The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life and Style

  • Still the graceful Erelu Abiola Dosunmu

    Still the graceful Erelu Abiola Dosunmu

    On the social scene, some socialites make a fleeting passage like the beep of a mobile phone, while others bestride it with eternal grace. One woman who epitomises the latter category is Erelu Abiola Dosunmu. When she was sighted with the Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos at the Polo Tournament in Lagos a few days ago, one thing that was easily noticeable was the grace with which she is aging. Like a newly crowned beauty queen, Erelu caught the attention of many at the event as she strutted in her trademark all-white regalia.

    The ever-smiling estranged wife of Chief Deinde Fernandez added glitz to the event as the paparazzi had a field day clicking their cameras on the woman, who was earlier mistaken for another Erelu Ajoke Dosunmu who passed away early last month. In her 60s, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu is never short of admirers, thanks to her beauty which has not waned for decades.

    She is savouring the goodwill she has built over the years with her exemplary lifestyle. She has just returned from a holiday in Paris, France, from where she denounced the rumour of her death.

  • Daddy’s girl, Jennifer Obayuwana

    Daddy’s girl, Jennifer Obayuwana

    The latest entrepreneurial exploits of Jennifer Obayuwana have not been without some thoughtful wishes for the darling daughter of the one of Nigeria’s men of style and panache, John Obayuwana. Without knowing it, many who visit the recently opened Polo Avenue, the one-stop shop for expensive designer wears in Lagos, always pray that Jennifer, the beautiful executive director of the company, would find a worthy suitor to crown her efforts. The thinking is that a young lady who is so blessed and hardworking deserves nothing less.

    A life partner has continued to elude this winsome lady who was linked with different young men in the past. While she is not known to jump around, Jennifer has had her share of broken relationships, while some of the men who would love to keep her are reported to have complained that they are intimidated by the overwhelming presence of her father in her life. The Polo boss is almost always in the company of her daughter, and this, we hear, is putting off some potential suitors.

    To be sure, Obayuwana’s love for her daughter is not misplaced. But some potential suitors believe it is high time he gave her pretty daughter some space for her to consider their advances.

  • I knew even when OzzyBosco was a baby that he would be a star—Kid musician’s mother Nonye Mojekwu

    I knew even when OzzyBosco was a baby that he would be a star—Kid musician’s mother Nonye Mojekwu

    HOW much love can a mother give to a child? That is a question that Chief Mrs. Nonye Mojekwu answers very easily. A popular business woman who deals in real estate and well known in society, she has given up a major part of her erstwhile lifestyle, to live the dream of her children, one of them being OzzyBosco, a kid star.

    Chief Nonye Mojekwu says she knew even as a baby that the boy would be a star. At four, the boy had already started telling her he would be a singer. Initially, she didn’t take it seriously until at same four years old, he won ‘Kids Got Talent Competition.’ It was a new dawn for her. And gradually, she began without even knowing it to give up every other thing to realise the big dream for the boy. As she says, ‘Every day of my life is now channelled to developping him.’

    From the ‘mini studio’ in her home at Opebi area of Ikeja, Lagos, OzzyBosco at seven, now operates from a corporate office in the same area. In this interview, Chief Mrs. Nonye Mojekwu says, ‘the dream has just begun.’

    In recent past, did you ever have anything to do with the entertainment industry before OzzyBosco’s birth?

    You said before OzzyBosco? No, I did not. I am and have always been in real estate business. I was never in the corridors of entertainment until I found myself there two years ago when OzzyBosco came to limelight. I found myself in it and have to do what every responsible loving mother would do for her beloved child, nurture the child’s God-given natural talents.

    As the mother of OzzyBosco, at what point do you think the music talent in him sprouted out?

    OzzyBosco started before he became three months. I can still recall one recording I did of him with my camcorder when he was barely three months old. I did the recording two days before he became three months. I recall that the nanny place him on my lap after his morning bath and we sang his popular song, Jacko Jacko, meaning Michael Jackson and the baby danced his heart out using his hands and head since he could not make use of his legs.

    He was just beginning to learn to sit, notwithstanding he would dance to anything that made sound such as television, radio, even sound from an airplane on air. Oziomachukwu exhibited his natural talents quite early in life.

    Was he able to sing or say anything then?

    No he couldn’t. We were doing the singing and he was always entertaining everybody with his dancing. So way back then, we knew he was going to become an entertainer, what we failed to realise was the magnitude of his versatilities.

    At what point did you decide that he should take a shot at it?

