By Segun Oderinde.
It seemed like an eternity ago when polo buff, Dapo Ojora, vowed before family and friends and God that only death would do him part with his beautiful wife, Patricia. The grim reaper hasn’t visited either of the couple, but life has. Dependable sources have confirmed that the marital journey of the popular Lagos couple has gurgled and burped to a halt. And so many reasons are being advanced for the bitter break up; primarily, Dapo’s alleged increasing financial problems.
Those in the know say Dapo, 57 this year, is broke and that his company, Discovery Resources Limited, is no longer as buoyant as it used to. But for an expensive lifestyle revolving round expensive horses for his number one passion, Polo; and carefree spending, among other money-depleting luxuries, Dapo has no reason being broke. Surrounded by influence and power, his sister, Toyin, is married to Senate President Bukola Saraki while his father is the respected boardroom guru and one of the patriarchs of the Nigerian high society, Otunba Adekunle Ojora. The Ojoras are a prominent ruling House in Lagos. There is no gainsaying that he has a name and pedigree that can open doors.
Though concerned relatives and friends are counselling and cajoling, and still running hither, thither, to reconcile the estranged couple, there are speculations that Patricia, a lawyer, may have had her mind firmly made up. Aside from her law practice, Patricia also runs PromoPrint Ventures Limited, specialists in the manufacture and branding of gift items such as shirts, caps, bags, and other corporate gift items.
A few weeks back, the couple’s first daughter, Tara, began the first leg of her impending wedding to Folajimi, the son of Iranola Ayodeji, a former banker, an accomplished businessman and the Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The introduction ceremony held at her grandparents, Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Ojuolape Ojora’s Ikoyi home.
Sources said it took the intervention of respected relatives for Dapo and Patricia to put up a united front. To those who knew them when they had the hots for each other and could barely let each other out of their sights, still pray the couple reconcile and come back together.
