•How They Rocked Major Parties Back Then
Back in the days, these Lagos super-rich big boys were the toast of many. They were the ‘happening boys’ in town. No social gathering or event was complete without them. They were tagged “big spenders” and this made them the toast of many musicians. So popular were they that many musicians waxed different albums to their credit and praised them to high heavens. The likes of King Wasiu Ayinde, Abass Obesere, Yinka Ayefele were their allies. They were able to rock the social scene for many decades until they faded like the morning dew. For years now, nothing has been heard of them.
While some simply decided to play it cool on their social outings by allowing their businesses to take the better part of their lives, others have been hit by the economic downturn. Though some have been struggling to make a major comeback, some others deliberately mellowed down their social outings. The list is endless but below is a few of them who really rocked the town and made a name for themselves!
Let us start with Muyiwa Bashorun, Not many are familiar with the name Muyiwa Bashorun as musicians made him so popular with his alias “Bill Gates of Africa”. Many likened him to Bill Gates of the United States not just because of his enormous wealth at that time but because of his spending prowess. Not much has been heard of him since 2008 when he was the financial Lord of the Isolo Kingdom with his title as the Borokini of Isolo.
What of the Awesu brothers, Wale and Segun? These brothers need little or no introduction to many on the social radar. They are popular on the Lagos social scene even while they lived in the United Kingdom for a long time. Wale is the younger brother while his older one is Segun. When these 2 brothers were rocking the Lagos social scene, they were the toast of many musicians. Segun was a heavy spender and this made him the toast of many musicians including celebrated Juju-gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele. Wale was always sighted at many events with his calm wife who is fondly called “Omo-Iya Onisiga”, the daughter of a popular Lagos businesswoman who deals in tobacco. The Awesus have mellowed down on their social outings as Segun has not been sighted at any social gathering for some time.
Niyi Obodo is also one of the Lagos big boys who we hardly hear of these days. His real name is Niyi Aderinoye but many call him “Obodo”. Until 13 years ago, Niyi was the toast of many Fuji artistes. This handsome dude used to spend money like confetti. He bade the social space goodbye after his first wife, Tobi Thomas was assassinated a few years ago in Lagos. This Nigerian-born, New York-based socialite stepped out again few years back when he took a shot at marriage again in America. People thought this would mark the beginning of his come-back; instead, he decided to stay cool after marrying his American-based financial analyst wife. You cannot forget Sati Ramon alias Omo Salawe. Dark-skinned Island Big Boy, “Ibu-Owo Oko Monica” was very close to Fuji Musician, K1 at that time.
Sati Ramoni, is no longer one of the regular socialites we see often. We saw his posters years back when he announced his intention to run for the Federal House of Representatives in Lagos Island but lost the elections. He also has left the social space but in the last 3 years, he made a comeback and has been attending a few parties of his close pals.
These socialites bear almost same name and you might misjudge them for brothers. It is the story of the 2 ‘SAUBANAS‘. One is Wale Adeniyi Saubana and the other is Wale Saubana Atanda Balogun. These Lagos Big Boys rocked the Lagos social scene at the same time. They were the toast of KI de Ultimate who enjoyed their magnanimity and deep pocket. Wale Saubana was said to have been involved in a motor accident in Ghana in 2016 and has been incapacitated since.
Once upon a time on the social scene, no party was complete until Goddy Anabor attended. No car was in vogue except you saw Goddy Anabor cruise in it. Goddy Anabor has in the last 20 years been a household name. The billionaire, who had about 50 exotic cars at a time, was the toast of Sir Shina Peters and many other musicians at the time. He has reportedly fallen on bad times.
Edo-born Lagos based socialite, Alumile Adedeji, fondly called Ade Bendel, will surely strike a chord. He was one of the happening guys at that time. No babe was seen as “happening” until you saw her hanging out with Ade Bendel. This party lord was the toast of many musicians at that time. He served some time in detention but has since been released. Ade is presently living on borrowed times.
Many would not stop asking about the whereabouts of this Lagos big boy called Kayode Oduniyi aka Kay-Hanger . This big boy stormed the Ikeja social scene after returning from London where he lived for many years. On his return, he established a world class cyber cafe called ‘Cyinder Cyber Cafe in Ikeja. Kay Hanger was a constant feature among musicians and big babes around Lagos. He had loads of money to throw around. Years on however, he has gone underground.
