Photos: Esama of Benin kicks off 80th birthday celebration | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Thursday 4 September 2014

Photos: Esama of Benin kicks off 80th birthday celebration

Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion will turn 80 on September 11th and a month long celebration which will stretch around three continents has kicked off in Benin. Colourful activities to mark his birthday started in Benin last week and today he went to University of Ibadan for the launch of his biography written by four professors from University's department of History. It's said to be the first honour of its kind by UI. From Ibadan, the party will move to South Africa, then there's a party in London and the US.

The Esama is said to have ordered a new wonder ride to celebrate this milestone. See pics from some activities that has already taken place after the cut..



The Esama
 
 
He's known for his many pioneering achievements and vast business empire. Amongst his pioneering achievements are:

1) First to set up an auto assembly plant in Nigeria with the company he founded, Mid Motors
2) First to set up a private Airline in Nigeria, Okada Air which at its height had over 40 aircraft including the world's largest passenger plane at the time, the Boeing 747. Okada was also the largest private airline in Africa at the time.
3) First to set up a private university in Nigeria, Igbinedion University, Okada Town.

He's also known for his many philanthropic contributions and organizations set up by him.
In recognition of his Numerous achievements he was twice honoured with high national awards by the President, namely Commander order of the Niger, and Commander of the Federal Republic. (CON & CFR)

77 comments:

halliday said...

Where will he go with his wives???

Eugenia Ekeji said...

May u grow older than 80 sir. Happy Birthday!

Unknown said...

a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
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I just wish this man is my grand dad i swear...... Hbd grand dad.....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

Unknown said...

a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
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I just wish this man is my grand dad i swear...... Hbd grand dad.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

Anonymous said...

My former chancellor! Hbd Sir!

Bishop Dammy said...

Happy birthday sir. God bless you! Deut 28:4. BishopDammy#

Anonymous said...

Looks like a gigantic peacock whose feathers are due to be plucked

Anonymous said...

What exactly has he done for Benin city to improve...but he can spend money on lavish parties cos he's turning 80...na you first turn 80 for d world??? 3 continents?? That money data gona be spent can be used to do something better like building better hospitals, improve d roads, electricity, school, improve d police force in Benin city. It really irks me wen I see men lik dis abuse dear power, and you call herself royalty. Royalty my ass!

banny said...

Long live a great man with much innovative character.

BONARIO NNAGS said...

Good for him,I wish him more fruitful years filled with good health.
The first and last time I saw him,he was so pressed and I took him to where he eased himself.

~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

Unknown said...

Mtshewwwwww...... no plans on celebrating with the needy, home less and widows total rubbish

Alloy Chikezie said...

Happy birthday to him in advance


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Unknown said...

Yea Yea Yea, We get it every year..... HBD Esama....... Live long nd cont toprosper......
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#I REP SEPT 14#
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ZB

Unknown said...

HBD to you sir.
⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥♡thanks ⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥ 

Unknown said...

HBD to you sir.
⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥♡thanks ⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥ 

#king said...

Splendid..money is good..but dis man shldnt be spending a whole lot on his bday..80 yrs shld b planning on burial...........................#KingOfKings

Anonymous said...

this is my person in Benin am pride of him.....

Juliebabe said...

Wow!! i love reading stories like this rather than terrorism, divorce and death, i wish him longer life and enlarged coast. Happy buffday Your Majesty.

Snow White said...

Nice.Hbd in adv sir

Anonymous said...

we will get there. hope he does not have 4 young wives too

HBD to me


via official intercom

Unknown said...

Hbd sir
Face of lib

Anonymous said...

Apart from his thieving son, I respect this man. He's the true definition of Royalty. I don't know any other king in Nigeria that's as classy and lavish as this man! Happy Birthday Esama!

*** forst to comment ***
Blacknfly@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Linda, na these old pics with Asantehene from ovation magazine be activities wey take place? You try well well

Unknown said...

Hmmm!!! Great achievement indeed....
HBD t u my Esama

ary said...

happy birthday to you, even though I have no idea who you are!

Unknown said...

Great achievement. Tomorrow is my birthday Linda. While today is my childs birthday. Help me thank God.

Anonymous said...

All these loba loba are just coming out...Linda's just chopping PR money! send some my way yo :)

Anonymous said...

