The Nation Newspaper

Category: Happenstances

  • Dapo Abiodun eyes Senate

    Dapo Abiodun is one man whose footprints on the Lagos and Ogun social scenes remain indelible. The chief executive of Heyden Oil and Gas Limited is contemplating testing his strength in the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Information at the disposal of Celeb Watch indicates that he might have perfected plans to throw his hat in the ring for the senatorial seat of Ogun East currently occupied by Senator Gbenga Kaka.

    The businessman and socialite is a leader of the All Progressives Congress in Ikenne Local Government Area. The youthful looking oil magnate is believed to wield a lot of influence among the youths in the area but only time will tell if that could translate to an electoral asset in 2015.

  • Tundun Abiola’s ex-husband remarries

    Tundun Abiola’s ex-husband remarries

    A few months after he divorced Tundun, one of the daughters of the late MKO Abiola, popular socialite and businessman, Atama Attah, has remarried. This time around, the fair-complexioned man went into the corridors of power to fish for his new wife, Josephine Washima, the Special Adviser on Job Creation to President Goodluck Jonathan. The wedding took place on Saturday December 21.

    Tundun’s marriage to Atama Attah had been consumated in a talk-of-the-town wedding held in London in May 2009. The marriage, which produced two lovely children, hit the rocks as a result of ‘irreconcilable differences’ and they went their separate ways after three years.

    Tundun has lately been sighted at some social functions where she danced as if dance was going out of fashion. She betrays no emotion whatsoever about her crashed marriage.

  • Shina Peller opens nite club

    Shina Peller opens nite club

    After many months of absence from the social radar, Shina Peller, son of the late popular magician, Professor Peller, is back with a bang. The close friend of many in the Lagos social circle heralded his return to the scene with the opening of a multi-million naira night club called Quilox on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Some observers have described Quilox, which opened its doors to business on December 20, 2013, as the biggest clubbing facility in West Africa. Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Ogun and Kwara states respectively were at the facility to declare it open. John Obayuwana, Dapo Abiodun, Lanre Ogunlesi, Aremo Segun Oniru, Oscar Onyema, Princess Hastrup, among others, were also at the opening ceremony.

  • Patience Jonathan, Bola Shagaya still as close as ever

    Patience Jonathan, Bola Shagaya still as close as ever

    Contrary to the story making the rounds that billionaire businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya, and Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, have parted ways on account of some issues that border on trust, the two remain as close as ever.

    There had been reports of the First Lady instructing her aides not to grant access to Sagaya because of an alleged act of betrayal on her part. It was even rumoured that the First Lady appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to reduce Hajia Shagaya’s influence in his government by not inviting him to official functions at the State House. Rumour mongers also said Folorunso Alakija is the woman now fancied by Dame Patience.

    However, investigations by CelebWatch indicate that all the rumours are nothing but tissues of lie emerging from the figments of the rumour mongers’ imagination. The two powerful women still relate with each other as closely as they did when Dame Patience was the wife of the Vice President. In fact, they always attend events together, except Hajia Shagaya is not in the country.

  • Sunny Kuku plans big for 70th birthday

    Sunny Kuku plans big for 70th birthday

    It promises to be one of the biggest birthday parties in 2014 when Dr. Sunny Kuku becomes a septuagenarian. It is only a matter of days before the renowned consultant physician and endocrinologist turns 70.

    And he has every reason to celebrate. Apart from the fact that he enjoys a prominent place in the annals of great achievers, the last few months have seen him experiencing a lot of good things. He recently had an ex-beauty Queen, Susan Hart, as wife. His son also walked down the aisle in a wedding ceremony that announced the Ijebu High Chief as a father par excellence. Besides, he was elected as the Chairman of the famous Kings College Old Boys Association before he was recently made the President of Ijebu Council of Chiefs.

    His cerebral exploits are globally acknowledged in that he holds several degrees and fellowships in Medicine, including two doctorates. He has been the Joint Chief Medical Director at EKO Hospital (Ekocorp Plc), which he co-founded in 1978. He holds several traditional titles, including the hereditary Olorogun of Ijebu-Ode.

