‘This is not Banana Island’: Dele Momodu unveils mansion in Edo hometown

Veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu has unveiled a new mansion at his hometown, Ihievbe, in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Momodu, who is the publisher of Ovation Magazine, disclosed this in a post shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

He stated that the house was built in absentia by his cousin, Friday Arogha, with instructions and funding provided remotely.

The famous journalist also described the project as a symbolic return to his hometown and a personal milestone decades after the death of his father.

Momodu wrote: “THIS IS NOT BANANA ISLAND LAGOS BUT MY COUNTRY HOME IN IHIEVBE, OWAN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EDO STATE…

“This is a journey of about 52 years since my Dad passed on.

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“Today is the first time I’m stepping into the house my cousin built for me in absentia… From Foundation to Completion, I never visited here. I only gave instructions and paid intermittently in trickles.

“I fixed the concrete Road and the solar powered street lights, painted the entire street, trying to replicate the White House in Washington DC. Please, don’t laugh…IHIEVBE is no longer a village but a township in Lagos.

“Massive thanks to the uncommon builder, FRIDAY AROGHA, my cousin who made this magic possible… And MRS SIMI ALEGBE, who decorated the property so brilliantly for a befitting retirement from the hustle and bustle of Lagos…“

The Star