Encomium
lavishes billions on 80th birthday
-Buys Rolls Royce Phantom
-Books scores of rooms at Eko Hotel
-Carpet and cutlery procured for party
-Baba Ijebu lotto faithful get cars, generators, TV sets
…Inside the extravaganza we can’t stop talking about
THE new Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu hosted the cream of Nigeria at a three-day affair last week to celebrate his 80th birthday –and we all can’t stop talking about the lavish events which saw ‘Baba Ijebu’ spoiling himself with a mint marque Rolls Royce Phantom.
From the conferment of Asoju Oba title on Thursday, October 22, by the king of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, Olowo Eko omo erin j’ogun ola, to the celebration of his lotto customers (Premier Lotto) on Friday, October 23, the thanksgiving service at Methodist Church of Holy Trinity, Tinubu and the birthday reception gig at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island (all in Lagos) on Saturday, October 24, 2015, no cost was spared.
The Eko Hotel & Suites reception attracted the cream of Nigeria, and Baba Ijebu (as fans of his lotto fondly call him) didn’t cut corners to make himself, family and friends happy at the events that welcomed him to the octogenarian club.
The blessed businessman began by lodging scores of his very important guests at Eko Hotel & Suites (on Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos) from Thursday, October 22. The mogul temporarily relocated to the new wing of the hotel dubbed, Eko Signature, where a special suite became his apartment for a few days.
Many traditional rulers, close friends and family also got accommodation at the prestigious hotel – with food and drinks thrown in for effect.
The Thursday, October 22, chieftaincy title conferment of Asoju Oba of Lagos, which translates to the king’s representative, the title bestowed on late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, was as lavish as it was classy. Apart from the cost that comes with a conferment of chieftaincy title, all the guests had aso oke cap, gele (headgear) and ipele (shawl) along with their invitation card, at no cost.
The Friday, October 23, Premier Lotto reward for patrons of the lottery was at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere (Lagos). With Femi Adebayo (Yoruba actor) as anchor, many actors and actresses attended the event which had Oritsefemi, Sule Alao Malaika and 2Face Idibia as musicians.
328 lotto lovers across the country were lucky winners – 80 units of LED television sets, 80 units of split-unit air-conditioners, 80 units of power generating sets, 80 units of refrigerators and eight KIA Cerato cars found new owners.
Saturday, October 24, 2015, started with a thanksgiving service at Methodist Church of Holy Trinity, Tinubu (Lagos). And was capped with a reception at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Guests for the reception had aso oke cap, gele and ipele free (supplied by Bisbod).
For the gig anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st and Bashiru Adisa (Baba Gboin), there were many musicians who don’t come cheap. King Sunny Ade, 2Face Idibia, Sir Victor Olaiya, Jimi Solanke and Cobhams Asuquo all entertained at the classy shindig.
The carpet for the welcome reception and the one in the hall were new, courtesy of Sir Kessington Adebutu who stepped into the venue in his new white Rolls Royce Phantom with special number KAA 35.
Even the gold cutlery (fork, spoon and knife) set was freshly bought for the occasion on the bill of the adorable businessman.
There were many mementoes by the Adebutus for the guests. Apart from the specially commissioned coffee table books, there were wall clocks, travelling bags, lamps, blood pressure monitors, towels and many more for the guests.
The massive birthday cake was a fixture at the shindig with colourful episodes.
The ‘birthday boy’ will soon move from his luxury flat in Ikoyi to a Banana Island house (a higher brow of Ikoyi, Lagos) which is being fine-tuned.