Dats gud

Anonymous said...

linda he wasnt the first to start up a private university. Rev Father Ede of madonna university was the first in 1999.

Anonymous said...

Just like my friend Udeme,the Esama is a Great man*winks*

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, happy many birthday/many more years ahead. ###########OTUoCHA

fly guy said...

d question is does okada airline still exist, naija companies are always running down

Tea said...

Someone please tell me why he is dressed as a peacock !!!

Unknown said...

Hapi birthday


C.E.O

Anonymous said...

True talk ... stupendous waste of money

Anonymous said...

Lmao
no be small "HBD grand dad"
U go fear claiming of relationship na. Lol

Anonymous said...

Be careful what you wish for. Not everything is what it seems.

Unknown said...

I really Love this man Happy birthday papa

Anonymous said...

Im sure u know ull die before him . Charlatan

phrank said...

Thts one hell of a jazz man...

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday o...but that first lilac outfit though. I initially thought that was Sesame Street's Big Bird turned Lilac Bird.

Anonymous said...

Enoma Igbinedion aka teflon please come and marry me.

Unknown said...

Dis same benin airport,the worse airport ever in Nigeria gosh looking like a coca cola depot with crates of minerals everywhere...........Abandoned property

APPLE said...

This old man no dey tire for party??

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous 3;44 u better shut up,it was after Esama proposal was approved that was when fr.Ede got his u hear,I see u're a madonna student, sit down there and let him keep brainwashing y'all glorified secondary school students.......Rubbish

Anonymous said...

y does he look like a bird in d first photo. lol

Unknown said...

I tell yu @Anonymous... Am praying peepz dn't pass on dis time coz its almost bcum a norm wenever he celebrates his bday.. #JustSayin

Unknown said...

Chaii!! This is terrible... please improve your spoken English

Anonymous said...

Back in the 90's ,he was the richest man in the Niger-Delta. Infact ,many people may not know that it was from this man that the word "Okada" originated from when Motorcyclists tried to imply that they were as fast as 'Okada air' . I also remember Okada wonderland. Funny thing is that he used to be a common Policeman. I'm not sure how he made his money but I heard he once married a white woman who made him very rich.

Cynic*Igbo*Guy

Anonymous said...

Nigerian Royal fathers (and I'm sure there must be thousands of them plus millions of "Princes" & "Princesses") have seriously devalued that term "Royalty".

However, Igbenidion must indeed be a gifted and remarkable man to achieve what he has. Trust me - E nor easy o!

Anonymous said...

Pls he is not a King, he just a chief in benin. He will never be the King, he can only dream and wish

Anonymous said...

the guy resemble BigBird with all the purple feathers in the main pic; talk about totally OTT!

Unknown said...

Long live Oba bt try plan ur nxt bday wt d less privileged 1s n d widows. Many happy returns to u sir, Igba odun, odun kan ni oooooooooooo

Berry said...

Hmmm to all those Wishing, Always remember Nothing is as it seems. Do you Wish for his Pains too, cos there's no Man on earth without pains.

ITK said...

Born in the Streets, Living like a KING....???

Anonymous said...

@anon 4:49pm, why so much hate. Igbinedion university is no better either. *anya_o2003@yahoo.com*

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday sir

MAKE LEGITIMATE MONEY ONLINE

Anonymous said...

Thief! You want to tell us you know his son? Mind you the igbinedion's are polygamous. So better stop wishing for Enoma to marry you.

Anonymous said...

Famz of life. Please sdfu. ENOMA is my boyfriend and we are damn serious.

LKJ said...

Hmmm,no thought for the less privileged. The best legacy is the number of lives one touches positively

Anonymous said...

Pls next tym get ur facts rite b4 u spew rubbish! Esama is not & will neva b royalty, he's just a titled chief.

Anonymous said...

ozuor, abeg were u dey for d pictured. Mrs Enoma aka son of a concubine. mtcheeew

Anonymous said...

Esama gave free health care since the beginning of the year, e nor try for the "less privileged" ? World pple!

Anonymous said...

he is not d oba oh

Anonymous said...

Just love to see this guy's pics. His fashion na die!! Can't wait for the bday pics.

Anonymous said...

