Oladapo Sofowora

AFTER the passing away of Harry Akande on December 5, 2020, at the age of 77, the race for who succeeds the billionaire as the Agbaoye of Ibadan land begun. The race for who fills the lacuna – highest honorary chieftaincy title in Ibadan land – left by the late business magnate saw several top individuals making moves to occupy the seat. For more than a month, the seemingly tortuous search for a fitting ‘son of the soil’ replacement, who must be very wealthy, powerful, influential, and well connected, had gone on.

After wide consultations by Ibadan high chiefs and kingmakers, they finally settled for Kola Karim, who is widely and fondly referred to as KK. The former Oyo state guber aspirant, shipping magnate, and stupendously wealthy boss of Shoreline Natural Resources has been tipped as the next Ibadan son to be bestowed with the prestigious title. The billionaire Polo buff is an astute and visionary businessman who owns a vast business empire with substantial investments in many key sectors of the economy.

KK’s emergence was approved by all sundry as it came with no opposition, given his stylish and affluence background. Many agree that despite stiff competition for the title, Kola who is the youngest of them all is a round peg in a round hole as the title would befit him with his status and charisma. The incoming Agbaoye of Ibadan Land is also the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Costain (West Africa) plc, Nigerian Ropes plc, and serves as a Director in seven other companies, including Shoreline Power Company Ltd, Shoreline Energy International Ltd, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Schlumberger Testing & Production Services Nigeria Ltd, Trans Amadi Facilities Ltd.

The official date for the title coronation party and rites is yet to be announced but sources averred that it would be a ground-breaking ceremony as the whole Ibadan will standstill as Kola will attract those who matter most in the country’s political, business, and society to his chieftaincy ceremony.

Oladapo Sofowora

BABATUNDE Folawiyo, holds a special place on the list of men who dared to make their own wealth despite being born rich.

Blessed with a deep pocket and huge financial war chest, the Chairman of Yinka Folawiyo Groups, a conglomerate with a wide interest in a business chain like Agriculture, Energy, Shipping, Real estate, Oil, and Gas, is one of those who have witnessed astronomic rises in whatever they venture into.

The cosmopolitan dude who turned 60 in April 2020 has also held several top positions which have earned him several commendations for his Midas touch. In 2016, Folawiyo and his firm announced its first production of crude oil from the Aje Field, the first producing field outside of the Niger Delta area in Nigeria. Aje Gas and Condensate Field lies in Oil Mining Lease 113 in the Benin Basin, about 43 kilometres offshore Lagos State. He was said to have pulled huge investment spanning into millions of dollars for the exploration of crude to reduce the pressure from the Niger Delta region which will also increase the amount of barrel produce daily.

According to sources, for Folawiyo to further pull more investment to expand exploration of his oil field in large quantity, he is allegedly planning to sell off his shares at Enyo Retails, a thriving Oil and Gas retail outlet currently taking over the industry’s downstream sector.

And some thought Tunde is quitting the oil and gas sector.

However, contrary to the claim, the London School of Economics Graduate is planning to focus more on the Upstream sector which is the exploration and refining of crude product. In the takeover bid, Tunde is said to be considering the sale of Enyo Retail to Ardova Plc formerly Forte Oil headed by Abdulwasiu Sowami of Prudent Energy.

“The deal is underway and near completion. It should be signed and sealed before the end of Q1 of 2021. The shareholders of Enyo Retails have given their nod which makes the acquisition realistic. Immediately after the completion, Ardova Plc would retain the Enyo branded stations, which will operate side-by-side with the AP brand, whilst leveraging the strengths of AP and its group companies. it is subject to the successful completion of due diligence exercise and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. If the deal is finally sealed, the synergy will give their competitors a run for their money,” an inside source divulged.

By Olushola Ricketts       

Once upon a time, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akamu Adetunji, and the ’23 kings’ who former Oyo State Governor, Isiaka Ajimobi, gave crowns to, couldn’t share the same room. Their rift was only put to rest when current Governor Seyi Makinde withdrew their crowns as part of the condition to settle out of court.

Eminent personalities, indigenes of Ibadan, clubs and societies in the ancient city including former President Olusegun Obasanjo had tried to wade into the conflict but were unsuccessful.

Recently, the high chiefs graced Olubadan’s queen, Olori Ololade Adetunji’s 70 birthday party which held at Jogor Event Centre in Ibadan. After the Oba walked in with the celebrant, all the chiefs stepped out and prostrated before him to pay homage.

It was their first public appearance after their differences with Olubadan was settled by Makinde and they all had fun at the event.

