Cost Of Raising Children Scares Me Away From Polygamy - Bisi Adegbuyi

Bisi AdegbuyiBarrister Bisi Adegbuyi has carved a name for himself, not just in real estate management but also in property development. His company, Grandview, owns a number of eye-popping buildings in Lagos and other states. In this interview with Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Wale Ajayi, the Afenifere member, who contested Ogun East senatorial seat on the platform of Action Congress in 2007, shares his views on life, love, marriage and relaxation, among others. Excerpts.


AS a lawyer, what influenced your decision to go into estate management business?
It wasn’t accidental. When I was in the University of Lagos, while other students were avoiding a course titled Property and Conveyance Law because of the need to have good grades, I decided to take the course. The desire to have good grades did not discourage me from offering the subject, because the perception at that time was that it was a difficult subject and you needed to have done very well in your Part II to offer the subject at 300 level. Then, I was encouraged by my lecturer, late Professor Jelili Omotola, whom I must confess influenced me in so many ways.

Then, when I went for my master’s degree also at the University of Lagos, I again specialized in Secured Credit Transaction and Real Estate. In a way, this has influenced the kind of law practice I am involved in. Without being immodest, I drink property, live property; everything about me is about real estate management. It also has to do with my upbringing. My father was a businessman, and in his own little way, he was successful in what he was doing, and he imparted in me some business acumen. I decided I was going to use my Law experience in a way that is practiceable, that is using the instrumentality of law to conduct legitimate business. It has always been my motivating factor.

As a property expert, do you think Nigeria can achieve housing-for-all as  government has always proposed?
That is a difficult one because of the fundamental problem that we encounter here in Nigeria. First and foremost, we run an economy that is not dependent on the ideas of the people. We have relied too much on oil, without allowing people to use their God-given talent and come up with uncommon ideas that can lead to uncommon ways of making money. Housing-for-all with the way we are going will continue to be a mirage, because we are not going about it the right way.

I have often said it, and I will say it again, we must first and foremost ensure that we have put the right system in place, a system that will encourage hardwork, that will reward industry, a system that would allow people to use their brains rather than relying on oil which to me is becoming a curse rather than a blessing for Nigeria. We also need to ensure that what obtains in other jurisdictions –the credit system is introduced into Nigeria so that the penchance of people to always amass wealth for themselves, but not for generations yet unborn is stopped. Let us create an enabling environment in which opportunities will be equal and you will just do your bit, and generations coming will also do their bit. We will also have to look at areas of taxation, it is difficult to want to leave property for your children abroad because of the inheritance tax. That discourages people from amassing wealth with the hope of bequeathing it to their children.

What determines the kind of clothes you wear?
I like to look decent. The kind of clothes I wear, is the function of the event I am planning to attend. I like to be simple and modestly dressed. I am not for anything gorgeous. Really, I am an intensively private person, I cherish my privacy, but having been involved in the political process, there are certain things you will need to do because of politics. The idea of being seen at every party, moving from one place to the other does not appeal to me, but if you are involved in the political process, it simply means, once you get an invitation from one of your supporters you got to be there, these are some of the sacrifices one would have to make in order to be part of the process that would change the society for good.

Do you use perfume?
Yes, I do. Each time any new perfume comes out and it smells good I buy it. I have quite a collection of perfumes.

What type of perfume do you like?
It doesn’t have to do with any particular designer. I do most of my shopping at the duty-free shops. The first thing I ask is, ‘have you got anything new in the market?’, once it smells nice I go for it.

Who is your favourite designer?
I am sentimentally attached to Armani a lot. Really, it is not about label; if it is well cut and presentable, it is okay for me. It may interest you to know that, they make nice suits in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, maybe because of their proximity to Europe. I can confirm to you that the suit I wore when I was gradua-ting from University of Lagos was made in Tunisia, and it would pass for any of these designers you can find anywhere.

Do you wear Yoruba attires, particularly ‘agbada?’
Before politics, I was not wearing agbada, though I had them. I like to be very smart, but because of my involvement in Afenifere politics, it becomes necessary for me to project our culture. Weekends, Fridays or any event that has to do with Afenifere matters, I like to wear my kaftan with cap, and because of my height it makes me feel good when I wear agbada. I am very proud to be a Yoruba man, and I would stop at nothing in ensuring that our culture, our ethos –those value we hold very dearly as Yoruba are maintained. I have always said that, the way a people are governed should also reflect their culture and language, their identity. I am very proud to be a Yoruba person, I have got respect for some other people, whether you are Hausa or Igbo, Jukun or what have you, but I am very proud to be Yoruba.

How did you meet your wife?
She was in lower six when I was in upper six. We attended the same school for our A’level programme.

What attracted you to her?
At that material time, the ‘in thing’ was for boys in upper six to look for girls in lower six.
I am very shy about this, but the fact of the matter is that she was very gentle, quiet, and I thought that it would be nice to have her as a friend, and we developed the relationship, and to God be the glory, we are happily married, and we have got three lovely children.

Despite being married, are you attracted to the opposite sex? How do you cope with women who make a pass at you?
That is not difficult to handle, because I am sufficiently experienced. My father was a polygamist. He had about five wives, and growing up one was not oblivious of the challenges that were associated with polygamy. Of course, having experienced some of those things you will normally experience in a polygamous home, I don’t think it will be wise for me to toe that line, or follow that direction. Yes I have some female admirers out there, but I don’t lose my head over such matters. I know how to handle challenges like that, but I can assure you that, having regard to challenges that are associated with raising kids, giving them the best education, no wise man will be interested in having children he will be unable to provide for, especially when public schools are not doing well. The greatest thing that ever happened to me is education. I will stop at nothing in giving my children the best of education. So, that in a way will not allow polygamy to be attracted to me.

How do you relax?
Well, I enjoy being in the midst of my friends discussing intellectual issues. I get animated about the Nigerian problem. I have decided to dedicate myself to the cause of finding solution(s) to issues confronting humanity. That to me constitutes an enduring source of joy to me. Most times, I just engage my friends and people around me in finding solutions to the myriads of problem facing this country. On a lighter note, I belong to one or two social clubs, what we do there really is also to brainstorm all the time on how to keep Nigeria and make it a better place for people to live in.