyone irrespective of their social standing.

    Events playing out in the ancient town of Iwo in Osun State bear witness to this truism. The monarch of the town, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi (Telu I), is feeling the heat just a year after ascending the prestigious stool of his illustrious Iwo royal forefathers.

    The flamboyant monarch is no stranger to controversy. He has caused stirs in the past by wearing suits and a pair of jeans on the throne, and praying at the mosque with his crown on his head. He is currently in the middle of a bitter dispute with other monarchs in the state concerning the throne on which he currently sits.

    His main opponent, the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye, claims that Oba Akanbi engaged in internet scams before he became king, and therefore should not be allowed to sit on a royal stool. The case is now in court.

    The main gist now is that events have taken an interesting turn with the presiding magistrate issuing a bench warrant against the Oluwo for failure to obey summons to appear in court.

    But the monarch, who was represented in court and explained why he didn’t honour the court summons, described the application filed against him as scandalous and calculated to embarrass him. He vowed to challenge it at a higher court.

  • Kessington Adebutu’s architectural wonder

    Even at a grand old age, Sir Kessington Adebutu is showing no signs of resting on his laurels. He is still moving around the country commissioning this project and launching that initiative. Like a superman athlete, the recently-installed Asoju Oba of Lagos does not know the meaning of slowing down.

    Recently, the boss of Premier Lotto led a galaxy of eminent personalities to commission the palace of the Alaye Ode of Ode Remo in Ogun State. The glittering royal haven was made possible largely through the deep pockets of Sir Kessington and other wealthy figures in the area.

    The lottery magnate, popularly called Baba Ijebu, recently moved into a multi-billion naira mansion on Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi. Forget the dictionary definition of ‘mansion,’ you have to be there to appreciate the architectural wonder that sits atop four plots of land in a choice area.

    The latest gist in town is that Baba Ijebu is getting ready to give away one of his daughters’ hand in marriage to a son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The couple-to-be Tolulope Adebutu and Adejanwo Obasanjo had their introduction at the new Ikoyi home of the Adebutus. Dignitaries from the South West were present aplenty at the two families’ meet-and-greet.

  • Somto Akunyili set for wedding

    Somto Akunyili set for wedding

    Like the sunny day after a night of relentless thunderstorm, happiness is once more filtering into the home of the Akunyilis. The family of the late Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili, have had precious little to cheer about since their legendary matriarch untimely departed this plane of existence. But a new source of cheer has emerged in the person of their lovely daughter, Somto, who is set to get married to her heartthrob, Chinonso Asuzu.

    Somto and Asuzu’s story is a tale of the triumph of love over loss and distance barrier. Not only did their love outlast Somto’s grief over her mother’s demise, it also survived the oceans of space between her and Chinonso. They were in a long distance relationship for three years before the US-trained Somto and the Russian-trained Chinonso finally met in December 2015.

    As they get set for their nuptials, pre-wedding photos of the couple have been splashed all over the social media. They can be seen striking lovely poses in simple outfits. The much-anticipated wedding is scheduled to hold sometime soon in the Akunyilis’ hometown of Agulu, Anambra State.

  • Bisi Onasanya on the roll

    For former First Bank boss, Bisi Onasanya, retirement couldn’t have come at a better time. While many people expected him to take a deserved rest after stepping down as the MD of First Bank, he has been showing everyone that he still has some tricks up his sleeve. He has come up with a new business venture that is raking in the big bucks.

    The astute banker has diversified into the real estate sector. He owns choice properties scattered all over the Lagos Island. He recently floated a real estate company, Address Home, with office somewhere on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The new company is already making waves as it has become one of the biggest property concerns around. Bisi has been using his rich contacts he acquired over his long stay in the banking sector to generate lucrative patronage for his new business.