LEGENDARY BANKER, OTUNBA SUBOMI BALOGUN CLOCKS 75

The founder and Chairman of the FIRST CITY FINANCIAL GROUP, Otunba Subomi Balogun,GCON, attained the age of 75 recently. to celebrate the man who singlehandedly built of one Africa's biggest financial institution, an elaborate society party was put together in his honour. The event for Balogun's 75th birthday started with a well-attended book launch on Thur March 5th, at the Muson Centre in Lagos while the second phase started with an inspiring church service at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina which was followed immediately by a colourful reception at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, all on Monday 9th March, 2009..The celebrant is one of the few Nigerian elites who have touched so many lives with their various acts of philantropy. When he clocked 70 in 2004, he donated a multimillion Naira Paediatric centre purposely built to offer free medicare to children and the less privileged in the society. This probably accounts for why there was a massive turn-out of distinguished Nigerians and eminent personalities at his 75th birthday yesterday..Below are the pictures of some of the guests at the event as captured by SOLA FOLOWOSELE.


(above)The celebrant, OTUNBA SUBOMI BALOGUN,GCON & his wife, Olori Abimbola

( above) Ladi Balogun & his wife, Banke..(Ladi is no 3 of the four all-boys children of the celebrant. He is the Managing Director of FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK, FCMB, a subsidiary of his father's FIRST CITY GROUP)

(above) Bolaji Balogun & his wife, Kemi.(Bolaji is the first born of the celebrant. He is also a topshot within his dad's FIRST CITY GROUP)

(above) This is gangling Jide Balogun & his wife, Uche( Jide, number 2 in the family, also calls the shots at The First City Group. Uche is the daughter of Asaba-born business mogul, Chief Sony Odogwu. She has two sons already for Jide) (above) This is Gboyega Balogun and his charming wife, Emma..Gboyega is the youngest of the Balogun boys..He also occupies a strategic position at the FCG HQ)

( Above) One of the two magnifient cakes for the event

(Above) MC of the event, Abuja-based Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Lawuyi, she did a great job at the event
(above) Funke Bucknor-Obrothe of ZAPPHIRE EVENTS (standing left) at the event admiring the work of her hand..Her firm handled the planning of the event including the massive decoration at the foreground, the supply of usherettes & other aspects. For doing just that, heavily pregnant Funke got a princely sum N5million Naira for herself.
(above) The ever-glamourous OKOYA couple, 70-year old Razak & 31-year old Shade..(He is the Chairman of the gigantic Eleganza Group while She is the Deputy Managing Director of Eleganza Fashion & Beauty Products, all based in Lagos Nigeria..They' ve been together as a couple for the past 10 years and they have 4 lovely kids (2 boys, 2 girls) together.

(above) The celebrant with Ex-Nigeria's Minster of Health, Prof. Adenike Grange..(the internationally recognized Paediatrician who lost her Ministerial appointment over an alleged N300million scam in her then Ministy of Health in Abuja, was recently appointed by Otunba Subomi Balogun as the new Head of his National Paediatric Centre, Ijebu., Ogun State Nigeria.

(above) Afenifere & NADECO veteran, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, still looking handsome and fresh at 81

(above) Former Head of State,Gen Yakubu Gowon(left) & The Alake of Egbaland,Oba Adedotun Gbadebo during the church service..In Nigeria, Kings and Bishops are permitted to wear their caps in the Church, others can't try it.

