The Nation Newspaper

Category: Society

  • Secrets of my ‘flamboyant lifestyle’ —Bishop Tom Samson

    Secrets of my ‘flamboyant lifestyle’ —Bishop Tom Samson

    Not a few tongues have been set wagging by the perceived flamboyant lifestyle of the founder of Christ Royal Family International Church, Bishop Tom Samson. But the controversial clergyman told PAUL UKPABIO that his seemingly exotic lifestyle is nothing less than he deserves after weathering the storms that life had brought his way. He also revealed the strange ways big money came his way twice while he was at the verge of throwing in the towel on his ministry.

    heard you share a testimony with your congregation that at a time in your life, it was difficult to raise enough money for food…

    That is true. The beginning was tough. It was terrible, even to have three square meals a day. Even for my children to go to school, I could not afford common basic nursery school for them. Today, we have more than 16 schools across the country—nursery and primary, college of education and even university. And the purpose of that message today was to let them know that no matter how rough and tough it may be today for anybody, God still has His purpose which will come to pass. That God will make you great tomorrow does not mean that you will not go through suffering today. That Nigeria is terrible today does not mean that it will not still grow.

    A great future starts with a humble beginning. Even if God says He will make you great, you still have to go through a process. Before I came to Lagos, when I left the university, God told me, ‘I will make you great.’ He said, ‘I will bless you. The whole world will know you.’ But He didn’t tell me that I would sleep under the Ojuelegba Bridge. He didn’t tell me that I was going to sleep on a biscuit carton. He didn’t tell me that to eat three square meals would be difficult. But today, I have a foundation that trains people to university level, empower over 5,000 women and establishing them in businesses. But looking back now, to feed then was difficult. That is the reality that I found out.

    With God, even if He is going to make you great, it does not mean that you will not pass through difficult situations. The Bible says that even Jesus learnt obedience. There are things He suffered. So it is a message to comfort some people out there who cannot see better days ahead. Because all they can see is today, they are unhappy, they are frustrated and they think it is over. But the message is for them to look ahead. It might be rough today, you may not be able to feed today, just look ahead. With that, you will be able to survive today.

    So how did you come about the fabulous wealth we see you exhibit today? You cruise around in a limousine, wear fanciful clothes and throw money around.

    Let me tell you about the processes of divine turn around. When Isaac got to Gerah, he even went to meet the king to beg for land. The bible says that there was a terrible famine in Gerah. Isaac wanted to run away from Gerah but the Lord told him, ‘Stay in Gerah, I will be with you. I will bless you.’ Given a process of time, Isaac became greater than the people he met in Gerah. The bible says that the whole of Philistine envied him. Even the king acknowledged that he was greater than them. Meanwhile here is a boy that wanted to beg for land. God’s empowerment, God’s blessing takes a man from zero to hero. God’s blessing takes a man from obscurity into limelight. God’s blessing turns nobody to somebody. Blessing means empowerment to prosper. When you are empowered, it affects the kind of people that come into your life. Secondly, it affects your patronage.

    Now let me tell you when I turned from a hungry man to a satisfied man. When I came to Lagos 24 years ago, almost the whole of the first four or five years was rough. In that same Egbeda, I almost ran out of the place perhaps back to my village (laughs). Egbeda was on the outskirts of the city. One day, I began to notice some people coming from Lekki, Ajao Estate where all those rich people used to live then. They showed up in the church. People that I never knew of. Sometimes they said somebody invited them or they just came.

    One Sunday, they came and told me that they were Catholic women but they impressed with my teachings. They then said they would be coming from time to time. And each time they came, they blessed me. I saw money. They were not my members. Do you know that for me to start building that Egbeda church was not church offering? Where I was in Akowonjo, I was using a place that was equally used as a beer parlour. The landlord gave us a quit notice, and the last Sunday they gave us to quit, it rained terribly on that day.

    That day, there were only four people in the church because rain did not let people come to church. And it was also the day the landlord had given us for our last worship. Do you know that I shed tears on that day? I said in my mind, ‘so my ministry would end today?’ I needed money to go and rent a primary school space. I prayed till daybreak that God should inspire my members to bring out money to rent the primary school space, but alas, rain did not allow them to come to church. My frustration was high. Then before the service ended, one woman joined us. She was an Anglican from Bishop Vining Memorial Church. It was because of that rain that she could not go to her church. She decided to look for a nearby church to attend.

    I made an announcement that it was our last day there and that we needed money to rent a space at a bakery, and that I was told to pay N60,000 per annum. The woman did not even wait. She left a note which said she was not a member of the church, but concerning that announcement, I should send someone to her shop at Balogun Market in Lagos, that she would be able to help with the money. I sent people there and the woman released the money. That was how I got money to buy land with N20,000 down payment and used N40,000 to lay foundation. So that was how we became a property owner; a church of barely 10 members, some of them UNILAG students.

    So we started using our property by putting canopy on the foundation of the church we had laid. One day, one of the members invited the mother who is well to do. The woman thought it was a well built church, not knowing that it was a canopy. The first time we had a real well to do woman in our midst for Sunday service. Guess what, the rain started and blew the canopy away, drenched our clothes, including that of the woman. That was the day we had a special guest in our midst. I thought it was over, but the woman came to meet me there and then and asked, ‘Man of God, how much do you need to do a solid temporary structure here?’ That was how she gave us money to do wood and zinc in that place.

    That was how in those early days in Egbeda, people started coming, helpers started coming. God began to answer the prayers of those that I had gathered and they too in turn began to give to the church. God began to give them joy. God began to affect their lives. My major turnaround has been caused by destiny helpers; people who were walking into my life to affect me and people who God was using my prayers to affect. That is the story of my life today.

    But how about your churches abroad? How did they come about?

    You mean my international ministry? I am almost all over the globe. By October, I will be in five outreaches—London, Canada, Houston, Texas, Atlanta and Europe again. I have churches abroad now. What brought about all this? About 12 years ago, the first time I did my programme, ‘It is War’, the fliers were all over Lagos. Some Americans were in Nigeria. They went to the East and on coming back to Lagos to board a plane back to America, they missed their flight and had to check into a hotel. It was in that hotel that they saw my programme’s flier. They were scared. Is Nigeria fighting war? They read it closely and saw that it was a pastor. But they wondered why a pastor was fighting a war. The Holy Spirit then ministered to the bishop among them, ‘Bring this man to America.’ They said, ‘Lord, we do not know this man. They say Nigerians are dubious people. How can we bring a stranger to America?’ Then the Lord spoke to them again, saying bring this man to America. Then, I had just opened my church in Ikeja.

    So how did that connect you?

