Sir Kessington Adebutu with Gov. Fashola His son Oladipupo
One of the twelve children of
lotto magnate Sir Kessington Adebutu, Oladipupo Adebutu, 52, in an interview
with Punch revealed a lot about his dad and some are quiet interesting. Sir
Adebutu is a lotto lord and one of the richest sons from Ogun State, Ijebu
precisely. Enjoy;
Could you share your childhood
experience with your dad?
experience with your dad?
My father is someone you can call
an enigma. He is a multi-faceted person. That’s the way I will describe him. In
my own opinion, he is the most generous father on earth. He gives without
looking back. He gives only the best, and no half measure. No sacrifice for him
is too much for a child. But there are fundamental principles which you dare
not abridge with him. Once you give him your word, you must die for it for you
to change it. It is very hard to do, because things change. But to him, once
you give a commitment, you must fulfil it. And that is the mainstay of his
business — gaming. He went into that business without capital. He went into it
with goodwill and his word. He says, ‘play coupon, when you win, I will pay you
your money.’ And because he maintained that goodwill, the gaming business is
successful. Again, when he went into lotto business, it is with the same
goodwill and his word — play, win and get your money. He usually tells us his
children that a good name is better than silver and gold. He tells us to honour
our commitment.
an enigma. He is a multi-faceted person. That’s the way I will describe him. In
my own opinion, he is the most generous father on earth. He gives without
looking back. He gives only the best, and no half measure. No sacrifice for him
is too much for a child. But there are fundamental principles which you dare
not abridge with him. Once you give him your word, you must die for it for you
to change it. It is very hard to do, because things change. But to him, once
you give a commitment, you must fulfil it. And that is the mainstay of his
business — gaming. He went into that business without capital. He went into it
with goodwill and his word. He says, ‘play coupon, when you win, I will pay you
your money.’ And because he maintained that goodwill, the gaming business is
successful. Again, when he went into lotto business, it is with the same
goodwill and his word — play, win and get your money. He usually tells us his
children that a good name is better than silver and gold. He tells us to honour
our commitment.
When did he start the gaming
business: pools betting and lotto?
business: pools betting and lotto?
I grew up to know him in the
pools betting business, among them was Face to Face. He’s been in business for
as long as I could remember. He did a lot of other businesses. He was an
importer of tiles, ceramics and adhesives among others, for a very long time.
But as the economy grew from bad to worse, those businesses became much more
difficult to do and gradually he eased out of them.
pools betting business, among them was Face to Face. He’s been in business for
as long as I could remember. He did a lot of other businesses. He was an
importer of tiles, ceramics and adhesives among others, for a very long time.
But as the economy grew from bad to worse, those businesses became much more
difficult to do and gradually he eased out of them.
Did he have time for his children
when they were young?
when they were young?
Like I said earlier, the man is
an enigma. If he’s within the country, wherever he was, he would come back home
at 1.00pm for his lunch. We would all have our lunch together. And on Sundays,
he gave the children a special treat, by taking us to either Mainland Hotel or
Federal Palace Hotel to spend the Sunday afternoon Again, every summer, he
would take us abroad for vacation for two or three weeks. He is very good man.
But currently, I have a problem working with this kind of standard, and my
children are asking, ‘Daddy, Grandpa took you abroad for summer, and stayed
with you, why didn’t you do the same for us?’ My father is a fantastic man.
an enigma. If he’s within the country, wherever he was, he would come back home
at 1.00pm for his lunch. We would all have our lunch together. And on Sundays,
he gave the children a special treat, by taking us to either Mainland Hotel or
Federal Palace Hotel to spend the Sunday afternoon Again, every summer, he
would take us abroad for vacation for two or three weeks. He is very good man.
But currently, I have a problem working with this kind of standard, and my
children are asking, ‘Daddy, Grandpa took you abroad for summer, and stayed
with you, why didn’t you do the same for us?’ My father is a fantastic man.
What are his hobbies?
My father neither plays squash
nor polo. He enjoys the company of his friends and they play card games such as
poker and black jack. They do have a good time.
nor polo. He enjoys the company of his friends and they play card games such as
poker and black jack. They do have a good time.
Does he socialise?
My dad enjoys himself. He
socialises well. He loves parties and he loves good life.
socialises well. He loves parties and he loves good life.
What is his favourite drink?
It takes him two hours to finish
a bottle of beer.
a bottle of beer.
Is he a car freak?
No. My father sees cars as a
means of conveyance. For a long time, he fancies Mercedes Benz. But he added
two others. Specifically, he’s more into Mercedes Benz cars.
means of conveyance. For a long time, he fancies Mercedes Benz. But he added
two others. Specifically, he’s more into Mercedes Benz cars.
Does the name Adebutu open doors
for you?
for you?
The name is an asset but it is
also my biggest liability. It is an asset because it opens doors and it gives
me special recognition easily. But the flipside is that people tend to expect
too much from me. And a lot of things that others will do and go scot-free, I
dare not do, because of that name. But I am not complaining, since both
liability and asset must go hand-in-hand.
also my biggest liability. It is an asset because it opens doors and it gives
me special recognition easily. But the flipside is that people tend to expect
too much from me. And a lot of things that others will do and go scot-free, I
dare not do, because of that name. But I am not complaining, since both
liability and asset must go hand-in-hand.