    It is pertinent to state that we had and still have the habit of singing and dancing in my bedroom before we retire to bed; hence, we nicknamed my bedroom “Mini Studio.” I recall that our favourite song was P’Square’s music, Chop my money. Till date, OzzyB and the rest of the children love P’Square’s music, which helped him to climb the ladder. You may wish to know that OzzyB has two older siblings, brother and sister as well as two others who are two years older and members of his dance team. The kid star happens to be the baby of the house and the whole family are united in nurturing his awesome qualities.

    Back to your question, when he was four years old, we saw on television a promo from “Kids Got Talents Competition” inviting kids to register. We were reluctant to register him because the competition was for ages four to 14 years. When we eventually did, I taught him a song in my bedroom which we called Obey your God. I also taught him intro and outro on stage which he delivered marvellously on the D-day. At Muson Centre, OzzyB, who was the youngest competitor, took the place by storm and got a standing ovation from everybody; the judges, spectators and even fellow contestant and carted home “Best Entertainer Trophy”.

    You should have seen the small four-year-old OzzyB standing in between two 14- year-old girls when they all gathered to collect their winning prizes. Clearly, his swags, charisma and stage craft became obvious as the media besieged us at the venue. From then on, there was no stopping for this kid dynamite who continues to dazzle the high and mighty whenever he mounts the stage to do what he does best. Special thanks to the media who till date supported and followed him everywhere he went.

    As the mother, where do you think OzzyBosco got this talent from?

    It is coming from God Almighty who deposited so much talent in this child. Although in the family, we love to sing and dance, nevertheless, I will not ascribe nor claim that it came from the family, his is simply amazing.

    Nobody in your family has been into music before?

    I cannot recall any member of the family doing music. In fact, my bigger children are professionals and have excelled in their various fields.

    He went on to get more fame, wining more and more recognition. But amidst all that, how does he cope with his education and entertainment?

    I wish to state clearly that we don’t pressure him with the music career. His classroom education takes precedence over every other thing happening around him which includes entertainment. The classroom education continues at home where a special study-room is built for the children with a home tutor who not only has been tutoring them for six years but goes everywhere with them. As you could see this evening, his home teacher was busy with them when you walked in and that happens Monday to Friday.

    Nevertheless, we have also created time for piano, music, dance and voice training lessons. Importantly, for the total development of the child, time for rest and relaxation are given serious attention. OzzyBosco is a fast learner; tell him one thing and when he delivers it, he gives you double. For a kid his age, he possesses an unbelievable retentive memory. Last year, for instance, he was the class captain of a very competitive school. He is also exceptional in graphic arts, hence, he is made the art master this year, a position he still holds.

    So how does that affect him in school? What is the feeling like among his peers, his classmates?

    They see him as their idol and motivator, because he is very kind and loving; he is very much loved by his peer. Initially, we worried about this but not anymore because he blends very well with other children in and outside the school. He enjoys being at school, hence he would ask me at weekends, mummy is tomorrow school? And if I query him why the question? He would reply: ‘I want to go to school.’ We are so glad he loves school.

    I am sure his friends call him; some may even want to perform with him. How do you handle that?

    We don’t give him all the calls. Occasionally, we allow him to speak because the calls just keep coming. At other times, we take their calls. Although they are always so anxious to speak with him directly, but we came explaining to them that he is still a kid. Though we talk to them nicely because after all they are his fans who love what he does.

    When he has an event booking, what preparations does he get into before going on stage?

    He has a dance instructor. I believe you must have seen him a while ago here because of the big event we are having over this weekend. Actually most of the time, we are usually more particular about getting the chorographers ready, not OzzyBosco because he gives them a 110 percentage. Whenever he is given dance instructions, he goes on stage, does what is expected of him adding his own colouration. On stage, whatever he does comes out so beautifully well. We don’t really bother much about him; we rather concern ourselves with his choreographed dancers being a tighter team to reckon with as it regards stage craft.

    How did you come up with the creativity that meets up with what he has?

    His dance instructor is a professional who knows his onions. Mine is to look at it and say this will work or this looks like it will not work, or this one is good. I just put myself in the position of a spectator. Ours really is to advice.

    How long are you going to keep the group as one?

    The choreographed dancers are already part of the team. Whenever we travel, they travel with us. We just came back from Calabar carnival. They are permanent members of the team. Many more are itching to join the group, one of them just called in your presence, but for now we want to keep this group together. However, we hope to start a dance crew for the group leaving the window open for prospective dancers to join because they all have been craving for a place to express their dancing talents.