    They came and said they would send me an invitation. That was how they sent an invitation to my wife and I. Two weeks later, they sent our flight tickets, itinerary book and accommodation and we were on our way to America. That was how they started organising meetings for me across America. In two years, I covered several states in America. Look at that picture (pointing to a wall hanging), that is a Mayor in America with me. I began to receive awards from Mayors in America, based on the recommendation I received from these Americans who discovered me. I toured America for two years, doing great work. So the story of my life has been that of destiny helpers. I called them messengers of destiny. And that is how God lifts people. Look at the story of our President, Buhari. He couldn’t have got to Aso Rock as president without people. He didn’t have the financial muscle. All his personal efforts had failed until God used certain people. Whether those people liked it or not, God used them.

    When you are about to fulfil destiny, God will be there for you. Look at former President Obasanjo, God brought him out from where he was. Gen. Babangida, whichever way, could not rest until Obasanjo was out of there. Every success story, every major achievement in life is connected to somebody. Look at David, he was tending the sheep until he got a connection to the palace and he was introduced. Joseph was in prison. It was the butler who mentioned him and connected him to the right source, and he was brought out. So, every breakthrough is connected to somebody; a messenger of destiny.

    After making the money, what did you do with it?

    By the grace of God, He has used us to do some great things, starting from the ministry, which is my primary call. Today, we have churches built in various parts of Lagos. In Royal City, Ota, where we have 100 acres of land, our permanent centre, the site of our Royal College of Education, we have primary school there, Secondary school, hospital which can compete with any general hospital in Nigeria. And there we have other establishments like printing press, water factory, and so on. There also is the site for campus one of our proposed Monarch University.

    Right now in Ewekoro, we have another 1000 acres of land for another campus for the proposed Monarch University. Work is continuing on these sites. There we hold our camp meetings where all our churches all over the world come for religious camping. We have over two hundred rooms there. We have flat apartments there, which is our camp ground 2. In Egbeda we have schools, massive cathedral. In Ikeja too, we have schools all built by the ministry. In Lekki, we have a big church where my son pastors. We also have churches in Festac Town, Ikorodu, AIT area, Ijoko, all built in the ministry. We have a great church in Abuja, in Port Harcourt, Cotonou, London, Manchester, Atlanta and so on.

    Right now, we are building a massive preparation school in Agbara. Another massive one is in Ota. Female hostels, male hotels, laboratories, separate buildings for creche, primary school, library, each on three acres. On education, right now, we have eight primary schools, eight secondary schools, then the College of Education certified by Federal Government, which has been on for three years now. We are presently working on Monarch University, with 10 professors handling that right now. The beauty of all this is that we construct all those buildings ourselves.

    Then also on health, we have a massive hospital in Ota which late last year gave free medical services to over 5,000 people, which was well publicised. We also give out free eye glasses, treat people for diabetes, high blood pressure. At least we do that four times in a year to the communities in Ota and environs.

    Then also we have Tom Samson Foundation which focuses on empowerment. Late last year, we empowered 5000 women from Ota, Egbeda, Ikeja, Ikorodu. We taught them how to make chinchin, pastries, tie and dye, liquid soap, things that they do not need a shop to do or things they can do in their own houses. They were given certificates and N5,000 each so that they could start out on a low scale. Today, I can tell you that many of them supply our schools with pastries, liquid soap and so on.

    You also have a flamboyant lifestyle. You ride fabulous cars, wear loud clothes…

    The truth is that most of the things that I have, I got some of them free. The Rolls Royce I received this year was a gift from my birthday committee. The limousine I use was a gift from somebody abroad. That is because I am a giver too. You have been here with me today for some time, I am sure that you have seen the number of people that have come in here. I attend to them one after the other, and when they get a breakthrough, they always remember me. Today, I have a lot of established people, but they came in as nobody. Some of those women I gave N5,000 each have come back with gifts saying that God has blessed them. So life is all about give and take.

    If you have an opportunity to acquire a private jet will you buy?

    There is no way we will not have a jet at some point. Look at our air transport system. Many times I wanted to go to our church in Abuja to preach but couldn’t because of our air transport system. Sometimes, the excuse is that there is no aviation fuel. Sometimes, going to just Port Harcourt here, you will sit at the airport for five hours. So if anyone has the means, of course, they will look out for alternative. Look at those who are in the House in Abuja, who own private jets, some of them don’t have the kind of itinerary that I have. We even need the jet more than they do. If anyone of them donates theirs to the ministry, I will gladly accept because the ministry work as it is needs it (laughs). I’m telling you the truth, I will gladly receive it.

    Officially, it is said that our economy is in a recession. Is the church affected in any way?

    Of course, the church is in the system too, so it is affecting. The people you saw coming into my office today, some of them came for help. The recession is affecting the church. Even the income of the church is affected because it is the people that make up the income of the church. Some of our church members have not been paid salaries. Some of them are civil servants and they are not being paid salaries regularly. Some of them have been thrown out of their homes by impatient landlords. Meanwhile, some of them don’t know their senators. They have not even seen their representatives before. What do they do? They simply come to church for solution.

    Personally, I have a staff strength of over 250, and many of the parents in our schools are not paying full school fees for their children because where they are not working, and for those that are working, some of them have not been paid where they work. And these were parents who used to pay even before schools open. So how do we send the children away when we are aware of their situation and we are a church as well? It is a difficult situation indeed. We are praying for our government. We are praying that things improve.

    I want to make a plea to our Senators, House of Representatives and every other person. They should know that people are feeling pain and it is we pastors that are feeling it more because it is we that the people see. Many of them are not reachable. But for us, when service is over, people can’t go home. No money. They can’t even feed their families, so they wait to collect money. The church is feeling it more because it is the church that is closer to the poor. We are praying for our president and I pray that our politicians have that human heart to make amends.

    What is your fear about Nigeria?

    As a believer, fear is not my portion. What some people are saying is very annoying. They say that the country should divide. These days, all we hear about the world is war. Look at what is happening in Syria, Iraq, Libya and so on. Our solution is not in breaking this nation. And it is not in raising ethnic or religious sentiments that can divide the country. Let me appeal to all ethnic leaders, the solution to our problems are all economic. Unfortunately, evil people are using political and ethnic sentiments against our economic solutions.

    My major fear is these politicians, religious warlords and ethnic champions dividing this country. If they do that, war will ravage the country. If they do it, the war will last for more than 30 years. It will be disastrous. Nobody will gain anything. And those who start it will not finish it. So let us put that idea away. Now talking about my fear for Christians, these are the times to seek God more. If not for God, Nigeria would have been no more a long time ago. We remember the civil war. Also the June 12 crisis when most Nigerians were sure that the country would be no more. God wants Nigerians to be one. We have passed through the night and we are still standing. I leave that as a message for those who wish to hear.