(above) (R-L) Uche Jide-Balogun,Lagos fashion designer, Folake Folarin-Coker of Tiffany Amber fame, with their friends Dolores Hart, & Yvonne Aleyideino

(above) Lagos High Society woman,Chief (Mrs) Joko Oni(right) and her sister..(when Joko Oni's son Niyi got married on 21st February,2009, Otunba Subomi Balogun was the Father of the day)

(above) The hardworking Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola(middle) flanked by The Alake of Egbalaend, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo(left) & the celebrant(right)

(above) Governor Fashola's Bullet proof Range Rover

(above) Mrs Mami Adeyemi(left) & Mrs Shade Oredugba(right)

(above) Impeached Deputy Gov of Lagos state, Femi Pedro(left) chatting with Air Marshal Anthony Okpere(rtd)

(above) (L-R) Jide Balogun, Sola Ojora, Onuorah Iyizoba & his wife

(above) (L-R) Tola Olagbegi, Toks Akerele& his brother Segun Akerele

(above) one of the many stlyes at the event

(above) Lady of Stlyes, Sade Okoya
(above) Erelu(DR) Abiola Dosunmu looking respledent in one of her unique white attires..(she doesnt wear any other colour apart from white)

(above & below)-THE CELEBRANT's customized ROLLS ROYCE

THANKS FOR VIEWING,& DONT FORGET TO DROP YOUR COMMENT

INSIDE EX-GOV ORJI KALU'S COUNTRY HOME IN IGBERE, ABIA STATE

Quite a number of A-list events took place during my “break-in-transmission” . Unfortunately, I won’t be able to post most of them in order not to bore you with ‘stale’ news. However, there is this particular one that took place few hours to the end of 2008 which i felt i should not dump in the 2008 archive.

It was the “FORMAL RETIREMENT CEREMONY(Igboto Nma) OF EX-GOVERNOR ORJI KALU’S MUM, MADAM EUNICE ORJI KALU FROM POLITICS”. The very colourful event held inside the ex-Gov’s expansive country home in IGBERE, BENDE LGA, ABIA STATE on 30th Dec, 2008. In attendance were top personalities and power brokers like ex-military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida(retd), Dep. Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Govs Theodore Orji of Abia state, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo state, Dr. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Lyel Imoke of Cross River, Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Information Minister Dora Akunyili (who represented President Yaradua), Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Madueke, Sen Jubril Aminu, ex-Gov Bafarawa and a host of others.

SHORT GIST FROM THE EVENT

WELCOME TO 'CAMP NEYA'
Really, I’m yet to find the right set of adjectives that accurately describe the awesome structures erected by Ex-Gov Orji Uzor Kalu in his place of birth, the sleepy town of Igbere, in the Southeastern state of Abia, Nigeria. Popularly known as ‘CAMP NEYA’, it comprises of several units of eye-popping buildings and other exotic structures which stand elegantly on a massive piece of land that is large enough to host a town of its own. As you meander your way towards the main entrance of Camp Neya, what attracts your attention is the lavish array of well-nurtured flowers and a carpet of plush green grasses that cover the entire surface of the premises. A tour through some parts of the Camp would later convince you that the owner of this place is a national politician of no mean status. This is because, almost all the buildings and structures were named after one national or international leader. For instance, there was Nnamdi Azikiwe House, Gen Abdulsalam Abubarkar Square, Gen, Ibrahim Babangida Hall, Bill Clinton Fountain, and several others. Apart from these, there was also this particular sprawling edifice which contains 37 rooms with each named each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Interestingly, Camp Neya was said to have been completed 100% long before Kalu became the Governor of Abia in 1999.

WHO IS NEYA?
Neya is Dr Orji Uzor Kalu’s first child. Very pretty, cool-headed and sociable, the camp was named after her to confirm her status as the heiress apparent to the gigantic Orji Uzor Kalu dynasty. 17 year old Neya played the role of the Chief Hostess during her beloved grandmother’s ceremony and really, she did it well. She is a student of an exclusive institution in the United States.
However, talk is rife in the streets of Igbere that Neya has already been espoused to a young Igbere chap and both of them are currently being groomed in the states.

'IGBOTO NMA'
‘Igboto Nma’ or 'Mgboma' is the Igbo word for ‘retirement’.. 70-something year old Madam Eunice retired after 61 years of active politicking. Indeed, there is no doubt about the fact that she has seen it all and she looked so radiant and fulfilled throughout the ceremony.

