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| Bashorun Lamina Ayinla Ojugbele with 3 of his Pretty wives cutting the birthday cake |
Tuesday June 16, 2015 despite being a
working day in Nigeria didn’t stop Lagosians and other people from all walks
off life as they put aside others things to attend the 80th birthday
celebration of one of Lagos, South West Nigerian famous real estate merchant, Bashorun Lamina Ayinla Ojugbele.
11am prompt, the octogenarian assembled a cream of young, middle-aged and
elderly business men and women to celebrate with pomp his 80th
birthday which took on the entire day. The classy event took place at the Eko Club House off Bode Thomas Street- Surulere, Lagos, a place that Basorun Ojugbele’s name is held in very
high esteem. Most of the top Lagos social clubs where Basorun Ojugbele has his
name registered as a member were well represented at the event with the
presence of cream-de-la-cream of the Lagos social circle turning down
everything to honor one of Nigeria’s biggest real estate merchants. Your soar
away Africa’s number 1 celebrity encounter blog, Asabeafrika was at the event and brought you exclusive pictures and
snippets from the Ojugbele @ 80 bash. Enjoy the excerpts.
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| The Highly Fulfilled Bashorun Lamina Ayinla Ojugbele |
About Lamina Ojugbele’s gait @ 80
invitees who sighted Bashorun Lamina
Ayinla Ojugbele as he arrived for his 80th birthday celebration
at Eko Club at 12:45 pm were taken
aback in great awe as the octogenarian came down from one of his SUVs all by
himself without using a walking stick or aided by anybody, a feat many attest
to the way he had lived his life from his youth age till 80. The Ota Prince whose late mother was the
First Iyalode of Ota land in Ogun
state was simply clad in a white T-shirt and a dark colored trouser, with a Kangol
styled cap which indeed made him look boyish and sprite. On the
frontage of his T-shirt was the bold inscription in appreciation to the
Almighty God for his life “Alhamdulilahi I’m 80” while the
back of the T-shirt simply had “June 16”
inscribed on it. (Alhamdulilahi means
“Thank God” in Arabic language). Perhaps, Bashorun
Ojugbele’s outfit was to recall for him, his youthful days ‘when men were
boys’. Except for some fierce looking hefty and heavily built body guards
(Security Personnel) from OPLS (On Point Logistic & Security Services) who
gave body security to the Bashorun. The
celebrant moved around the venue greeting friends and close associates from
seats to seats. He also went to the restroom momentarily by himself with no one
aiding him or with a walking stick. His gait really shocked and surprised
guests who attended the one in town birthday celebration.
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| The Bashorun with three of his Oloris about to cut his 80th bash cake |
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| Representatives of the Olota of Ota |
Best kept secret of Lamina Ayinla
Ojugbele
lived in Nigeria of the 50s, 60s and 70s must have heard the name of this young
socialite who had a popular hotel and club house on Palm Avenue, Mushin of
those days. One of the famous traditional Apala music exponents of that era, Alhaji Yussuf Olatunji did a number in
one of his albums on one Lamina Ojugbele
and his “Ota Night Club and guest house” in Mushin
area of Lagos. Then, Ota guest house in Mushin was one of
the happening places for night life after late highlife music icon, Bobby Benson’s Hotel De Bamboo on
Ikorodu Road. In later years, Juju Music lord turned Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi equally gave the same Ojugbele a memorable number in one of
his albums where the Juju music icon lyrically advised the Ota prince to
continue to be of good character and never deviate from his principles (Ojugbele bio tin se, bee na ni koo maa se,
mama yiwapada etc), his name and many of his peers like Chief Lai Amoje and Prince Kamal Adeyemi aka Super
soon went up in the social circle of the early 80s and late 90s. They rocked
town, made fortunes and drew attention in all places. But for Lamina Ayinla Ojugbele, he was more
than all that. From club and hotel business, Ojugbele grew to become one of Nigeria’s and if not Lagos’ biggest
land merchants with landed properties scattered in many choice areas across the
state and in Ota, his home town and place of birth.
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| The Yoruba On-Air-Personalities from Bond FM & OGBC 2 led by Alhaji Tajudeen Ajani aka Oju-Elegba |
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| Representative of Alaafin of Oyo with a guest |
For instance, a close
business associate who rate Ojugbele
high in real estate investment said he is the owner of over 80% of landed
properties at the famous Aluminum
village, Dopemu, Lagos and equally has a vast land of real estate at
Ota, Ogun state apart from other landed properties scattered in many other
areas of Lagos and Ogun state respectively. Between him and Eleganza boss, Rasaq Akanni Okoya, nobody could bet who has more landed properties
as both, when many Nigerians were going to Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford
to acquire educational knowledge, were busy acquiring lands. Ojugbele also invested in livestock
farming under the famous Ojugbele Farms
in Ota area of Ogun state. His farm was the biggest and most popular after Obasanjo farms until couple of years
back when he clocked 70, he closed down the farm business to invest in his real
estate and property business. His philanthropic gesture is said to be very
legendary as he has given scholarship to many known and unknown persons that
has come across him and that is why he has so many titles bestowed upon him by
several communities in Lagos and Ogun state. Bashorun Lamina Ayinla Ojugbele is the Baba Adinni of Kariola Mosque,
Ota, Ogun state. He is also the Mogaji of Ilogbo land in same Ota,
Ogun state and he is equally the Baajiki of Idimu land among many
other traditional and social titles bestowed upon him as a result of his
philanthropic gesture. The octogenarian is a member of Lagos Island Club, Eko Club,
City Star Club and Iganmode club in Ota land.