    As a global preacher, how would you describe your present lifestyle?

    It is a busy life for me. Being a bishop means that I have a meeting with about 250 pastors that I mentor every Monday. These are general overseers of their own churches. Now, after the preaching this morning, I will go down again to have a meeting with the men and then come back upstairs and attend to these pastors that I mentor. Where you are sitting is where they will sit. I listen to all the challenges they are facing in their ministries. Some I have to help because I always remember where I am coming from. Then I have my churches that I have to supervise. Also, I am a full time pastor for my church in Ikeja. My wife pastors the Egbeda church. Daily I receive calls from different parts of the world on spiritual and financial issues. Some for prayers, some for help in one form or another.

    I am a televangelist and my programmes are watched all over the world. That means I have to ensure that it is on air. I am pastor to people that I have not even met before. Their burden is also my burden. Added to that is the fact that I am a builder, supervising hundreds of acres of projects all over the place. The simple answer is that it is the grace of God. No man can do it except the Lord be with him. It is my destiny; it is my calling. If someone else wants to copy me, they may not be able to last. Sometimes too, I ask myself, how does Baba Adeboye do it, supervising all the churches all over the world? When I go to America, I hear that Baba Adeboye had just left. I would go to another place, I would hear that Baba Adeboye had just left. Same with Baba Oyedepo. I have 16 schools but Baba Oyedepo has multiple universities.

    Just like you asked me, I asked Baba Oyedepo same question and his answer is that it is the grace of God, because that is what you have been handed over to do. It is my assignment. I am sure that if you ask President Buhari how he is able to handle Nigeria, he will reply that it is grace of God too. Without it, no one can do anything good. I think that in life, we should not be afraid to do anything good and beneficial to mankind. Because if it is your assignment, nobody can stop it.

  • Bimbo Folawiyo trudges on

    LAGOS big girl, Bimbo Folawiyo, once soared high on the visibility scale with her presence at elite social events and bashes. Now, even her Instagram page where she inundates followers with pictures looks barren of much activity.

    The development might not be unconnected with recent developments between her and estranged husband, Yomi Folawiyo. Inside whispers suggested that since her four-year-old marriage to Yomi, which many considered made in heaven, crashed back down to earth, Bimbo has kept a low profile as she bids to weather the domestic hurricane.

    Although no one is sure of the circumstances of the marital conflict based on contradictory stories from both camps over the matter, it emerged that the fair-complexioned niece of Senator Buruji Kashamu had tried to reach out to Yomi to make peace before deciding to file for divorce at a Lagos magistrate court.

    After the sordid affair became public gossip, the well-proportioned owner of Her Majesty Skin Care Products packed out of her matrimonial home at Folawiyo Towers along with Mosunmola, her 6-year old daughter. She maintained that the rift with Yomi, younger brother of Tunde Folawiyo, the scion of the Folawiyo business empire, has progressed beyond the point of reconciliation.

  • My word for Buhari next time we meet—Emzor Pharmaceuticals CEO Stella Okoli

    My word for Buhari next time we meet—Emzor Pharmaceuticals CEO Stella Okoli

    Dr. Stella Okoli is without a doubt one of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and one of the most prominent members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). At more than 70 years old, Mummy, as she is fondly called by admirers, has not lost any of the traits that endeared her to many who have come to regard her as a role model. As far as such people are concerned, she is the Amazon of the Nigerian corporate sector.

    Okoli’s distinctive taste for clothes and accessories should ordinarily rate her among the stars of the nation’s high society. But for a woman whose main concern is how to make the nation’s healthcare industry better, her fashion sense, social life and style are often eclipsed by her concern for business.

    Of course, her sense humour is always on display whatever the situation. This much was the case when our correspondent encountered the woman behind the success of one of Nigeria’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.

    From time to time, she would bring up a joke that would lead to prolonged laughter. But at the end of each session of laughter, she never missed the point. She would go back to the question as if there was never a break.

    Every sentence she made was interspersed with an admonition on the need for one to love one’s country and make it great. In fact, she is of the opinion that patriotism should be taught in schools in order to inject its spirit into young Nigerians.

    “Patriotism should be taught in schools,” she said. “This will make the people to know what it is all about. It is the same with corruption. The curriculum should explain to the children that some actions could lead to corrupt practices.

    “You see, some of these young kids don’t even know which action leads to corruption and which one is not. We need to begin with them very early in order to inculcate the sense of patriotism in them. We must end this cycle of failure.”

    Asked to explain her fashion style and how she has been able to combine brain and beauty attracted a loud laughter before she said: “It is the grace of God. But let me share a joke with you: they say if you are going out on a political campaign, you need to look good and beautiful in order to win. However, the truth is that the Lord has been very good to me. For everything He has done for me, I am really grateful. In everything that I do, I glorify God. You see, I’d always ask myself, ‘what is it that I do that He has been so good to me. I am sure the beauty you are seen is the grace of God upon my life,” she said before breaking into another round of laughter.

    For the mother of three, being in the presence of the Lord gives the most joy. Aside this, she says she loves it whenever an opportunity presents itself for her to help someone in need.

    “As a business woman, whenever you step into the factory, you are always distracted by one noise or the other. If it is not the noise from the generator, it could be you thinking of how to grow the business. But for me, whenever I am in the presence of the Lord, I realise that all these don’t make any meaning to me. I am at peace with myself and everything about me is peaceful. Believe me, that gives me the most joy.

    “Another thing that gives me joy is to help someone in need. Recently, I got a note that one of the children of the security man with us was in coma for two weeks. Unfortunately, the man did not bother to tell us. I asked my people to get a doctor so that we would know what was wrong with the child. What we found out was that the expertise to handle the case was not even in that hospital. And the child had been in coma for two weeks.

    “We took steps and transferred the child to another hospital where proper attention and care were rendered. You needed to see this man. He was happy. It really gave me joy that God used me to save the child’s life and to put a smile on the face of the father. It was an opportunity and I thank God for it. It is very important for you to be a problem solver and a change agent.”

    In furtherance of her dream to expand the scope of her company, Okoli said she was focused on ensuring that Emzor Pharmaceuticals moved some steps further by investing in research.

    “Our plan was to have started the research programme by now. We are still eager to make sure that the programme takes off. It is something that we need to do in Nigeria in order to move the pharmaceutical industry forward,” she said.

    According to her, the determination to be a change agent was behind her decision to award scholarships to students in secondary and tertiary institutions. This, she disclosed, is in addition to her donations to the less privileged in the society and consistent support for several non-profit making organisations.

    The Chike Okoli Foundation is one project that is very close to her heart. The Foundation was set up in 2006 to raise awareness on cardiovascular disease and promote entrepreneurship.