A TALE OF TWO BABANGIDAS
In Nigeria today, there are two prominent personalities among several others who bear the name BABANGIDA: former Nigerian Military President, Gen, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), and the incumbent governor of Niger state, Dr Babangida Aliyu.. Both are from Niger state and have engaged each other in a cold war for quite a while over who controls the state’s political machinery. The duo extended their acrimony to the Orji Kalu's event, as they tactically avoided each other throughout the event.

ADAM OSHIOMOLE CHANGES STYLE
Well, those who still expect Edo Governor, Comrade Oshiomole to stick to his usual Labour Khaki style now that he is a governor might be slightly disappointed by this. The peoples' governor has changed his style. He stormed the Orji Kalu party in a smooth, smart and well designed French suit.

BETWEEN TEE MAC AND GODDY ANABOR
Factional President of PMAN, Tee Mac Omatsola, came to the event in company with controversial international businessman, Goddy Anabor. I’m still trying to figure out what the two have in common.
IS ALL WELL BETWEEN ORJI KALU AND T.A. ORJI?
Gov Theodore Orji is the incumbent governor of Abia state. He won the governorship election from prison last year April to succeed Orji Uzor Kalu on the platform of the Peolple’s Progressive Alliance (PPA). Going by Nigeria's Political culture the latter is suppose to be the former's godfather but recently, gist has it that the duo have fallen apart and as if to confirm the rumour spreading in town, the two hardly interacted throughout the event .

Below are some of the pictures of the event as presented by Sola Folowosele.



Madam Eunice Orji Kalu


Orji Kalu's 17 year old daughter,Neya


Welcome to Camp Neya inside Camp Neya


inside Camp Neya
inside Camp Neya
inside Camp Neya inside Camp Neya


inside Camp Neya


inside Camp Neya Night time at Camp Neya


Night time at Camp Neya
(L-R)Orji Kalu, IBB & Gov. T A Orji


Gov. Adams Oshiomole without his khaki (right)


Information Minister,Prof Dora Akunyili

IBB & KALU IBB & Ex- Gov Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto state


(R-L) Govs Babangida Aliyu & Adams Aliyu Oshiomole (L-R) Anambra Dep. Gov, Virgy Etiaba &Sen. Pius Anyim Pius Imo Gov, Ikedi Ohakim


Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Madueke Kalu(left) welcoming Dep Senate President Ike Ekweremadu(middle) Associates of the celebrant Associates of the celebrant (L-R) Tee Mac & Goddy Anabor(L-R) Charlie Boy & ....aah! i cant remember the 2nd guy's name..somebody help!

WELCOME TO TWENTY-O-NINE

HAPPY NEW YEAR
This is to tender my unreserved apology to all the followers of METROGIST-NIGERIA for the "...looong break in transmission..". Well, 2008 is over with all its "challenges" and a brand new year is here with fresh opportunities, visions and plans..in 2009 METROGIST-NIGERIA promises to be consistent, faithful and more vibrant. My sincere appreciation goes to everyone who visited and everyone who dropped comments during 'break-in-transmission'.it's really encouraging and i feel motivated.God bless you all!
Watch out for fresh gist & pixs very soon.

SORRY 4 THE BREAK IN TRANSMISSION

This is a familiar line on most Nigerian TV and radio stations whenever there was "power failure". But the break in transmission here on METROGIST-NIGERIA has nothing to do with "power failure"..it's as a result of certain personal issues that needed to be sorted out. Don't 4get that the year is fast running to an end and when i looked at my 'to-do' list for the year, there are so many yet to be 'ticked'..i promise to be back very soon. cheers