  • Aisha Babangida’s new love

    Aisha Babangida’s new love

    Rather than devoting her time to brooding over the losses of the past, Aisha Babangida has chosen to tuck her heartbreaks into the dustbin of history and embrace a new love. But it is not one that could lead her to marital vows any time soon. The pretty first daughter of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) has done away with all amorous entanglements for now to devote her mind to philanthropy.

    CelebWatch gathered that she has found solace in helping the masses with her Better Life for Rural Women project. She is no longer regular on the social space as she has been spending the best of her time combing through the nooks and crannies of the nation in a bid to better the lots of rural women like her late mother did.

    Aisha has widened the scope of the initiative began by her mother by taking it beyond the shores of Nigeria. Some African countries have been brought into the scheme, necessitating its rechristening from Better Life for Nigerian Rural Women to Better Life for African Rural Women.

  • Toke Makinwa, Maje Ayida’s romance crumbles again

    Toke Makinwa, Maje Ayida’s romance crumbles again

    The 12-year-old romance between Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida has nose-dived with the two lovebirds going their separate ways. While this would not be the first time they would embark on such separation, there were indications that the latest development was based on the emotional issues they shared on their respective social media platforms.

    While Toke wrote about being faithful to a relationship that has no definite direction, Maje countered that his love was not being returned. Toke eventually came right out with it last weekend when she announced that she had broken up with Maje. She was also quick to add that she would no longer subject herself to any society-induced pressure that would force her to get married to the wrong man.

    Apparently fearing that the relationship might break up with the way things were going between them, Toke chose to opt out at a time the damage would be less. Yet, many who have been familiar with the style of the two lovers insist they might make up again as this would not be the first time they would separate only to come together again. But a source close to Toke said she had finally made up her mind to call it quits..

  • Varsity honours Oba Akinruntan with doctoral degree

    Varsity honours Oba Akinruntan with doctoral degree

    Awards would not stop pouring in for one of Nigeria’s most colourful monarchs, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom. The latest is the honourary doctoral degree the chairman of Obat Oil and Gas was given by LEAD City University, Ibadan a few days ago.

    According to the university, Oba Akinruntan has been a proud ambassador of the institution from where the royal father bagged his Bachelor of Science degree. The oil magnate did not just bag his B.Sc degree in the school and turned his back, he has been of monumental assistance to the institution through his numerous donations.

    Meanwhile, words are going round that Oba Akinruntan’s first son, Yomi, is warming up for the bye-election into the House of Representatives occasioned by the unfortunate death of Hon. Raphael Nomiye in Abuja last month. Hon. Nomiye, the lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency on the platform of Labour Party, had won the primaries only by marginal votes ahead of Yomi.

  • Governorship ambition tears Chime, Ekweremadu apart

    Governorship ambition tears Chime, Ekweremadu apart

    In politics, they say, there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests. This age-long saying appears to be holding true for Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his political ally of many years. According to the gist making the rounds in the Coal City, things have fallen apart between the two former political allies.

    In the past few days, the media has been awash with verbal crossfire by their aides. Those in the know say the crux of the matter is the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State. Senator Ekweremadu is speculated to be nursing an ambition to take the baton of the state’s leadership from Chime in a contest that may also pit Chime against his other loyalists who are also eyeing the seat.

    Chime was reported to have been in league with Ekweremadu several months back, assuring the latter of his full support. But events took a new turn when Chime decided to zone the governorship seat out of the reach of Ekweremadu. The Deputy Senate President, who is not a neophyte in the game, was said to have felt betrayed by Chime’s action and decided to take the battle to the incumbent governor who only weeks ago got separated from his wife.

  • Grace Egbagbe slows down

    Grace Egbagbe slows down

    Time was in the social space when no function within and outside Lagos and Abuja would be tagged ‘A-list’ without the presence of popular socialite, Grace Egbagbe. As one of the most stylish women around, the one time lover of Lagos big boy, Lanre Nzeribe, added colour and class to events.

    But lately, the Director of Marketing at Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has cut down drastically on the number of events she attends. An inside source hinted that she has gone to the extent of screening the invitation cards she gets from friends. This the source attributed to the fact that she is getting older and already preparing for her retirement, hence the need to leave the social scene for up and coming socialites.

    The Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State indigene is also said to be fast fading from the social scene because of her foreign engagements.