*Timaya
By Future Bright
WARRI—FOR Warri billionaire and symbol of Itsekiri youth
leadership, Chief Ayirimi Emami, no amount of wealth and fame can make him
forfeit the street sense and life he had embraced from childhood, especially in
the tough neighborhood of Okere community where he was born and bred.
For this reason as he turned 40,
penultimate Sunday, he did not choose his palatial Ubeji home or some five
-star hotel in town as the spot to draw together his family and friends to
share the bliss of the anniversary.
He instead hosted the high and
mighty from far near present on the occasion to a show stopping street party,
which practically shut down Okere from dusk to the dawn of last Monday. Before
the birthday bash exploded in funfair, the Akulagba of Warri kingdom unveiled a
new filling station at Ugbuwangue, Warri, where he started the carnival on a
note of philanthropy, dispensing free petrol and kerosene to the first 40
persons that queued for the products.
The filling station was declared
open in prayers by the Assistant Pastor at the Word of Life Bible Church,
Oloyede Adeokan, where the celebrant joined by his wife, Asba, two
children and other well wishers, held thanksgiving to mark his birthday
with the church’s founder and President, Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, leading the service.
I’m a street person
Chief Emami told Niger Delta Voice,
“Every birthday has its thrills for me. This year as it coincides with the
opening of this new fuel outlet, we are giving free petrol to the first 40 cars
and kerosene, particularly for the women. “It has been good and eventful living
through birth towards 40, it has been quite interesting and I give God all the
glory. Now 40, I sincerely hope it will be merrier and I still have quite a lot
I want to do and achieve.”
Before nightfall of same day, the
Okere Market Roundabout was wearing new look with a stage set for a night of
quality entertainment in the atmosphere of plenty to eat and drink. “I
celebrate personal events like this on the street. That is me, a street person.
I like to flow with the crowd where I can be free to mingle with my people,”
Ayiri said of the merriment that climaxed his 40th birthday celebration.
In the cast entertainers, who
thrilled the crowd were Dan Driver, Timaya, 911 Band, Solid Star and Maleke,
while I Go Dye, I Go Save, Bovi and Klint The Drunk cracked guests’ ribs with
stand-up comedy.
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