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Nigeria’s most decorated soccer star, Nwankwo Kanu has parted ways with his long term business partner, Ayo Gam-Ikon. This development, though, is still being kept under wraps by the 2 guys whose friendship dates back many years. However, friends of the 2 popular guys who are privy to happenings are squealing big time of the irreconcilable differences between the two.
Those who have followed the 2 friends over the years would readily tell you it is one friendship made-in-heaven. It is also little secret within Nigeria’s business circles that both kanu and Gam-ikon run a couple of partnership in companies where both have substantive interest. While kanu is the chairman, Gam-ikon is the director, who pilots the affair of most of these concerns while kanu was abroad on proffessional soccer duties.
The companies include The Hardley suites ( a hospitality outfit), Replica Digital Studio, Pro G Management Ltd and Xcepshon Ltd (interiors & furniture).
Kanu is the chairman of worldwide management, the holding company for his business empire. Ayo Gam-ikon, an ex-banker, sources say, has been influential to building kanu’s vast business empire over the years. The pair have been like siamese twins ever since they met until a few months back when cracks began to unsettle their once formidable bond.
A highly dependable source close to the 2 business friends say Kanu is tired of his partnership deal with Gam-ikon and wants out. Although, deeper details of the reasons kanu wants to break away is being kept under wraps, what is sure however is the fact that the ex-super Eagles striker is unhappy about a few developments in his company and now prefer to run it on his own, especially now that he is back home.
He has allegedly asked his bossom friend to hands off his business. Kanu is said to have injected some of his family members into his business and expectedly, they saw a few things which were reported to him. There are those who believe it would be easier for a camel to pass through the needle’s eye than for kanu to settle with Gam-ikon. This is because of the stories surrounding Gam. Kanu is unhappy at some very critical decisions his business friend took while he was away.
However, there is the story that his partner, Gam-ikon, is having none of it. Gam-ikon is insisting on an amicable separation, with the 2 interests taken care of adequately.
Gam, a lawyer, was reported to have told the popular footballer that although he is not opposed to a separation but it has to be done amicably, with both parties satisfied.
Perhaps fallout of the kanu/Gam-ikon face-off is the fact that the whole development has turned into a ‘roforofo’ while the issue is being kept away from the public, owing to kanus status in the society. Those who know one or two things about the partnership say Gam-ikon does not deserve the treatment he is getting from the soccer star, noting that the ex-banker has done his job well diligently as a partner and to the best of his ability. “Gam-ikon would not go down easily; if at all a separation will go ahead.
To underscore Gam-ikon’s importance to kanu’s investments, there is the story that he was highly instrumental to his (kanu’s) acquisitions of about 10 properties at Stillwater Estate, Lekki phase 1, last year. The investments set kanu back in the excess of #2 billion. During kanu’s fairytale wedding years ago, Gam was the chief organizer. Before the duo became friends, there are those who say Gam was kanu’s financial manager who oversaw his Accounts in the defunct Gulf Bank.
Gam-ikon is a suave businessman. He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association and Alumnus of the Lagos Business School. An ex-banker with over 13years experience, he rose to become an Assistant General Manager working variously at All States Trust Bank (now Ecobank plc). FSB International Bank ( Fidelity bank plc) and Gulf Bank of Nigeria and Equitorial Trust bank plc.
Courtesy City People