    How many events has he participated in so far?

    Wow, OzzyBosco has done 121 stage performances, I mean serious stage performances and that is because we don’t accept every invitation. His brand positioning directs the events he honours. Mark you, he doesn’t perform for kids only, he also performs for adults. Not too long age, he performed at the Imo State governor’s daughter’s wedding. He was the only artiste there. You need to have seen him blow their minds.

    He also performed at ‘Ovation Red carol;’ he actually won an award there. He also performed at the just concluded ‘Lagos Countdown’ and he was the only kid star that was on stage. He was also at Nigeria Music Video Awards, where he carted away the newly created video category created for kids, beating all other five contestants to win the best video by a minor. We are already applying for the Guinness book of records; he has been invited to audition for Desperate Housewives in Ebony Life TV.

    Are you a manager?

    No, we have a team managing OzzyBosco, people that have agreed to come together. I am not an entertainment guru, so I can’t help myself in a line that I do not know much about. I am somebody that hates failure; that’s why you see me the way I am working with him. There are beautiful people around me, they all have their businesses and some of them are in broadcasting also. We all agreed that we need to mentor this boy.

    Who creates the songs?

    I create the songs, everybody creates the songs. Nobody in particular writes the songs and sometimes, he OzzyBosco gives the chorus. He comes to my room and says, ‘Mummy I dreamt of this song last night, let me sing it for you.’ I put my recorder or phone on and record. I give God the glory.

    Every child grows up, wakes up one day, tells the parents ‘I want to be this, I want to be that,’ what did OzzyBosco tell you?

    He said, ‘I want to be a singer, a dancer.’ And I said cool, fantastic, work hard because if you work hard, you would be who you desire to be. That is our slogan here, ‘you must work hard.’

    What is the size of your team like when you travel for shows?

    Usually 16, yeah, that’s because OzzyBosco and his dance team are 7, with me it makes 8, his bouncer 9, his media man 10, his nanny 11, the teacher goes with us everywhere because at every given opportunity they’ve got to open their books. That makes 12, the driver 13 and extra hands.

    Who creates the costume? And the design, where does it come from?

    I create and the design comes from my head.

    Lets look at a technical industry problem. OzzyBosco is already going places and he is growing bigger than this, you are already doing this job with your crew and you are doing a fantastic job so far, what if he is hijacked by industry people?

    We intend to leave him in such care, but not immediately. We need to groom him a little more. It is just that we want to take so much stress off the person because look from where we started from, there is no manager that could have coped with that. But I could cope with the stress because he is mine.

    This is another industry issue which you are going to face at a point in time. For instance, use of hyper-active drugs and all that, how are you going to handle that?

    I would do whatever I can as a human being and a duty mother to protect these little kids and leave the rest for God because even if OzzyBosco is not into music or entertainment or even my child, true many children are derailed, I can only play my part and protect my baby and leave the rest for God. I didn’t start it in the first place; he started it all, so he knows how he wants to go about it.

    What the challenges you are facing right now?

    The challenge is lack of time. I don’t have enough time for myself right now. I don’t attend to a lot of invitations because they keep clashing with his. And of course my first choice is his programme. Many things that I am supposed to be doing, but I cannot be in two places at the same time.

    How about late night outings?

    We don’t actually encourage him to take late night events unless it becomes very important like the Lagos Countdown. Countdown means till January 1st. That is once in a while, but ordinarily we don’t allow it.

  • ‘My life as a care giver for the aged

    ‘My life as a care giver for the aged

    FEHITOLA TOYIN OBILOMO, the chair of Caring Hands International, was in ecstatic mood. She moved her body in time with the music that played slowly in the background. Of course, she had every reason to be happy. She had another opportunity to do what she likes doing most: feting elderly people.

    About 700 elderly people had converged in a hall, chatting, eating and making merry. They could barely hide their excitement. From the way they conducted themselves, even the blind would know that they were enjoying a kind of treatment they did not get often.

    It was a scenario Obilomo had grown familiar with. “My dad was an auditor in the old Western Region. He died when he was just around 50. We grew up living with many people in our house. There were many people my parents were supporting. My parents had five biological children, but there was never a time the children in the house were fewer than 13. I grew up in an environment like that. We grew up to love,” she recalled.

    Prior to the incorporation of Caring Hands International, she had engaged in helping the needy and the elderly. “At that time, we were not really sure of which category of people we should care for,” she said.