LIFE AT THE COUNTRYSIDE

LIFE AT THE COUNTRYSIDE
For the first time in the last couple of months, an opportunity to escape from Lagos finally came last weekend and folks; I grabbed it with two hands! It was the 2nd Coronation Anniversary and Thanksgiving of HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OBA (DR) EBENEZER AKINTUNDE AKINYEMI, THE ESELU of ISELU KINGDOM, AKAOSU 1. I met the respected monarch through another influential Oba about this time last year and since then we have maintained a cordial relationship. At 30-something, he is probably the youngest king in Ogun state today. Thus when the anniversary was approaching, Kabiyesi sent a personal invite to me requesting my presence at the event, so I had no choice other than to honour the royal invitation, though I had two other celebrity events to attend almost at the same time in Lagos.
Now, Iselu is a typical Nigeria rural settlement located very close to the Nigeria-Benin border after a town called Oja-Odan off Ilaro (The Polytechnic town) in Yewa South Local government of Ogun State. At Oja-Odan, there is a large and very busy market tagged “OJA-ODAN INTERNATIONAL MARKET”. I was surprised at the level and pace of activities in this market but my findings later show that, being very close to the border, the market serves as a transits point for cross-border smugglers who get their stuff into Nigeria after “settling” the Customs officials at thier numerous checkpoints along the roads. .
One major thing that caught my attention at the market as I took a walk through the market was the entrepreneurship of the rural women. Virtually everyone was busy with her “market”: from the ones selling pepper to the plantain sellers and the one waiting for customers to buy her charcoal. I was told that the history of the market dates back to over 100 years. As I was busy observing the market activities and trying to study the mentality of the people there, a fleet of glittering vehicles zoomed pass *viaam..viaaam..viaaaam*..there was a Hummer, one Infinity, a Benz ML450 FORMATIC and others. They were heading towards the event. This scenario reminded me once again of the wide gulf between the rich and the poor in Nigeria. Im mot sure whether the total annual income of all these market women put together could buy a side mirror of one of the ‘jeeps’ that just whizzed pass, yet in their own way, they work as hard as anyone but there is hardly anything to show for it. No thanks to our lopsided social system. It’s a sad irony!

From the market I moved to the venue of the event proper where a large number of guests were already seated under a giant canopy.(while I was doing my ‘market survey’ the event was already underway). Among the guests were high-ranking functionaries of Ogun state government, dignitaries from Lagos, Abuja and other places. It was quite an interesting occasion. Some of those who bagged chieftaincy include Chief (Mrs) Tokunbo Balogun, UNILEVER PLC’s Field Sales Manager, who was honoured with the title “YEYEMESHO OF ISELU KINGDOM”, Chief Olanrewaju Saheed Baba, THE AROLE OF ISELU..and a host of others .
below are some of the pictures from the countryside as recorded by Sola Folowosele

MC OLUOMO AS A STAR ATTRACTION
Of all the guests, the one that caught my attention was this guy called Musiliu Olusanya a.k.a MC OLUOMO. He is the 'Lord Mayor' of all the Motor Parks in ever-busy Oshodi axis of Lagos and he’s also the Treasurer of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The guy drove into the venue in an eye-popping Hummer SUV in company with a large number of hangers-on. He came with his newest wife, Sikiratu Sindodo,(A Yoruba actress)..Most of the village youth were seen posing for pictures with his HUMMER..the guy became stupendously wealthy just collecting motor park fees.na wa o!


the entrance of the market(below)

market women displaying their wares(below)



A Charcoal seller waiting for customer(below)..in Nigeria Charcoal is now more expensive than Kerosine as a result of the upswing in demand for it when kerosine became a scarce commodity
Mrs Balogun receiving her certificate from Kabiyesi(below) Mrs Balogun and her Big sister(below)
Sikiratu Sindodo and her husband, MC OLUOMO(below)
MC OLUOMO's Hummer SUV(below)
the musician, Musiliu Haruna Ishola(below) Princess Adejoke spotting a beautiful hairstyle at the event(below)
another hairstlye..(below)