Mr. Modesty! Kola Abiola Marks 55th Birthday
How he turned birthday to a master class in humility
Indeed, we must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Many a rich man giddy with power, carry himself with a false sense of modesty but Kola Abiola is remarkably different. He clocked 55 some days ago and contrary to the norm and expectations within the social circuit, he did not roll out a marching band or host a celebrity- styled soiree to celebrate the coming of age.
In the halcyon, starry- eyed days of youth, Kola, scion of late colourful businessman and presumptive winner of the June 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, would have pulled all the stops to celebrate his birthday in any part of the world he desired.
After all, he is the first son and heir apparent to a billionaire dynasty. But beefy Kola has come of age. When he clocked 55 Saturday, July 1st, those who knew his social streak back in the days envisaged a lavish gathering where champagnes and cognacs and canapés would flow like a river. Though Kola, who in recent years has become less visible on the social scene, hasn’t changed band, he has only added a couple of seats to the horn section. It was mum from his household.
Except for a handful of associates and his siblings Deji, Agboola, Bolaji and Wura who placed adverts in some dailies to celebrate him, there was no indication that one of Nigeria’s understated, yet, thoroughbred, life- loving silver spoons was marking his day. Sources said he spent the early part of the day offering prayers to his maker and spending the rest of the day with his immediately family in his palatial mansion in the exclusive Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. Close associates surmised that were Kola’s wife, Olayinka ( nee Onileere) alive, it would have been a different story entirely.
She would have spared no expense to fete and celebrate the remarkable life of her hubby. Olayinka died in 2010 in Los Angeles while on vacation. She was reported to have slumped and died immediately. Olayinka was in her mid- 40s. Her sudden and shocking death came three years after Kola lost his beloved daughter, Labake, at the age of 16. It is almost ten years now but Kola never quite recovered.