    But all that changed with a dramatic encounter she had with an old man. “We were looking for a building and we went to Ayetoro (a part of Osogbo, Osun State capital) and saw some old buildings, one after the other. We looked at one and saw that there was space. We were told that the man who owned the building was living in the next compound.

    “We met with him. His environment was tidy and comfortable. The house was well furnished and from the look of the place, we knew that the man was not a poor man. Later on, we got to know that the man was highly educated, judging from his spoken English.”

    Luckily for Obilomo, the old man was receptive to her, as he was apparently looking for someone to talk with.

    “After about 20 minutes, we did not see anybody around him. We then asked: ‘Baba, where is Mama (his wife)?’ But he said Mama had gone to meet with the Lord.’ It was something we had sensed might be, because Baba was around 90, if not a bit more.”

    The task of taking care of the 90-year-old man had been placed in the hands of a woman. The old man’s children had employed the woman who took care of his breakfast, cleaned the house and made sure that the old man had his bath. From the way the environment looked that morning, the woman that took care of the old man had already visited.

    For his dinner, the old man depended on those who hawked bread or eko (pap). Unfortunately, the old man found it difficult to get down from his one-storey building.

    Though lonely, the 90-year-old man, according to Obilomo, found a way round his problem. Rather than remain at the mercy of anyone, the 90-year-old man got an empty paint bucket to which he tied a rope and lowered down from the balcony of his upper floor apartment. He would lower the paint bucket down with money in it and a hawker would put whatever food he desired in the bucket. And if there was a balance he wanted to collect, he would do so through the same process.

    After listening to the story of the 90-year-old man, Obilomo became really touched. The children of the old man must be living with the belief that they were taking good care of the old man while nobody was monitoring the woman that was taking care of him.

    Obilomo said: “We thought that if something like that could happen to an individual who was rich and comfortable, then something worse would happen to those who have nobody to care for them.

    “We discovered that elderly people suffer from loneliness, and that is the major thing that kills them fast. It is sad that their children don’t have time for them. The loneliness is much more pronounced among the elderly people who have no offspring.

    “That was when we decided to have a structure where we can take care of the elderly,”

    The plight of the elderly became the genesis of Caring Hearts International. Fortunately, life itself had prepared Obilomo for this task. She had worked as a senior nurse and social worker. She takes care of the elderly by gathering them together every month to give them the necessary medical attention and offer legal and spiritual advice to them.

    “We also have a counselling unit,” she said. “We call them (elderly people) and ask what is bothering them. Most of the time, we find that one of their children is having a problem or something. This is rampant among the women.”

    She said it is not uncommon to see some of them embarking on long fasting, which affects their health. “They would tell you that their children had been married for so many years but had no issues. And they would keep on fasting and fasting. We always advise such a person.”

    Many would not find the ways of aged people funny, but Obilomo says she has found a way of tolerating them, especially when they are suffering from dementia.

    “Dementia is a situation where an individual starts losing memory. You see somebody who has just eaten, may be about 20 minutes ago shouting: ‘Won’t you give me food? I’ve not eaten for two days!’ It is a psychiatric problem. We bring in doctors, even psychiatric doctors, to come and talk on the issue. Even if it is nutrition problem, we bring in an expert in nutrition,” she said.

    Besides assisting the elderly in the areas of health and nutrition, Obilomo also assists them in solving their legal challenges. “We have some old people who are rich and have assets. We invite legal experts to talk to them about Will,” she said.

    But she said that all the programmes are being financed from her private pocket. She does not receive funding from any quarter.

    “It is only the money contributed or sourced for by the board of trustees, and very few friends who believe in the vision,” she said.

    So, where does she get energy to do the job? “I just believe it is a vision given to us. One thing is that even before we started the NGO, we had seen in our family that it is not difficult to help others.

    “We believe in sharing; my husband is a reverend. An engineer by profession, he retired from PHCN as an executive officer. He is a reverend in ECWA Church. From the beginning when we got married, we saw that it was very easy for us to give out and assist people. So, it has not been a problem to us.

    “If we have, we give, and that has sustained us. It has not been a case of I’m spending too much and I’ve not been receiving anything. We are not waiting to receive anything really. What makes us to continue the programme is that we look at the elderly ones and the way they appreciate what we are doing.”

    Good as it may seem, Obilomo says that some of the elderly people do not appreciate what Caring Heart International is doing. But she said that has not stopped her from continuing the work.