Chief igbinedion is no royalty where the benin kingdom is concerned dear.Hez a very rich chief...shikena!

Unknown said...

HBD
royal family
too much money





BORN TO SHINE!!!!


Anonymous said...

HBD papa, so na me and u dey share the same birthday date... HBD to us! *Katie.

Anonymous said...

Lol ya all are fighting over Enoma on Anonymous. Show your ugly faces bicthes.the struggle is real. Nobody wants to Marry a poor man. Who will now wed the poor? Btw the so called Enoma is not Esama's only son, why fight over him? Chill girls.

Anonymous said...

Esama lgbinedion is not the OBA OF BENIN people should know the fact before open there mouth, his just a chief like any other chief in Benin Kingdom.

Anonymous said...

For the record, he is no longer the Esama of Benin Kingdom. He was suspended and subsequently expelled from the palace by the Oba of Benin.
He was just an ordinary chief with plenty of money. The dude almost got bankrupt were it not for his son becoming Edo state governor and looting the state's resources.
He really is a peacock and not royalty.

Anonymous said...

Him own sef don pass king own....... Ta

Anonymous said...

Y'all should stop speaking bad bout sm1 God has blessed,if u want God's bleSsings...Esama means 'god father' so whether he was removed or not sm ppl still see him as a god father.That man barely went 2 skl,n jSt look @ his achievement,Sm of U even got PHD n yet u own nothng to ur name,nobody knws u....those talking bout building hospitals n all...He built a Hospital,y nt try 2 make smthng outta urslf n contribute to d Society,instead of ranting here.#jstsaying :)........I respect that man

Anonymous said...

Omo n'Oba took pity on Mr. Igbinedion and let him retain the "Esama" title as bestowed upon him by the Oba's father, Oba Akenzua, since Oba Erediauwa would not want to "spoil what was created by his father" - excuse my Edo to English translation. Mr. Iginedion is no longer recognized by the Oba and his Palace. Infact, Mr. Igbinedion has been forbidden to pay hommage to the palace any longer. Fortunately for him, Edo tradition has degraded substantially mainy due to poverty and love of money (in my humble opinion)coupled with his 1st son's 2 terms a s Edo state gov., really banked rolled his life style. Most Edo people are not loyal anymore they don't realize that Aiseokhuoba and that eghian oghe Oba or e Eghain oghe eworo and I still think that if Bayo Ade had remembered that last phrase, he might still be alive today. Money is not everything and money CANNOT buy class. Mr. Ibginedion is NOT and ever will be ROYAL. He himself knows what he's done and is doing and have even attested to the fact that he "knows his end will not been a good one", I gues that's why he's living life to the fullest. Always rememver, "you reap what you sow". Lucky is paying for his gradually... your turn will be here, it's just a matter of time and doing jazz can only take you so far.

Anonymous said...

Omo n'Oba took pity on Mr. Igbinedion and let him retain the "Esama" title as bestowed upon him by the Oba's late father, Oba Akenzua, since Oba Erediauwa would not want to "spoil what was created by his father" - excuse my Edo to English translation. Mr. Igbinedion is no longer recognized by the Oba and his Palace. Infact, Mr. Igbinedion has been forbidden to pay hommage to the palace any longer. Fortunately for him, Edo tradition has degraded substantially and mainy due to poverty and love of money (in my humble opinion)coupled with his 1st son's 2 terms as Edo state gov., really banked rolled his life style. Most Edo people are not loyal anymore they don't realize that Aiseokhuoba and that eghian oghe Oba or e Eghain oghe eworo, and I still think that if Bayo Ade had remembered that last phrase, he might still be alive today. Money is not everything and money CANNOT buy class. Mr. Igbinedion is NOT and never will be ROYAL. He himself knows what he's done and is doing and have even attested to the fact that he "knows that his end will not been a good one", I gues that's why he's living life to the fullest. Always remember that, "you reap what you sow". His son, Lucky, is paying for his sins gradually... your turn will be here, it's just a matter of time and doing jazz can only take you so far.

Anonymous said...

Y so much hate@anon 2:42....u dnt knw anytin about him so STFU.....!

Anonymous said...

From 100l till nw dat am serving he has bin celebrating 80 years bday.

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