Before now the Ibadan social establishment used to have a very powerful clique made up of upwardly mobile men of no little means in the society. So strong was this clique that any party that was worth its salt must have them in attendance, be it within or outside Ibadan. They always take charge and make a big statement any party they find themselves, and this had to be only at A-List parties. The standard has always been there to follow. People crave to have them at their parties and they are well loved and respected for their style, carriage, influence, social connections and for the fact that they are successful men in their various chosen fields. Even their counterparts from outside Ibadan do envy them.
Back then, any party you see Alhaji Bashir Kuti, the B.K.K Ultimo boss; Gbenga Obenmbe; Alhaji Ganiyu Sonubi, the Gaso Furniture and Casa Lusio Event Centre Chairman; Senator Soji Akanbi, the present Senator representing Oyo South in the Upper Chamber, you must be sure that their brother, Lekan Oshifeso was somewhere close by. Then the Quarry big boy Demola Olokuta did party with them once in a while a well as Ismail Arisekola Alao, son of late Ibadan business mogul Aare Abdulazees Arisekola-Alao.
Apart from the social circle that connected them, some of these men have come a long way and their friendships span over many years. In fact, some of them have grown far from being friends, they have become brothers. Like Lekan Oshifeso and Soji Akanbi that are cousins but hardly talk to each other now, Soji Akanbi and Alhaji Beshir used to be very close too. People see them as family in Ibadan. But long before the former emerged Senator, there has been crack in their relationship.
The sad gist however, is that what used to be a strong bond between these celebrities has been broken and most of them now attend social functions separately. In fact, some of them we, scooped, no longer talk to each other. It has gone that bad! Gaso and Soji Akanbi are not on talking terms. Lekan Oshifeso and Demola Olokuta too. There is also a claim that Ismail Arisekola Alao is no longer pal with Soji Akanbi.
All these misunderstandings we reliably gathered, are not unconnected with ego, disloyalty, back biting and third-party influences.
We also learnt that several attempts have been made by some elderly men to reconcile these celebrities but to no avail. Some of them believe since life is in stages it time for them move on, especially when the friendship tends to bring more problems than benefit .
Though these people still meet and seat together at parties but it is never like what it used to be back then when they stormed parties in big way, rocked, chated and dranks together.
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