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  • ‘Not even our wives can differentiate us by our voices’

    ‘Not even our wives can differentiate us by our voices’

    Both are twins, identical, cerebral, soft-spoken and humility personified. They are also academic dons who have impacted lives and inspired so many. The two professors, Taiwo and Kehinde Adenegan recently clocked 45 to the delight of friends and family. Taiwo Abiodun shared moments with them.

    They are twin brothers and identical in virtually every aspect you may think of. Both have similar facial features, gesticulate the same way, have the same mannerism, act and dress the same way; they also wear the same clothes more of the times, and above all, they have identical voices. Literally, one can hardly differentiate between the two. Not even their wives can differentiate between them by their voices.

    They have also grown up together, separating only on very few inevitable occasions. Both attended same elementary school, same high school and the same higher institutions.

    Welcome to the world of identical twins: Taiwo Samuel Adenegan and Kehinde Emmanuel Adenegan.

    To start with, both are university dons, though working in different institutions.

    Taiwo is a Professor of Counselling Psychology with specialisation in Youth and Adolescent with a bias in Marital and Family Therapy, which he obtained from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is the current Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance at Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, having in the immediate past held the position of Dean of Students’ Affairs in the same institution. He is the current Chairman of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), Ondo State Chapter.

    Taiwo studied Biology in his first degree at Adeyemi College of Education (OAU).

    Dr. Kehinde Adenegan, on his part, is an IT guru, a Financial Mathematician and Chief Lecturer at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, where he’s already recognised as an Associate Professor. He is the pioneer Rector of the new Adeyemi College of Technology Ondo and former Director of Management Information Systems of Adeyemi College of Education (now University). He made a first class in Mathematics in his first degree from the same Adeyemi (OAU), which he followed with Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Financial Mathematics from the University of Ibadan.

    Top of their classes

    The twins attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Owo, Ondo State and both proceeded to Owo High School and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State for their first degrees. They later went to the University of Ibadan for their Master’s and Doctorate degrees.

    According to Taiwo, “We were in different classes from primary school but we always led our respective classes. When I scored 94 percent, my twin brother would score 92 percent and vice versa. Our father, Solomon Adenegan did not want us to be in the same class and we accepted.

    “When we finished in flying colours from Owo High School, we applied to read Medicine and sat for Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination”. Kehinde takes over: “It was a divine arrangement for both of us as we wanted to study Medicine but we did not meet up with the cut off marks even though we chose different institutions. But surprisingly, we saw our names in one of the national dailies, where we were being offered admission in different courses. I was admitted to study Mathematics and Chemistry while Taiwo was given Biology and Agricultural Science at Adeyemi College of Education. We both brainstormed over it and reluctantly accepted. This was with the intervention of the Ven. Ezekiel Dahunsi (now Bishop) and Chief Olufemi Omosanya, who counselled us to accept the offers. We believe God had a reason. If we had studied Medicine, maybe we would not have read up to the level of becoming professors. However, we have achieved our mission of impacting positively on humanity, as we teach students and touch lives.”

    Never quarrelled

    Asked if they quarrel like other siblings, the twins answer was: “No, never. We have never had any quarrel. What could cause it? Yes, we could argue, reason together and find solutions to whatever we argued upon. But we have never had any cause to call a third party to settle us, never!”

    Kehinde who is the more vocal said, “Would you believe we grew up without playmates?”

    Taiwo corroborated: “Yes, we were our own friends! We read together, solved Mathematics problems together without calling any body. But later on we discovered that we needed a friend. So, we formally wrote to a young man of our age, requesting him to be our friend. He agreed and that was how we became friends Abiola Akingbemisilu till date. He is now Dr. Abiola Akingbemisilu, a Senior Lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, Ondo State”.

    Read Also: Tinubu launches agric empowerment programme in Yobe

    The twins however said they never took advantage of their identical nature to play pranks on people.

    “We don’t play pranks because we were brought up in a Christian home. Our father is a retired Headmaster, a practising Christian and a disciplinarian. He taught us the way of God and reminded us that there is judgement day and there should be fear of God. So we have the fear of God and had never played pranks on anybody,” Taiwo said.

    As a result of their devotion to their Christian faith, Kehinde said: “We both hold important positions in Ondo State Anglican Communion Church.”

    Kehinde is a long serving Church and Archdeaconry treasurer of Ondo Anglican Diocese and Ondo Province as well as Assistant Secretary of all treasurers in Supra West Board, consisting of over 60 Dioceses.

    Taiwo, on his part, has been the President of Anglican Youth Fellowship (Nig.), later ACF and leading in other segments of the Anglican Church. He is, at present, the Chaplain of the Achievers University Chapel of Grace and Glory.

    No rivalry

    According to Taiwo, “We have been used to wearing same clothes from cradle. In fact, if you are giving us gifts, it must be two or else we would not accept. If Kehinde travelled out, he would make sure he bought two of same clothes; same with me.”

    Kehinde who lives in Ondo said, “I remember when Taiwo came to pay me a visit at my station in Ondo, I wore the same clothe as he did, yet we never told ourselves what to wear!”

    Not surprisingly their wives can identity and differentiate between them only by their physicality, but not by their voices.

    Kehinde said: “Our wives can identify us physically,” but according to Taiwo, “they are not able to through our voices because our voices are similar! On several occasions, they have had to ask who was on phone, if we were away and together. Even our parents could not differentiate between us from our voices.”