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| The Bashorun with his London purchased 80th birthday cake |
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| The London Imported Cake for Baba Ojugbele @ 80 |
Ex-Lagos Deputy Governor toasts Ojugbele
people know that ex-Lagos state deputy governor under action governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Rafiu Jafojo sent in a birthday
greeting card in form of a letter to the celebrant, Basorun Lamina Ojugbele. Jafojo
who is said to be more advanced in age (87) than Ojugbele couldn’t make the event due to old age challenges but he
ensured a letter personally signed by him was sent in to his long time friend
and blood brother from same Awori land. This blog gathered that
both Ojugbele and Jafojo have come a long way as they both
grew together in same Awori community
and until politics drew them apart in the early 80s. They later re-united and
did many things together.
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| Some top ladies from the Civil Service @ Ojugbele’s 80th bash |
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| The traditional drummers from the Iga Idugaran Palace of Oba Rilwan Akiolu |
Between Ebenezer Obey & Lamina
Ojugbele
to the organizers of the 80th birthday event of Basorun Lamina Ojugbele squealed to Asabeafrika that Juju Music exponent,
Commander now Evangelist Ebenezer Obey
when contacted to perform at his friend, Lamina
Ojugbele’s party as Chief Entertainer quickly turned
down the gesture to collect his normal fee of N5million
per outing from Bashorun Ojugbele
and only settled for a lower sum for what is known as “Standard Outing Allowance”
(SOA) which is solely for packing of Musical instruments and welfare of band boys
as the 73 years old Juju Music Lord turned Evangelist saw the event as an
opportunity to pay back to a loyal supporter of his career in the last 50
years. According to those close to Bashorun
Ojugbele and Evangelist Obey,
despite the fact that both of them are of different religion, they both shared
a friendship that is legendary till date. Impeccable family sources said some
of Chief’s elder wives and his younger brother, Alhaji Buari Oloto preferred King of World Beats, King Sunny Ade or Fuji Music Czar, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal to perform
for Baba at 80 but the real estate guru insist it must be Obey or nobody else. And to show how firm his relationship with Obey is, Ojugbele ensured that his picture of over 50 years and that of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey when they were both in their 20s
was put alongside his other younger day pictures in his birthday banner placed
at a strategic position at the venue. However, the real truth of the matter
according to another credible family source is that Commander Ebenezer Obey actually started his night jumps in the 60s
at Ojugbele’s Ota Night Club and
Guest House at Mushin. The nostalgic feeling of their old time friendship
is said to be the bond that has held both Ojugbele
and Obey till date. And once the
Commander stormed the stage at 2pm dot that afternoon, he didn’t come down
until 8pm.
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| A crowd of guests at the Ojugbele’s 50th birthday bash |
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| Prince Buari Oloto’s children |
Glo ambassador Madam Kofo is MC
in Lagos and other places, veteran actress and gele headgear expert Abiola
Atanda aka Madam Kofo is getting the upper hand as she coordinates top
notch events for the high and mighty. She was the one in charge at the Ojugbele’s 80th birthday
bash as she conducted the event with sense and style. The veteran gele expert and MC who was at a time
besieged by loyalists of some of Chief
Ojugbele’s wives was able to maintain decorum, sense and maturity as she
didn’t want to offend the celebrant and any of his wives since it was a
polygamous setting and many of the Chief’s wives equally invited their big
friends to the party as well. Some of the guests wanted their names to be
mentioned and recognized during musical intervals by Commander Ebenezer Obey’s band. Madam Kofo who is also a long standing member of the Lagos social
circle was able to locate and identify some of Chief Ojugbele’s old time friends who attended the event as well as
friends of his various wives.
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| Top Ladies from Lagos Island, Ereko Lane |
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| The Celebrant with one of his daughters and son In-law |
Radio Stars dressed down for Ojugbele
think Bashorun Lamina Ojugbele is
the Chairman of the Federal government owned Ikoyi based Bond
FM radio station with the kind of attention his 80th birthday
celebration generated from top presenters and broadcasters from the famous
station which is well known for presenting vernacular news headline in the
early hours of the day. Leading the team of presenters (Soorosoro) from Bond FM is Alhaji Tajudeen Ajani aka Ojuelegba. This veteran Youruba
On-Air-Personality co-directed the event with Madam Kofo. Other presenters who did one comedy or the other at the
occasion are Kolawole Adio aka Omo
Iya-Ologi; Adio is the
presenter of the famous vernacular program, Eshin Oro, Koko
Inu Iwe Iroyin & Edekun Iwa Odaran. He was at the
party with his producer Temitope Oyefolu. Mohammed
Kasim aka Gbogbo-Ede was also
with the team with famous OGBC 2
Abeokuta On-air-personality MC Imalian
Boy.