    “To date, the Foundation has set up the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and has trained over 1,600 entrepreneurs/students in the science and spirit of entrepreneurship. It has also reached over 5,000,000 people across Nigeria on lifestyle interventions,” she said with a sense of pride.

    Despite her seemingly tight schedule and education, Okoli is not one to disregard her people’s culture and ways of life. Among the Igbo, it is the tradition that grandmothers visit their children when the latter are delivered of babies and spend some time. In Igbo land, the tradition is called Omugwo.

    “I have gone for Omugwo. It is the practice whereby a grandmother goes to care for her grandchildren. Don’t forget that I am a grandmother. However, things have been simplified now. You find that children these days are so independent that even if you are with them, they may not allow you to do much.

    “But the truth is that tight schedule must not stop you from doing what is expected of you. If you look at it, you must find time to do what is important to you.”

    Asked what her question would be if she were to meet President Muhhamadu Buhari, she said: “I would say good to meet you again Mr. President. I met him during the PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund) days when I was introduced to him as the president of the pharmaceutical group. The first thing he asked my predecessor who did the introduction was ‘Why did you allow a lady to beat you?’

    “But I will congratulate him for having many women in his cabinet. I will also tell him that his wife, Her Excellency, Aisha Buhari, is a wonderful PR for him. And finally, I will say to him, economy and manufacturing can be fixed and that we must join hands and do the work, no matter how daunting it looks.”

    Born in Kano to the family of Chief Felix Ebelechukwu and Princess Margaret Modebelu of Nnewi, Anambra State, young Stella attended the All Saint Primary School, Onitsha between 1954 and 1959. She proceeded to Ogidi Girls Secondary School, from where she went to the Federal Science School, Lagos.

    Dr. Stella Okoli, OON is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, an indigenous group she founded 33 years ago, which has remarkably grown to have footprints in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Her romance with pharmacy took a strong foothold when she later proceeded to the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy. She followed up with an MSc in Biopharmaceutics from the University of London, Chelsea College in 1971.

    Her love for pharmacy got even stronger when she began work in Middlesex Hospital as a Ward/ Clinical Pharmacist. She followed this with a brief stint as a pharmacist at Boots Chemist London.

    But the pull for the young Okoli to return home to practise what she had learnt was too much to resist. On her return home to Nigeria, she worked at popular Massey Children Hospital in Lagos before she eventually moved on to join a pharmaceutical manufacturing company as a sales manager.

    At that time, her entrepreneurial skill began to manifest. In 1981, she delved into drug importation and began the sale of ethical and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. This, she said “was intended to meet the health needs of Nigerians on quality drugs.”

    In 1984, three years after she started her drug importation business, she incorporated Emzor Pharmaceutical.

  • What is in your hand?

    What is in your hand?

    Human beings appear to be in a permanent state of dissatisfaction with their lives. We don’t like who we are or what we look like. We don’t believe what we have is good enough. We don’t think what we can do is adequate. To make matters worse, we tend to prefer what belongs to someone else. Unfortunately, this has affected our attitude to most things in life, even opportunities. We tend to look far into the distance in search of great opportunities while we despise the ones closest to us.

    Dr. Russell Conwell, in his all-time classic titled: “Acres of Diamonds” told the story of a wealthy Persian named Ali Hafed. Ali had great gardens, farms, grain fields and orchards. He was contented with his possessions, well, until an ancient Buddhist priest paid him a visit. The priest told him that a diamond the size of his thumb could buy him a country while he could have great influence and place his children on thrones with a diamond mine. Almost instantly, Ali felt poor because he became aware of what he didn’t have but could have. His sense of loss was so great that he couldn’t sleep. Eventually, Ali took off in search of diamonds in rivers running through white sand between high mountains but not before selling his entire possession and leaving his family with a neighbour. He journeyed through Palestine and Europe. By the time he arrived at Barcelona, his money was all spent; out of wretchedness, poverty and depression, he flung himself under a great tidal wave and ended his journey there.

    Meanwhile, the man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm took his camel out into the garden for watering one day and noticed a curious black stone reflecting light. He took it home and displayed it as a decoration until the same old priest who told Ali about diamonds came to visit. The priest recognised the stone as a piece of diamond to the surprise of Ali’s successor. They both rushed to the garden and discovered several other stones like it. According to Dr. Conwell, it is historically true that the garden became the most magnificent diamond mine known to mankind.

    Aren’t a lot of us like Ali these days? We go in search of what we already have just to appreciate it after we have lost it. Dr. David Oyedepo puts it aptly when he said “If you think enough, what you have is enough”. Unfortunately, we hardly take time to think before we embark on our quests for fortune. Here are a few lessons we can learn from Ali Hafed:

    • Wealth is perception and perception is wealth: a wealthy man may become poor overnight without losing a dime if he decides what he has is nothing compared to what he wants. On the other hand, a poor man may become wealthy overnight without earning a dime if he realises that he has gifts no money can buy. A positive state of mind is the foundation for success.
    • Use what you have to get what you want: no matter how meager what you have is, it is the key to what you can have. If a farmer decides that his seeds are too meagre to plant, he will forfeit his harvest. Instead of using his wealth to fund an expedition while still running his business, Ali decided to sell all and he lost all.
    • Exhaust all possibilities before moving on: we are usually too quick to conclude that our present conditions lack the potentials to produce our desired results. Before you give up on that job, relationship or business, make sure there are no benefits you have missed out on all this while.
    • Become unfamiliar to appreciate what you have: sometimes, we become too familiar with what we have and we miss out on its benefits. Have you ever become tired of your smart phone and you wanted to replace it yet someone else seemed so excited about the phone? Within a few minutes, the person might have explored functions you never knew existed on the phone. The fact that you consider your phone indispensable doesn’t mean you maximise its functions.
    • What you have may be the original: when you think your hands are empty, you are perhaps not looking close enough. Don’t be too quick to drop what is in your hand, it may be the original.

    There are several lessons we can learn from the story of Ali Hafed. Why not share your own lessons by mailing your comments.

     

     

  • Golden memories of Baba Onanuga

    Golden memories of Baba Onanuga

    Sweet is the memory of the just.This saying  aptly describes the legacies of the late Ijebu-Ode businessman, Omo-oba Mustapha Onanuga (aka Captain Alaso Oke)

    Penultimate weekend, his children, relatives and acquaintances from far and near stormed the ancient city of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State to remember him, 50 years after his death.

    Old and young men and women members of the Onanuga family gathered at their ancestral home for a Fidau in memory of their late patriarch. The pomp and pageantry at the ceremony left onlookers wondering who the show was for.

    Soon came the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik Abdul Razal Salaudeen, and his entourage for prayers.

    Reminiscing on the life and times of Prince Onanuga, his children said he left to them an invaluable legacy that took them to lofty heights. They recalled his tenets of hard work, dedication, persistence, indiscrimination and solid investment in child education.