The birthday party also had in attendance personalities like Captain Kola Karim, Mr. Ayo Karim, Hon. Joseph Tegbe, Oloye Akin Fijabi, Cheif Lekan Alabi, Bayo Adelabu, Chief Folashade Tinubu Ojo

By Olushola Ricketts

Oyo-born former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Debo Adesina, has begun another chapter in his life after he was named as Nigerian ambassador to Togo.

For anyone who is not familiar with Adesina, he is definitely not a mediocre or run-of-the-mill.

He is known as one of Nigeria’s best journalists, becoming Editor of African Guardian magazine at age 27 in 1993, which made him the youngest man to be appointed editor of a major publication in Nigeria at a time. He then became Deputy Editor of The Guardian (Daily) and pioneer Editor of The Guardian on Saturday.

In 1999, Adesina was appointed substantive Editor of The Guardian, a position he held for more than 12 years. Many times, he won the Editor of the Year Award from prestigious foundations and got nominations of Outstanding Young Person of the Year like it was his birthright.

He was awarded the ‘Young Global Leader’ honour by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2006, becoming one of a selected group of young personalities from different professional backgrounds across the world, given the charge of charting a new course for global development. He serves in informal capacity as counselor to business and political leaders across the world. A man of ideas, Adesina is also a sought-after speaker in Nigeria and internationally.

Ahead of Oyo governorship election in 2019, he was largely tipped to run for the number one citizen of the state but it never happened.

By Olushola Ricketts       

With the exploits of their star musician, David Adeleke aka Davido, the Adeleke family has become a household name in Nigeria. But before his fame grew, there was Isiaka Adeleke, who was governor of Osun State back in 1991 and was highly respected in the political arena.

Unfortunately, at 62, the former governor’s life was cut short in April 2017. A few days ago, his younger brother, Ademola Adeleke, popularly known as the dancing senator, celebrated his posthumous birthday.

Describing him as a mentor and benefactor, he said his absence on his birthday left him distraught as well as millions of people who would forever cherish his wonderful roles in their lives.

He said: “You’re not here but memories of the great moments we shared together console me. How wonderful would it have been that you’re with us to celebrate your 66th birthday?  I miss every second of your exit and wish you’re still here with us.

“Even though you’re no more, you live on, Asiwaju. You’re always in my mind and those of millions you made incredible impacts while alive. As the first elected Governor of Osun State, your legacy of good governance and unmatched philanthropic gestures will stay forever in the minds of the people.

“On your birthday and every other day because you have been the sweetest part of my life, I celebrate you for the wonderful grace that nature used you to serve for humanity. Every second of my life, I cherish the memories of you and today, I wish you joy and unceasing blessings of Almighty Allah on you in Heaven.”

Until his death, the late Adeleke was a serving member of the National Assembly representing Osun West Senatorial District. He headed the Senate Committee on Capital Market.

By Olushola Ricketts       

General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is a definition of grace which has sustained him for 78 years as a human and 40 years as a pastor.

As the respected cleric celebrated his 40th anniversary as head of one of the biggest churches in the world on Thursday, January 21, he recalled some old memories.

In a video interview, Adeboye admitted that when he was told he would become the General Overseer by the late founder of RCCG, Reverend (Pa) Josiah Akindayomi, he said ‘God forbid.’

He explained: “I prefer the quiet life and I still prefer the quiet life. The quiet life as far as I am concerned is the sweetest and I knew then that becoming the general overseer will expose me a lot. If you like a quiet life, you don’t want to head an international organisation and my father in the Lord told me clearly that I would travel all over the world. I told him I was willing to serve as a pastor under a General Overseer and I will do my best but apparently what is written is written. So here we are.”

According to him, the first years as a young GO were full of challenges from senior pastors who were there before he became born again and probably saw me as an upstart.

“The church was started in 1953, I joined the church in 1973. Many of these pastors were my teachers, workers in training and baptismal classes. So just coming from nowhere and being catapulted above them all, one could understand that it was not too pleasant. Initially, the cooperation was not too robust,” he explained.

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“The initial mistake I made as GO maybe was that I trusted too much. It took me some time to learn that only God could be trusted and that led to some mistakes. I would ask somebody to go do something, go to sleep believing the thing was done. Only to wake up and discover that the person had not moved. The only friend you can trust 100 per cent is God.”

Born in Osun State to very humble parents, Adeboye completed his first degree at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1967. The same year, he married Foluke Adenike and they are blessed with four children – Adeolu, Bolu, Dare and Leke.