BENIN STAND STILL FOR CAPT HOSA OKUNBOR

BENIN STAND STILL FOR

 CAPT HOSA OKUNBOR

It’s going to be difficult for friends and businessman associates of the billionaire businessman Captain Hosa Okunbor  to come to terms with his new status as a beaded Benin Chief. For about three decades, this gentleman and philanthropist with a heart of gold has simply been known as Captain by all and Sunday, now their dilemma will be whether to call him Captain, which the majority can flow with or Chief his new title or Chief Captain...am not sure it’s my role to solve this riddle that comes  with elevation and change of status..they will all just have to find a way around it or maybe Captain will, this is strictly for laughter, take out an ad to tell his friends  and associates how he wants to be addressed....laugh your heads off. That’s his problem, not mine.

Anyway, last weekend was great fun in Benin City, the Edo State Capital. Dignitaries and friends from far and near, with a cascade of private jets and chattered planes stormed the city, first on Friday, to rejoice with Captain Hosa wells Okunbor, who was being honoured with a bead by the Oba of Benin at his palace, which is one of the greatest honour for any Benin man, though a lot of folks said this honour had been long overdue. The chieftaincy ceremony, which is another kettle of fish will come sometime later.

The next day the galaxy of stars and the money bags and politician and Niger Delta who s who gathered at his sprawling residence to attend the commencement of marriage rites for his beautiful and respectful daughter Ivie,  whose beau, Shola, son of the Olu of Warri and his royal entourage came knocking for her hands in marriage.

For most of the people it was to pay homage to a great man who had empowered a lot of people across the Niger Delta and who as they say, in Benin, Continues to ‘make big boys’ every day by his unique style of empowerment. It perhaps explains why most of the big boys present stayed back to give moral support and ensure the guests who kept arriving from the morning of Saturday and flowed through the night. The question people asked and i did too was what kind of entainment the wedding proper will witness if the Introduction is this grand... they all will have to wait and see or go ask the man. Dem wan tell am how to spend him money?

The entertainment, which was quiet simple, since it was just an introduction, though a lot of people said, Captain does not do small or simple things, and they must know. Anyway, the food was sumptuous and lavish. I had starch and banga which came with a super big snail, cat fish and the biggest cut of  stock fish, panla i have seen served at a party.  Of course there was Chinese and the variants of rice and small chops which came with prawns and lots of other eatables and to help the flow of food ,the big boys had to decide what brand of champagne was most suitable, Moet, Rose or  Dom Perigon  or for those who love had liquor, VSOP, Red Label, Black Label or Blue Label depending on how really big you are.

Each time Captain Hosa Okunbor moved about, i heard his boys, shout, The Lion, i guess that’s his new title. It further compounds what the jolly rich fellow will go by; Captain, The Lion or Chief. I had fun and so did a lot of the guests who attended the two day celebration and merriment.