    The late Onanuga was a big-time Aso-Oke merchant, a business he thrived in, and took care of his eight wives and 24 children-all of whom he ensured had quality education.

    Only one of his wives, Idayat Onanuga, is still alive. Mrs. Onanuga described her late husband as a friend of all, who delighted in caring for people’s needs indiscriminately.

    She said: “Baba did well for everyone. If you came to him, sad or devastated, he was always ready to encourage and lift up your soul. He gave people peace of mind.”

    Many of the late Onanuga’s children are captains in various industries.

    Mr Babatunde Onanuga, who spoke for the head of the family, S. K. Onanuga, said one of the attributes of their late patriarch was his ability to avoid disharmony and love for hardwork, which rubbed off on his children and grandchildren.

    The eldest surviving daughter, Princes Sherifat Oloyede,  said the children had formed a group, Onanuga Descent, in the United Kingdom, to empower the needy, promote charity and help members of the family when necessary.

  • ‘Eko for show’ in LONDON

    ‘Eko for show’ in LONDON

    LAGOS State last weekend earned its sobriquet, ‘Eko for show’, at the popular Notting Hill Carnival in London.

    Unlike the previous years, the 50th edition of Europe’s biggest street festival and the world’s second biggest offered Lagos a rare platform to showcase its mantra of love, oneness and peace captured in the theme of One Lagos by the state’s representatives.

    From across the United Kingdom, friends and lovers of the state converged on the Nigerian Corner, Adelaja Street to celebrate the Lagos brand and market the highlights of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.

    Beyond the glitz that pulled enthusiasts to Adelaja Street, the Nigerian Corner turned Lagos Corner as part of the Lagos branding campaign tagged LoveLagosWeekend, which began August 27 and ended on August 29.

    At Lagos Corner, artistes from Nigeria performed for the pleasure of fun-seekers during the three-day campaign, adding dynamism to the usual celebration of the Notting Hill Carnival in the last 50 years. The artistes included the ‘Rain Maker’, Majek Fashek, May7ven, Shikane, Ade Swagz and Ceeboy.

    Also gracing the event anchored by ace comedian and compere, Gbenga Adeyinka the First, were DJ Abass, Shope Olajide, Wale Gates and MC Momelo. At the VIP section were Yeni Kuti, Nikki Laoye, Kemi Otegbade, Kaita Okeowo, Seyi Brown, Ayo Shonaiya, Sammy Okposo, Drew Uyi, Mofe Duncan and Timi Adegbite.

    Besides the excitement and glamour, the message of LoveLagosWeekend sounded irresistible. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State intended, by the outing, to sell the Lagos brand and unite its friends and lovers in the Diaspora.

    For Mr Ayorinde, the gains of LoveLagosWeekend demonstrate the state’s potentials in arts, entertainment and tourism. He said it was in line with Ambode’s vision to use arts, entertainment and tourism “to promote social cohesion and create employment opportunities. The carnival offered rare platform to market Lagos globally.”

    The commissioner explained the objectives of the campaign, which he said, “are to create awareness on the Ambode administration; provide platform for interaction with Lagos indigenes and lovers of the state in the Diaspora; and market the state to potential investors that can contribute towards the Lagos@50 celebrations.”

    Mr. Ayo Sonaiya, Promoter of Lagos Corner, was especially thrilled by the historic celebration. Sonaiya told the mass of Lagos friends and lovers that transforming Nigerian Corner to Lagos Corner “is a dream fulfilled.” At the grand finale of LoveLagosWeekend, Sonaiya said that the campaign “coincides with the Notting Hill Carnival’s 50th edition.”

    He expressed excitement with the period in which Lagos State “is counting down to its 50th anniversary,” one used by the Ambode administration as a huge platform “to reach out to millions of Nigerians and Lagosians, particularly in the Diaspora.

    “Notting Hill Carnival has just celebrated its 50th edition. Lagos seized the platform to message the world and showcase the emerging powerful brand it has become under the Ambode administration, especially in the areas of arts and entertainment, and in connecting with the Diaspora about the great things being recorded.”

    For Sonaiya, Lagos Corner would always provide a veritable platform for performing artistes from Lagos State to

  • What becomes of Mayowa’s millions?

    What becomes of Mayowa’s millions?

    THE response rate was unprecedented. A public appeal for funds to treat of a victim of ovarian cancer, Mayowa Ahmed, generated more than N80 million a few days after the campaign was launched through the efforts of Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu, and Miss Aramide Kasumu, the director of Lifestake Foundation, a Lagos-based non governmental organisation (NGO). The idea was to raise funds for a surgery that would be carried out on Mayowa in a hospital in Atlanta, United States of America.

    Nigerians, big and small, rose to the challenge and contributed generously to the #GoFundMe campaign such that about N82 million was raised within a short time But Mayowa’s ugly story would later turn uglier as efforts to save her life was later enmeshed in controversy, following Aimakhu’s alleged declaration in the social media that the fund raiser was a scam.

    The police, who intervened in the matter and froze the account where the sum raised was deposited, after investigating the allegations the two parties levelled against each other, described the controversy as a mere misunderstanding.

    Another widow of opportunity to save Mayowa, who at the time was a stage IV cancer patient, opened when the police lifted the ban on the account, opening the way for her to be transferred to a hospital in South Africa, whcih had allegedly offered to carry out a surgery to save her life.

    However, it turned out an effort too little too late, as Mayowa, who was flown to South Africa for treatment on August 10 died 11 days later. Her death was announced by a family member, Asiwaju Foye, in a series of tweets.

    The tweet had stated: “By Allah, in whose hands our lives is, Mayowa Ahmed has left us in this world. We pray that Jannat becomes her home #RipMayowa. She tried, we tried but God’s will prevailed #RipMayowa.”

    But for most Nigerians, the mourning days appear to have ended and they are now asking what becomes of the millions raised from the #SaveMayowa campaign.

    A representative of the Ahmed family, Tope Adeniran, who spoke with The Nation, said the family was still mourning Mayowa’s loss. Tope, who sounded distraught, said: “I am not ready to talk to any journalist on any story. I just lost someone, can’t you guys sympathise with us?”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ms. Dolapo Badmus, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said that the police would brief the media on the matter at the appropriate time on what would be done with the remaining sum realised from the campaign.

    Badmus said: “We are all human beings. When a life is lost, the first thing is to commiserate with the family. Right now, we are condoling with members of Mayowa’s family. I don’t think the issue of money should be the first thing for us to be talking about right now.  So, we want to leave the family for some time to go through their private period of mourning. But at the appropriate time, we will feed the members of the press back on the decisions we have made.  We will still act at the appropriate time.”