Haridot Promotion owned by Dotun Aderibigbe (a.k.a) Lobito was the toast of many boxers who wanted to make a name. Lobito is currently a shadow of his old self. He is often times hanging out in Surulere, his hood when life was on the fast lane.
Another Lagos big boy who has also gone off the social scene is Jide Okunnu, who owns a top Fashion house in Idi-Oro somewhere around Mushin called “Copperfield. He was not just popular for being a celebrity fashion designer who made clothes for the high and mighty back then, he was also a socialite and party freak to the core. KSA, Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister waxed many albums to his credit. Nothing has been heard about the Copperfield boss for years now.
Segun Alawaye was the toast of musicians and several records of his spraying prowess abound. He was the life and soul of the Lagos social scene. Alongside other jet-set young men with a common love for Sir Shina Peters, they were known as the Yuppies and made the term rooted in social lingua. As time went by, Segun’s heat was no longer as hot, his social presence waned, so did his finances and he subsequently relocated to London. He has since vanished from the social scene with memories of his social trajectory coming alive only from the archives of Fuji musicians.
At the mention of “White house‘ 2 decades ago, one Lagos big boy whose name will come to mind is Ade-Odutayo‘. He was one of the great fans of Sir Shina Peters but nobody knows his whereabouts for years now. Babatunde Onakoya who is refered to as Debasco is one of the socialites with a clean slate. He is one of the respected Motor dealers of that time. He is also a close friend of Otunba Olanrewaju Shittu. The social firmament has missed the presence of this great socialite as he has since mellowed on his outings after he joined politics. He used to be one of the supporters of an Ex-Ogun State governor and politics seems to have taken a greater part of him then. Until few years ago when he threw a classy 60th birthday, not much has been heard of him.
Ibadan-based socialite-turned-politician, Femi Abiodun Lekuti (a.k.a Danku Baba Imole) may be short but his spending prowess gave him height over his tall friends. This socialite used to be the toast of many Fuji artistes way back. He showed interest in politics and contested for and lost the seat of Ibadan South-West 11 way back. but not many people know that he has passed on. Lekuti died of Stroke in Ibadan few years back.
Prince Bola Atobatele, the Executive Director of Judamic International Ltd used to be a regular socialite who enjoyed massive praise from many musicians until few years ago. His beautiful wife, Princess Toyin Atobatele is a force to reckon with on the social scene.
Akindele (Ile Eru) is one socialite that exudes style and confidence everywhere he goes. The socialite who sits atop Nikadel Hotel located at Adeniji area of Lagos Island, ruled the Lagos Island social scene years back. Ile Eru had a run with the anti-Drugs Agency (NDLEA) years back and subsequently cooled on his social activities on his return from jail.
Just like Akindele Ile Eru, Rilwan Aleshinloye, the owner of Alesh Hotel has also been missing in action. Famed for his socialising prowess, Rilwan Aleshinloye was chairman of Iru/Victoria Island Local Government Development Area years back. Alesh does not attend social events these days and seemed to be concentrating more on his business. Another Lagos big boy who has mellowed down on his social outing is Tunde Borokinni. This former husband of Tuface Idibia’s baby Mama, Pero Adeniyi was a big socialite way back. Investigations revealed that he now plays big in Oil and Gas.
What of others like Sanje Olohuntoyin, Kunle Atoigbe,Akanni Gbenguse Gentleman, Bode De Way, Afo Aguarantor, Demola Oyefeso, Kuso Ferrari,Tunde Aoloko, Yomi Oluwole and Kayode Lanihun. Lagos Bigboy, Tayo Alakiu , Olumide Abegunde, Taye Adekambi are also on this list.
What of the Akanni brothers of Ekiti, Gbenga and Afolabi? They also played big in the Lagos social scene. They have left the social scene for good too. Afo was a member of Ekiti House of Assembly while Gbenga played faintly in politics, he is a top hotelier in Efon Alaaye. We can’t also forget Tantala Mr Money, Lagun Adeshina, and George Oyedele who is fondly known with his white outfit and white cap and who musicians sing praise as “Fila fun fun, Ewu Funfun,” and many others.
READ ALSO: HOW MY 10 SIBLINGS & I STRUGGLED TO MAKE IT IN LIFE – MRS BOLAJOKO ADESHINA
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