    “There are a few of them who feel it is their right. And the way they talk, it is as if they are paying for the services. But most of them pray for us and their prayers have been a source of encouragement for us. We’ve seen some programmes put on ground and nobody appreciates them. But because they appreciate them, that makes us to want to continue to do them.”

    She also said that the funding of the programme chokes her organisation, but she is not discouraged by it. “We believe that God who has sustained the programme will continue to do so, although we wouldn’t mind others joining forces with us to sustain the programme. These people need a lot of assistance but we’ve only been able to do little as individuals.”

    She admits that the attitude of some of the aged people could sometimes be discouraging, but she said that nothing would dissuade her from doing what she is doing.

    “I don’t feel like quitting the care of the elderly because I believe that whatever we can do in our capacity we will do. But when there is nothing, there is nothing you can do about that. But those things we can do, we will do them as long as we have the source of funding.

    “There is nothing anybody can say to me that will make me say I don’t want to do it again. I might be a bit discouraged by the way some of them talk, because there are some things some of them would say and I tell myself that these people were in their homes and I said I had a programme, I was the one who asked them to come. So, whatever happens, I must be able to overlook it.”

    Happily, the task of taking care of the elderly has in no way affected the home front. She says she has found a way of balancing the two. She says she is lucky her children are grown up. In fact, one of them, who has a Master’s degree in Public Health from Sheffield in UK, is the programme co-coordinator.

    She said: “It has never affected the home front. It is like the whole family is involved in it. It is a vision God gave the whole family; even all our children believe in the vision.”

    The job is stressful, no doubt, considering her tight programme. But at 53, she looks healthy and radiant. Unknown to many, she hardly uses drugs. Asked about the secret of her good looks, she responded: “There is no secret. It is God’s grace. I’m one of the nurses. I don’t even believe in taking drugs. But when you see me take drugs, that means I’m really sick and I need to be out of here.

    “When I was nursing kids, I wasn’t using drugs for my children. In fact, God has been faithful. It is not a matter of taking drugs. But I know that maybe if I have been using food supplement, I could have looked younger.”

    She is retired and helping the elderly occupies a prime position on her mind. But out of her tight schedule, she takes time off to rest with a ‘sabbatical’ outside the country at least once a year.

    She said: ”I have retired. I have all the time in this world to myself. If I don’t go out, I attend church activities. And when I’m at home, I watch the TV or lie down. I listen to music.

    “We make sure we go out of the country at least once a year. It could be more than once in a year. We go to the US, the United Kingdom or Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), just me and my husband. It might just be for two weeks because we’ve seen that if we don’t go out of the country, we don’t rest.”

    Obilomo would love to do more than she is doing for the elderly, but she says that getting enough funds has been a problem. She plans to run an old people’s home in the nearest future. “It will be a very conducive place,” she said.

    She recalled that she once watched a programme on the TV about old peoples’ home, which really broke her heart. “An old peoples’ home is supposed to be run like a home. The person there will feel like, ‘I’m not in my house but I’m in a house.’ It is a place where they will have amenities at their beck and call,” she said.

    She says the kind of home she is planning will have visiting doctors, physiotherapists and cooks, attending to the needs of elderly people.

  • Bianca Ojukwu in husband’s shoes

    Bianca Ojukwu in husband’s shoes

    Every day in the life of Bianca Ojukwu portends a fresh adventure and a step up the nation’s socio-political ladder. This time around, the beautiful wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, has been selected to step into the shoes her husband left behind as the national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The faction of APGA recognised by INEC rose from a meeting a few days ago to hand over to her the mantle of leadership of the party her husband founded before his demise. Accepting the honour, Bianca made it clear that she was not stepping into the late Ikemba Nnewi’s shoes but would only try her best to position the party to fulfill the mission and aspiration of Ojukwu.

    Bianca Ojukwu is one woman who has gone through many phases of life and has still maintained her identity. From the innocent winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and Miss Africa pageants in 1988 to the first African to win Miss International the following year, Bianca etched her steps in the sands of time in beauty pageantry in Africa.

    Then came the revelation in 1989 that she was dating the former Biafran leader and political associate of her father. Their controversial romance was a national talking point in the early 1990s.

  • Where is Gbenga Obasanjo?

    Where is Gbenga Obasanjo?

    For some time now, Gbenga Obasanjo has been off the social radar. The medical doctor son of the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has been savouring a new life with his new wife since he called it quits with his former wife, Moji Onabanjo, in one of Nigeria’s most sordid divorce cases.