    Some leaders of non-governmental organisations involved with women causes and health care also shared their thoughts with The Nation on what can be done with the fund.

    The Executive Director, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), Mrs. Betty Abah believes that Mayowa’s family, after they must have mourned her sufficiently, should make a public statement on what they intend to do with the fund.

    Abah said: “As the saying goes, the deed has been done and we cannot question God. It is time to take the next step and that should be fully characterised by transparency in the light of the recent controversy. My thoughts would be that they can donate to a charity organisation having to do with cancer.

    “I really can’t recall hearing much from the family following Mayowa’s death. I think they need to make a statement thanking the supporters, as well as stating the way forward, and that should include the use of the fund.”

    In the opinion of Dr Femi Olaleye, the founder and medical director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, a foremost NGO that offers health services in cancer related ailments for women, the funds generated should be donated to a cancer foundation so that more women can be saved.

    Olaleye said: “There are lots of women to help in cryotherapy, breast cancer surgery and other women related cancer ailments. My foundation offers free breast and cervical screening for women every Friday.

    “So there is a lot of opportunities for them to do great with that money and give back. I will manage it for them.  If not even all of it, they can use some of it and give back to other women who can come here and access treatment. More impact can be made that way.”

    Efforts to speak with Toyin Aimakhu on the latest development were futile. It will be recalled that in the wake of the controversy surrounding the funds after the alarm she raised on her suspicions of Mayowa’s family’s motives, Aimakhu took to her tweeter handle to explain her involvement in the fund raiser.

    In the said tweet, the actress had said: “I want to state for the records that I have never been a fraud and will never partake in one, not even at this stage of my career (which I hold to heart).

    “All my efforts were strictly on humanitarian grounds without recourse to any pecuniary consideration or the resort to cheap fame.

    “That said, whatever discomfort my reactions may have cost anyone from any quarters is highly regretted and I take responsibility.

    “Whilst I wish Mayowa a quick recovery and divine intervention, I want to urge us as a people to continue to exhibit that enviable Nigerian spirit of compassion and generosity and not because of this isolated case cease to be our sister/brother’s keeper.”

    With the death of Mayowa, it is obvious that the last has not been heard of the controversial #GoFundMe campaign funds.

  • What is in your hand?

    Human beings appear to be in a permanent state of dissatisfaction with their lives. We don’t like who we are or what we look like. We don’t believe what we have is good enough. We don’t think what we can do is adequate. To make matters worse, we tend to prefer what belongs to someone else. Unfortunately, this has affected our attitude to most things in life, even opportunities. We tend to look far into the distance in search of great opportunities while we despise the ones closest to us.

    Dr. Russell Conwell, in his all-time classic titled “Acres of Diamonds” told the story of a wealthy Persian named Ali Hafed. Ali had great gardens, farms, grain fields and orchards. He was contented with his possessions, well, until an ancient Buddhist priest paid him a visit. The priest told him that a diamond the size of his thumb could buy him a country while he could have great influence and place his children on thrones with a diamond mine. Almost instantly, Ali felt poor because he became aware of what he didn’t have but could have. His sense of loss was so great that he couldn’t sleep. Eventually, Ali took off in search of diamonds in rivers running through white sand between high mountains but not before selling his entire possession and leaving his family with a neighbour. He journeyed through Palestine and Europe. By the time he arrived at Barcelona, his money was all spent; out of wretchedness, poverty and depression, he flung himself under a great tidal wave and ended his journey there.

    Meanwhile, the man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm took his camel out into the garden for watering one day and noticed a curious black stone reflecting light. He took it home and displayed it as a decoration until the same old priest who told Ali about diamonds came to visit. The priest recognised the stone as a piece of diamond to the surprise of Ali’s successor. They both rushed to the garden and discovered several other stones like it. According to Dr. Conwell, it is historically true that the garden became the most magnificent diamond mine known to mankind.

    Aren’t a lot of us like Ali these days? We go in search of what we already have just to appreciate it after we have lost it. Dr. David Oyedepo puts it aptly when he said “If you think enough, what you have is enough”. Unfortunately, we hardly take time to think before we embark on our quests for fortune. Here are a few lessons we can learn from Ali Hafed:

    • Wealth is perception and perception is wealth: a wealthy man may become poor overnight without losing a dime if he decides what he has is nothing compared to what he wants. On the other hand, a poor man may become wealthy overnight without earning a dime if he realises that he has gifts no money can buy. A positive state of mind is the foundation for success.
    • Use what you have to get what you want: no matter how meager what you have is, it is the key to what you can have. If a farmer decides that his seeds are too meagre to plant, he will forfeit his harvest. Instead of using his wealth to fund an expedition while still running his business, Ali decided to sell all and he lost all.
    • Exhaust all possibilities before moving on: we are usually too quick to conclude that our present conditions lack the potentials to produce our desired results. Before you give up on that job, relationship or business, make sure there are no benefits you have missed out on all this while.
    • Become unfamiliar to appreciate what you have: sometimes, we become too familiar with what we have and we miss out on its benefits. Have you ever become tired of your smart phone and you wanted to replace it yet someone else seemed so excited about the phone? Within a few minutes, the person might have explored functions you never knew existed on the phone. The fact that you consider your phone indispensable doesn’t mean you maximise its functions.
    • What you have may be the original: when you think your hands are empty, you are perhaps not looking close enough. Don’t be too quick to drop what is in your hand, it may be the original.

    There are several lessons we can learn from the story of Ali Hafed. Why not share your own lessons by mailing your comments.

     

     

  • Can Toke Makinwa fly where others failed?

    Can Toke Makinwa fly where others failed?

    FOLLOWING her bitter divorce from her former husband, popular on-air-personality and blogger, Toke Makinwa, seems to have gotten her groove back, going by the pictures of her and her new US-based lover, Oluseyi Kuye, which have gone viral on the social media.

    Toke, who sources say has in recent times been reflecting on her heart-breaking experience with her ex-hubby, Maje Ayida, over alleged act of infidelity while the two remained married, was said to have been spotted during a lunch date with her new beau.

    Toke officially filed for divorce from her estranged husband after the two went through a rough patch the latter’s ex-girlfriend.

    According to court documents, she listed a couple of reasons why the court should grant her a divorce from Maje, based on infidelity and irreconcilable differences, among other allegations.

    But all that seems to be history now with reports that Toke has fully got over her rift with Maje, finding love in the arms of her new heartthrob, who lives in Wichita, Kansas in the United States of America.

    Her new lover is said to be of Egba extraction in Ogun State.

    Toke’s lovers and fans are, however, worried that her new crush is based abroad, given the fate that has befallen many female celebrities before her whose marriages with foreign-based husbands ended in heartbreaks.