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| Alhaja Tawakalitu Ibitola Ojugbele (R) with a friend |
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| Prince Aremu Onilu-Oba, HRM Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu’s special talking drummer with his men |
Meet Chief Ojugbele’s son in-law who
clocked 76 on same day
funny and interesting that an 80 years old man will have a 76 years old (Just
four years down his age) son in-law who will be bold enough to admit it and
even celebrate with his “father-in-law” at 80. But that was the lot of London
based ex-army officer and flight captain with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Engineer (Chief) Joseph Olajide Bankole
who clocked 76 on same day but had to abandon everything he was doing in London
and flew into Nigeria to celebrate with the father of his younger wife, Denrele who he married recently. The
very fresh looking and jolly fellow ex-pilot was full of praise for Chief Ojugbele whom he described as ‘a
wonderful father-in-law’ who merits the sacrifice of dumping his own 76th
years birthday celebration for him. Chief
Olajide Bankole has many children across the world among which is a pilot
presently flying in China.
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| Alhaja Tawakalitu’s business associates |
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| Some Female Socialites @ the event |
Meet Basorun Ojugbele’s 5 Powerful
Wives
know the ‘birthday boy’ testified to the fact that Basorun Lamina Ojugbele will never touch anything that does not
have quality as a second name. Apart from raising quality children who are all
doing well in their various endeavors in life, the Ota, Ogun state born real estate merchant also married 5
quality women with great pedigree in their various backgrounds. Leading
the team of very beautiful and industrious women in the harem of the Ota born
land merchant is Alhaja Funmilayo Anike
Ojugbele, an Abeokuta-Ogun state born educationist who retired as a school
principal from the Lagos State Ministry of Education. This 72 years old pretty
woman who married her husband when he was still ‘a boy’ taught at various
schools in Mushin area of Lagos before she retired 12 years ago. The next lady
is Alhaja Sadiat Oladunni Ojugbele, this Ijebu-Ode-Ogun
state born lady is a big time business woman who into importing and exporting. She
equally drew her cream of friends and associates to her husband’s 80th
birthday bash. The next one is Alhaja Fausat
Ojugbele, a retired civil servant who used to work at the administration
department of the Federal Ministry of Lands and Works.
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| The Representative of The Alaafin of Oyo Empire @ the event |
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| Princess Ejide Adeyemi, CEO, SOCOPAO |
She also worked with
ministry of power, science and technology before she finally retired. She was
at the event with her own cream of technocrat friends. Chief’s 4th wife is Alhaja Tawakalitu Ibitola Ojugbele from Abeokuta. She deals with
head gear textiles (Gele) at gutter market, Ereko lane of Lagos Island. In fact, her fashion company, Pee Square Textiles is said to be one
of the few textile concerns with best of head gear textile brands in the
market. However, Chief’s 5th wife is the most popular in the Lagos
political establishment as she is a powerful stalwart of the ruling APC party. She
is beautiful and ever radiant Alhaja
(Chief) Mrs. Basirat Olayinka
Ojugbele, this no nonsense textile merchant turned politician is the woman
leader of APC in Ojokoro land in Lagos. Before going into politics, Chief Mrs. Basirat Olayinka Ojugbele was also into textile and runs
Bayinkus International, a textile
firm at Lagos Island. She came with hordes of politicians in APC and friends
from other sector of the economy. All the wives did what they could do to make
the event unique.
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| Alhaja Tawakalitu Ibitola Ojugbele with friends |
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| The Celebrant with Friends & Well-Wishers |
Meet Chief Ojugbele’s “12 Apostles”
Baba’s wonderful kids who are all successful in various sectors of the Nigerian
socio-economical life. While some are already making success in business and
politics, others are at Ivy League colleges in the United Kingdom. They are Mrs.
Taofikat Oke (Nee Ojugbele), Mr.
Kazeem Ojugbele, a business man and
scion of the Ojugbele’s dynasty. Others are Alhaji Kehinde Ojugbele,
Alhaja Iyabode Kafayat Egbewole (Nee
Ojugbele) Alhaji Idowu Ojugbele, Alhaji Monsuru Ojugbele, Sheriff Ojugbele, Honorable Rotimi Ojugbele (Ado-Odo Ota LGA), Farouk Ojugbele, Abimbola
Taofeek Ojugbele, Ademola Ojugbele
(Jnr.) and Rotimi Yera.
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| The Celebrant with a close ally savour the moment as BGs & Talking Drummers perform their duty |
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| The Bashorun in company of his wives receives a handsome gift of N50K from members of Island Club |
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| Textile merchants from Lagos Island |
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| Some Jolly lady socialites @ the event |