    Gbenga, an epidemologist, was once reported to have taken a new wife in a low-key ceremony attended by only a few of his trusted friends.

    Gbenga’s name found its way into public consciousness last October when an Associated Airline plane bearing the remains of the late former Ondo State governor, Dr. Segun Agagu crashed, claiming many lives. He was rumoured to be among those who died in the crash until it emerged that he did not make the trip. Nothing else has been heard about him since then.

  • Marifa Whyte lies low

    Could Marifa Whyte’s absence from the social scene be a result of motherhood? Could she have been bogged down by marriage? Not much has been heard of the beautiful lady who hit the social scene with a bang some years ago since she was reported to have given birth in the US in 2011. She has not been gracing A-list social functions like she used to do in the days of yore.

    Marifa’s arrival on the social scene some years ago had set tongues wagging. Established party chics were green with envy, asking who she was and where she was coming from. But before anyone could mutter an answer, Marifa had wormed her way into the league of big girls who made things happen in the Lagos and Abuja social circles.

    Fair-complexioned and pretty, her romance with the limelight began when she started hobnobbing with the high and mighty. Although not much was known about her background, the then University of Lagos undergraduate’s social status soared when she floated her own finance company.

    She also found love in the arms of an Abuja-based multi-millionaire businessman who has been spoiling her with everything she desires. Apart from the gift of a house in highbrow part of Lagos, she has several luxury cars at her beck and call.

    Those who have seen her lately say she now spots a wedding ring, wondering if she has tied the nuptial knot secretly.

  • What’s up with Tonye Cole’s Nehemiah Project?

    What’s up with Tonye Cole’s Nehemiah Project?

    Tonye Cole’s non-profit organisation, The Nehemiah Project, appears to have assumed a hibernation mode. It is a social responsibility project aimed at encouraging Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 30 to become the best at what they do. The project aims at empowering them to pursue careers in which they can utilise their God-given skills and talents.

    A few years ago, Cole’s name cropped up among those of President Goodluck Jonathan’s ministerial nominees. Unfortunately, Nigerian politics, in its characteristic manner, sacrificed him for someone else to occupy the slot reserved for Rivers State. He was promised that he would be appointed after the furore generated by that disappointment must have died down.

    He later set up the Nehemiah Project through which he intended to reach out to the teeming population of Nigerian youths. This he did in partnership with Ibidun Ighodalo. People rose to support the project because of the pedigree of the two goal-getters. But few months after, the enthusiasm about taking the project to the next level began to wane. Now, not much has been heard about it for almost two years. Has the fate that befell Cole’s ministerial ambition also befallen the Nehemiah Project? It is almost three years since he was promised a fresh ministerial nomination but he is yet to be called up for any national service.

  • Bimbo Daramola fetes thousands on Governor Fayemi’s birthday

    Bimbo Daramola fetes thousands on Governor Fayemi’s birthday

    In Ekiti State where he is the member representing the people of Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola bestrides the social scene like a colossus. His entrance into any venue is greeted with the chants of Nitori ojo ola wa (because of our tomorrow), his campaign mantra when he was seeking the support of the electorate in 2011.

    That Bimbo speaks the language of the grassroots people is a fact known to everyone in the state. That much he demonstrated last Saturday on the occasion of Governor Fayemi’s 49th birthday. He went round Ado-Ekiti to fete the people. As he took a walk to the campaign office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he holds sway as the Director-General of Dr. Kayode Fayemi Re-election Campaign, a sea of heads gathered behind him, singing Fayemi’s praises.

    In a matter of minutes, a large crowd had gathered around him. He then led them to numerous relaxation spots and restaurants where he feted them with sumptuous meals and drinks.

  • Dapo Lam-Adeshina set for the altar

    Dapo Lam-Adeshina set for the altar

    Dapo, son of the late former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adeshina, has been brimming with excitement in recent times. His excitement has nothing to do with his re-appointment as a commissioner in Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s cabinet. After all, pundits had concluded that he would make a return when Governor Ajimobi dissolved his cabinet a few months ago. The governor is believed to owe a lot to the late Lam Adeshina in ascending the number one seat in Oyo State.

    Dapo, the young-looking Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science and Technology, is excited at a life re-defining event about to occur in his life. Information at our disposal indicates that Dapo will soon dump his status as a bachelor to join the ranks of married men.

    While the identity of the bride-to-be remains yet under wraps, Governor Ajimobi is said to have accepted Dapo’s family’s request that he should be the father of the day.