    Below is a list of female celebrities who have suffered this ugly fate.

    Taiwo Aromokun

    Popular Yoruba actress, Taiwo Aromokun’s marriage to Holland-based Olayemi Abimbola, popularly known as Ogun of Holland, was celebrated with pomp and ceremony after the two lovebirds signed the dotted lines on December 26, 2012, at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos.

    Taiwo, a solid role interpreter, promptly relocated to be with her husband. Soon after, she was rewarded with a set of twin boys, Jade and Jamine.

    But after what seemed a roller coaster ride with her marriage, the actress came out a few weeks ago to announce that her marriage has indeed packed up.

    Speaking during a television interview, she also stated that the most important thing to her is to take care of her two kids and concentrate more on her job.

    ‘I am no longer in marriage. I made a big mistake going into that marriage and I have realised my mistakes,” she said.

    She also foreclosed any plan for another relationship for the meantime.

    “I am not ready for any relationship for now. You know what, I still believe in love and I am advising ladies who have found true love to hold on to it, because it exists. For me, I need to concentrate on my work and my talk show which will be coming up possibly in May, 2016.”

    Bisi Ibidapo-Obe

    Prior to her affair with Senator Dino Melaye, which resulted in the birth of a baby girl, popular Yoruba actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, was linked with different lovers, each ending in heartbreak.

    Speaking soon after swallowing the bitter pill of her rejection by Dino, Bisi said: “I must confess that I never knew my love affair with the father of my baby would turn awry, but it did. Fortunately for me, the guy I was dating before stood by me when my daughter’s father rejected me.

    “He saw all that happened as a script written by God, which had to play out. He stood by me throughout the pregnancy and he is still there for me. I have found love again.”

    Unfortunately for Bisi, as was the case with her with past lovers, the guy in question, UK-based Kunle Ashimi, came out to deny that he was back with her or that he had any plan to marry her.

    He was also quoted as saying: “There is nothing of such happening. We are just best of friends. So let’s keep the facts as it is.”

    Uche Ogbodo

    Fair-complexioned Nollywood actress, Uche Ogbodo, is no stranger to controversies. So it was for her failed marriage to ex-Nigerian footballer, Ato Ubby.

    Speaking recently on why the marriage failed, Uche, who is known to say things the way they are, said:

    “The marriage didn’t work out. Yes, it was a marriage, but we didn’t do any wedding. We didn’t do any court marriage or church wedding. We did nothing. We didn’t even do traditional marriage. But in my culture, there are many processes to getting married and I did a few of those. So, you can say I was married.

    “In Igbo land, there are rites you adhere to before you can say this is my wife, and I did a couple of them. You cannot do rites openly; it’s just a family thing, family members only. It’s not a traditional wedding.

    “If I had done traditional wedding, I would definitely invite people. If I had done a white wedding, I would have invited people. If I had done a court marriage, I would still have invited people. But it was just rites. I didn’t do anything the public needed to know. So you can’t say I did any marriage in secret.

    “My marriage was full of lies. I cannot tell you in detail what those lies were, but it was based on lies. It’s a pity it didn’t work out. I didn’t go into the marriage to crash it. I wanted a family; I wanted a loving home and a loving husband. That was why I went into it in the first place. But as nature would have it, I didn’t get any of those.”

     

    Laide Bakare

    Popular Yoruba actress, Laide Bakare’s marriage to her ex-husband, US-based Olumide Okufulire, with whom she had a daughter, ended on a very acrimonious note.

    The marriage, which was contracted some years ago, was well-celebrated at the beginning, with the actress always speaking in glowing terms about her husband.

    But Laide has since put the story of the failed marriage behind her and indeed has unveiled the new man in her life. The man who has stolen Laide’s heart is said to be a wealthy but married man.

    But her ex is not giving up without a fight. In a serious battle to get the custody of their daughter, Olumide said: “She cannot be a good mother to our daughter. How come she has not gone to court but the media for separation? Separation can only come through the court.

    “American government gave Laide a Green Card because she is legally married to me. We had a court marriage in Nigeria also. When she was supposed to be a faithful wife, she would leave her matrimonial home to stay with married men in Lagos, all in the name of being an actress.

    “I couldn’t monitor her because I am not always in Nigeria. In fact, there was a time she left our baby, Similoluwa, with me for eight months in America in the name of career.”

    Moji Olaiya

    The story was the same for Yoruba actress Moji Olaiya. Her marriage to her ex-hubby, Bayo Okesola, ended in a fashion that was very similar to others aforementioned.

    Though she would later come out to explain that the marriage failed as a result of alleged abuse and the fact that her husband failed to bind with her daughter from a previous marriage, those close to the couple said they were not surprised that the marriage failed to work.

    Lola Alao

    Actress Lola Alao is not new to controversy, especially those that have to do with her love life. The mother of one recently denied that her marriage to America-based Nigerian, Olawale Ajibola, may have crashed.

    But sources have claimed that her husband may actually have left her for her best friend.

    However, this would not be the first time that Lola would go through such experience. The beauty, however, is that she has come out stronger each time.

  • My shoe size is bigger than my father’s, but I’m nowhere near his feats -Yomi, Sunday Awoniyi’s son

    My shoe size is bigger than my father’s, but I’m nowhere near his feats -Yomi, Sunday Awoniyi’s son

    HE definitely would not be pleased that he lost his bid to return as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State in the last gubernatorial election in the state to an opposition party, Architect Yomi Awoniyi has nonetheless realised that it is not the end of the world. So the youthful looking third son of Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the First and Second republics politician and ebullient statesman, is looking beyond politics as he strives to find his feet in life outside government house.

    Although he did not come across to many as a man of the wits, sagacity and carriage of his late father upon his emergence on the political stage in Kogi State, his years in office as deputy governor has caused many to acknowledge his nature as an urbane gentleman who did not only inherit the political genes of his father but would in all probability toe the line of the political genius.

    Our correspondent caught up with him in the rural community of Iyah Gbede, Kogi State where he had gone to pay his last respects to the late mother of former military governor of the old Western State comprising the present Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states, Gen. David Jemibewon. Here, the former deputy governor spoke about life after office, his lifestyle and other issues.

    First, we asked him if he is pleased with his experience in politics so far and if he considers himself capable of wearing the shoes his father left behind. After a deep thought about the question, he said jokingly: “My shoe size was bigger than my dad’s while he was alive. He wore size eight while I wear ten. So my shoes are much bigger.”

    Amid laughter, he continued: “But on a serious note, there is no way I can describe my father or even try to fit totally into his shoes, because the very essence of his being was very close to utopia for somebody like me! I wouldn’t even try to match that! He was indeed a very respectable man.”