What is your dad’s favourite
food?
food?
First, I will say he has tendency
for moderation, and he does not have any favourite food. He enjoys both local
and international dishes. But he loves vegetable. It must be well prepared with
a lot of sawa fish.
for moderation, and he does not have any favourite food. He enjoys both local
and international dishes. But he loves vegetable. It must be well prepared with
a lot of sawa fish.
Does he have special nicknames
his friends call him?
his friends call him?
His long-time friends call him
‘Kessy Bobo’ and he cherishes it so much.
‘Kessy Bobo’ and he cherishes it so much.
How did Baba Ijebu, that most
people call him, evolve?
people call him, evolve?
Baba Ijebu is the new nickname.
The nickname originates from the lotto business. It has to do with the way he
has managed people’s resources. That is when someone plays the game and he or
she wins, he or she gets instant payment. It is because someone has managed
those resources well. And for we Ijebus, there is the general belief that we
are good managers of resources. I think that’s how that name came about.
The nickname originates from the lotto business. It has to do with the way he
has managed people’s resources. That is when someone plays the game and he or
she wins, he or she gets instant payment. It is because someone has managed
those resources well. And for we Ijebus, there is the general belief that we
are good managers of resources. I think that’s how that name came about.
How does your dad relax?
Unfortunately, that’s one thing
he does not know how to do. It is very painful. He is always doing something. I
wish my father could just go somewhere and rest for a while. When he goes on
vacation, he carries his work with him. What kind of vacation is that? And he
will be phoning the office every three hours to monitor his business back home.
he does not know how to do. It is very painful. He is always doing something. I
wish my father could just go somewhere and rest for a while. When he goes on
vacation, he carries his work with him. What kind of vacation is that? And he
will be phoning the office every three hours to monitor his business back home.
You want him to relax more?
Yes. At almost 80 years, he
deserves to rest. He was 79 years old last October.
deserves to rest. He was 79 years old last October.
What are some of his likes and
dislikes?
dislikes?
My father is like a chief investigating
officer. If you tell him lies, you are asking for more trouble. It is better to
come clean, because with his intellect and ability to investigate, you will
surely surrender.
officer. If you tell him lies, you are asking for more trouble. It is better to
come clean, because with his intellect and ability to investigate, you will
surely surrender.
Was he ever a policeman?
No. He is just a brilliant man.
What values have you imbibed from
him?
him?
I’ve learnt the values of hard
work, forthrightness and truthfulness from him.
work, forthrightness and truthfulness from him.
If there is anything you can
change about your dad, what will it be?
change about your dad, what will it be?
The only thing that bothers me
about him is that at times he can be too fastidious. He is demanding and
sometimes his extent of demand cannot necessarily be the best. If one can get
80 per cent compliant from a human being and one is insisting it should be 100
per cent, it can make things unworkable. One must overlook some things.
about him is that at times he can be too fastidious. He is demanding and
sometimes his extent of demand cannot necessarily be the best. If one can get
80 per cent compliant from a human being and one is insisting it should be 100
per cent, it can make things unworkable. One must overlook some things.
Your dad took a younger wife,
some few years back, how did his children feel about it?
some few years back, how did his children feel about it?
The truth is that my dad is a
multi-faceted man. And it depends from which area you are looking at him. It is
something I will do, so I will be the last person to criticise his action.
Every 10 years or thereabout, my father finds a new love. May be for others
with his position, stature and resources, such persons may find new love every
five years. In my own opinion, my father is not excessive in this aspect.
multi-faceted man. And it depends from which area you are looking at him. It is
something I will do, so I will be the last person to criticise his action.
Every 10 years or thereabout, my father finds a new love. May be for others
with his position, stature and resources, such persons may find new love every
five years. In my own opinion, my father is not excessive in this aspect.
Have you ever played lotto?
Yes, I have. It is quite
exciting. It is a very exciting way for recreation and it is quite interesting.
exciting. It is a very exciting way for recreation and it is quite interesting.
How many wives does your father
have?
have?
I know that my father has 12
children from five women. We are seven boys and five girls.
children from five women. We are seven boys and five girls.
Are the children of the youngest
wife included?
wife included?
Yes
What number are you among the
children?
children?
I am the first child.
What kind of music does he listen
to?
to?
He loves King Sunny Ade and Chief
Ebenezer Obey’s music. He has extensive collection of their works.
Ebenezer Obey’s music. He has extensive collection of their works.
Is he a Christian or a Muslim?
He is a Christian but of Muslim
descent. His parents were Muslims.
descent. His parents were Muslims.
What faith do the children
profess?
profess?
He allows us to follow whatever
faith that suits us. For instance, I am an evangelist in the Celestial Church
of Christ fold. Some of us are in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
faith that suits us. For instance, I am an evangelist in the Celestial Church
of Christ fold. Some of us are in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
