How I Survived Amosun’s Destruction Of My N40million Worth Investment In Stadium, Halmod CEO Recounts Losses

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

Born on July 17, 1960 into the family of Mr and Mrs. Ibilola of Ijebu-Ishiwo in Ogun state.

Last week, precisely July 17, 2020, the CEO Halmod Bar and Entertainment celebrated his 60th birthday in line with the covid-19 protocols.

Mufutau Ibilola started his primary education at age 10 when many of his colleagues were already in class 4. After finishing his elementary education, he could not further his education due to financial constraint of his parents. But respite came his way in 1980 when the the western region government headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced free education.

In 1985, ‘Mufu’ as comically called by his friends, got admission into Government Technical College, Olobe, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta where he studied Cooking. He later went to driving school where he learnt how to drive, thanks to Chief F. A Oyalowo who accommodated him when the journey to stardom was rough and tough for Mufutau.

After graduating from the driving school, Mufu ventured into smuggling.

He said, “we smuggled rice with truck, trailer, pick up van. It was in the course of smuggling during one of my relaxation time at the MKO Abiola Stadium, I discovered a business idea to invest in alcohol business. And I make an enquiry and perfected my papers so a space was allocated for me.

“I formed Halmod with the combination of my two daughters’ names, Halimat and Modinat. While I was at stadium, I became so famous that, I traveled to several countries. But during the second coming of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun state, it was a bad omen for our business in stadium.

“Senator Amosun government gave a directive that, we should all vacate stadium with an excuse that we allow people to smoke cigarette especially teenagers. Despite our plea to control the class of customers that will patronize us, all our plea went to deaf ears.

“The most painful part of the destruction was that, the government came with their bulldozer just three months I invested N40million naira to expand the business because that’s the major source of my income aside from other branches I have across the state.”

Chief Mufutau Ibilola therefore, enjoined Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state to return normalcy and sanity to stadium as it is the practice across the world.

He said he was able to survive the trauma of the destruction of his business head office through the maintenance of other branches which are sustaining him till now.

He noted that, the advantage of reopening stadium for business activities was that it would help the state government to generate more revenue internally.

“I will appreciate it if we are allowed back to go back to stadium to continue our businesses. It will be a win-win situation for us and government. Personally, I paid about N10.5million naira to the coffers of the state government as tax annually. Now calculate that with other business owners if the government allow us to operate.

“When Governor Abiodun came into office, he assured us that we would be allowed to go back to stadium as soon as a sports commissioner is appointed to manage the stadium, but I want to believe that, if not for covid-19 something would have been done.

“At 60, I thank God I’m in good health and my family are fine. By the grace of God, I have accomplished many things in life, all I’m praying for now is to be blessed and be a blessing to others. “