    Urged further to elaborate on who his father really was, especially as it relates to the controversy on his father’s identity as a northerner or a southerner, Awoniyi looked up and declared: “My father was a northern Christian called Sunday Awoniyi, from a village down the road called Mopa. Having said so, I believe and want you to know that he was a major inspiration and influence in my life. He educated me, nurtured me, I think that he instilled some profound values in me, which have stood me in good stead in all my life.”

    Asked about life outside government house, he retorted: “Don’t I look a little more relaxed?” The smile that accompanied his question remained on his lips for some time before he continued. “There is actually nothing strange or different about being in power and being out of power. You go into power with a strong belief in the knowledge that one day you will leave the office. That, of course, is if you are wise enough to go into power with such a belief.

    “Yes, we are out of power right now. Yes again, we have battles that we are fighting at the Supreme Court. But having said that, I actually give thanks to God who took me in there and brought me out. I give thanks to God Almighty for giving me the benefit of having served at that level. It opened my eyes to so many things. My political horizon has been further deepened by serving as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.”

    But doesn’t he miss the perks and perquisites of office?

    “No,” he retorted with a vehement shake of the head.

    What then is his message for the people of Kogi State?

    “I wish everybody well on my own, I cherish the respect that I am presently getting from having served at that level in the state. I have however reclaimed my private life. As you can see, I feel very well rested.”

    In the cool air that pervaded the serene atmosphere of the rather obscure Iyah Gbede community, we asked the former deputy governor about his mother and what influence she had on his life.

    He said: “Like any other mother, she has had a very profound influence on me. As you can see, I am really picky with my words and response about my mum because no one has ever asked me this question. My mum has been very humane to me; very loving, very accommodating and always wanting to carry everybody along. Oh yes, she is still very much around and alive. She is presently in Canada holidaying.”

    Considering his diction and the ease with which he spoke the English language, our correspondent was compelled to ask how much of his life he has spent abroad. It was another question he appeared not to have expected as he held his breath for a while before saying: “If you think I lived most of my life abroad, you are making a very big mistake. I schooled in Balewa College, Zaria and I studied Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I am a fully homely educated Nigerian.

    “My late father made it compulsory for us to listen to the BBC and to VOA while growing up, and you know when you listen much to radio, you definitely pick one or two things. But sincerely, I do not see anything strange about my accent at all. I am a thoroughbred Nigerian. It is just an evidence of what education was in my own time.”

    Does the current state of the education sector make him sad then?

    Again, he chose his words: “Yes, it does make me sad. I feel sad. Even after serving in Kogi State, I have come to realise that unless we come to reality, education cannot be free. We must pay tuition. That is because when education is free, it loses its content and quality. Our experience has shown that free education is not qualitative. When I see what our universities are charging as school fees, there is no way they can deliver.”

    Reminded that people are complaining that the private universities are charging bogus fees and asked if their operations should be regulated, he said: “No. I even think that the private universities are being considerate with what they charge. We should remember that education is not cheap. A university anywhere in the world charges about $35,000 per annum. But here in our universities, some of them charge N35,000 for the whole year.”

    Yomi’s father, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, was reputed as one of the longest serving politicians and public office holders since the First Republic. We asked Yomi if that translated to having a privileged background and why dad insisted that he should study in Nigeria.

    “I don’t think you are right there,” he said. “My father was just a civil servant. He was never a rich person. So the option of schooling abroad didn’t even exist. Secondly, when we went to school, believe me, Ahmadu Bello University was just as good as Oxford University. It was that good! I mean, most of my lecturers were expatriates from Poland, UK and education was very sound. It was later in life when it was time to do my master’s that my father said, ‘Okay, expose yourself to the UK.’ So I went to the University College of London.”

    As an educated handsome man with reasonable political clout, we asked the former deputy governor how he copes with pressure from the opposite sex. The question provoked him into serious laughter. Then he said: “I am very, very much married to a beautiful woman! I don’t have to be on my toes at all. In her, I already have everything I need. Right now, she is at the Redeemed Camp because this week is our church’s annual convention. If it wasn’t for General David Jemibewon’s event this week, I would have been right there by her side at the camp.”

    He further shared the joy of his sweet home and marital bliss.

    On how he met his wife, he said: “Our families have been friends for long. We had known ourselves for long too. Our families have been interacting too for a very long time. Incidentally, the day my mother met her mother, she was being christened. I was strapped on my mum’s back. They said that somebody from Kabba was christening her daughter. My mum went there, and when she saw her mother, she jokingly told the woman, ‘Omo mi lo maa fe omo yin o (it’s my son that will marry your daughter). Behold, those words became prophetic and it happened.

    Asked how his marriage has fared over the years, he replied in the mood of one who has found happiness and contentment. “It has been 29 years and it has been fantastic.”

    The former Deputy Governor took time to comment on the lots of marriages that have suffered breakages in recent times, offering advice to couples, young and old, on ways to keep their marriages going. He also seized the opportunity too to touch on the secrets that have sustained his marriage through the years.

    He said: “Married couples just have to be very patient with each other. For me, I pray that God gives every man enablement to be able to provide for their wives. That is my prayer for every man. That is, may God give you enablement, to be the provider for your family. Anybody who tells you that the ability to provide for the family is not fundamental to marriage is just deceiving you.

    “Having said so, it is very good and helpful to have a wife who understands, because life is like this, today you are up and the next day you could be down. May God give you the patience and may God give you a wife who is very forgiving.”

    Since Yomi Awoniyi attends The Redeemed Christian Church led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, it became pertinent to recall the pastor’s recent advice to young men to marry women who can cook and can pray for one hour, at least. Does Awoniyi’s wife pray like that, and can she cook?

    It turned out an easy question for him. He smiled joyously and responded: “Oh yes, she does. My wife is a prayer warrior. She is a worker in our church parish (laughs). Surprisingly, when we first got married, I was the one that was more of a prayer warrior. But in recent times, she has found so much of peace in prayer. When she prays now, I become tongue-tied.”

    How stylish is the ex-deputy governor?

    “I don’t know if I am that stylish, but I know that I have a very good tailor in Abuja. He has a gift. He is very talented at what he does. I do not even think of a style or design for what I wear. That is because he knows what to do for me. He only tells me that he wants to do so and so for me and I give him the go ahead. But one thing with me is that whatever I decide to wear, I want it to be well sewn. The lines straight with nice curves; very decent and not necessarily frayed.”

    Take it or leave it, there are people who believe that the former deputy governor could still become the governor of the state. Confronted with a question on this, he shook his head in the negative. “I don’t think so, because I know it doesn’t work that way,” he said.

    But is it possible for him to still return to service in Kogi State?

    “I decline to answer for now,” he said.

    Asked if he has a role model, he said: “Sunday Awoniyi was and is my role model.”