    Challenges of being identical

    On several occasions, each of the twins has been mistaken for the other.

    Taiwo, laughing, said: “We face a lot of problems in that regard. Any time Kehinde comes to my place of work at Achievers University, my students would be greeting him and telling him about their assignments. And when they see him waiting for me in my office, they would beseech him with problems about their work, such that when I finally arrive, they are left confused.”

    “One day my boss met my twin brother, Taiwo at the Murtala Mohamed Airport, Lagos and expressed surprised that I, Kehinde, did not notify him before embarking on the journey. To add salt to injury, Taiwo, who of course did not know my boss, did not greet him, which shocked him the more. What effrontery, he thought, vowing that I would meet him at the office whenever he returned from his tour. I learnt the drama went on for some minutes until someone who knew that I had an identical twin brother, spoke with Taiwo, who told him that he was Taiwo and not Kehinde. I was told my boss was stupefied!”

    When reminded that one of them is taller than the other, they both laughed and said in unison: “It is just an inch, and mind you it depends on where we’re standing.”

    The twins also say they have been separated only thrice. Kehinde said, “First, we were separated in 2004 when we went for our compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Taiwo was posted to Yobe State, while I, Kehinde, was posted to Benue State. According to Taiwo, “We agreed to go to our different postings because we needed to experience life. And when Kehinde settled down, he called me to his station and vice versa. That is what we call education.”

    Taiwo said “We were separated again in January 2007 when we were offered employment letters, and again in December 2007 when Kehinde got married. However, we didn’t leave each other. Not even our wives can separate us!”

    The third separation was when each got employment – Taiwo to Achievers University, Owo while Kehinde got a job at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

    “But that did not stop our relationship. We checked up on each other regularly; and thank God for technology, we communicate frequently,” said Kehinde.

    According to Taiwo, working in different places has helped them explore the world and know more people.

    Visited five continents, 14 countries

    Both also have huge travel experience, largely on account of their work for different programmes, research, seminars, symposia, workshops among others.

    Kehinde said: “To God be the glory, I have travelled to 14 countries and five continents while Taiwo too has also travelled a lot to attend programmes and seminars”.

    The highly cerebral twins have also had their contributions in terms of academic journals, researches, and published books.

    Aside published articles, Taiwo has written books such as: The Beauty in Virginity; Staircase to Happiness; Adolescent Sexuality: Implications for Counselling; Marriage: An Institution for Sustainable National Development; among others.

    Kehinde too has done a lot of work in published articles. He has also authored a book: The Tale of Hexagon City, which is an interesting book mathematically structured in proverbial and historical form to depict a nation in the African race.

    45th birthday

    Asked how they celebrated their recent 45th birthday, Kehinde said: “We celebrated our birthday in differently memorable ways. I dressed up in white suit, black shirt with a red bow tie on white shoes and went to teach my regular lecture, Numerical Analysis between 8am and 10am. I came back to the office to cheers from my staff and colleagues. I then attended to memos and official matters before going home to join my wife, family members and the Rotary Club of Ondo-Adeyemi College members. We cut my birthday cake, and dined and wined together in celebration.

    Taiwo on his part said, “I wore shades of black and white on the day; I was actively engaged with my students, attended to official matters amidst a surprise birthday goodies sent to my office by my wife. I then returned to my family for an indoor celebration”.

  • Stylish WIVES OF CLERGIES

    MANY of Nigeria’s front line pastors are feted and treated like celebrities. They have a huge following, dress to the nines and also ooze charisma.

    Not surprisingly, these pastors’ wives, who also double as pastors in their husbands’ ministries, are also celebrities in their own rights.

    But the women in this group do not merely bask in the glow of their spouses’ accomplishments. They are powerful speakers, able leaders and, for some, successful businesspersons. Those who adore and follow these pastors’ wives do not do so only because of their ability to preach the gospel but also because many of them are fashion pacesetters and leaders.

    What do these pastors wives have in common besides being married to sprit-filled and well-known men of God? They are beautiful, intelligent and stylish!

    From mounting the pulpit to attending conferences and showing support for their better halves, most of these ‘Pastors Mrs’ and ‘Mommy GOs’ are not mere appendages or handbags of their spouses. Although they mostly dress simple, they have unique, classy and faddish dress sense without necessarily going overboard.

    Join us as we embark on a journey that will intimate you with the personalities and lifestyles of these fashion-setting, spirit-filled and stylish wives of Nigerian pastors.

     

    Nike Adeyemi

    Nike is the wife of Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre; one of Lagos’ biggest churches for the young and trendy. The beautiful, tall and smart wife of Pastor Adeyemi, is the founder of The Real Woman Foundation.

    Nike, who is also the deputy senior pastor at Daystar, speaks at local and international conferences. In addition to these, she is a quiet but engaging activist who initiates trainings and programmes to empower women.

    Pastor Adeyemi dresses simply, but her sublime elevated taste in fashion items and accessories shows in the things she wears.

     

    Ifeanyi Adefarasin

    Ifeanyi Adefarasin is the wife of the popular Nigerian pastor, Paul Adefarasin, the founder of the House On The Rock Church. She founded the Woman to Woman Ministry with the goal of letting the women know that they have support and that they have power.

    Pastor Ifeanyi, a former beauty queen and banker, has a passion for the voiceless and downtrodden. Her late father was a well-respected professor of medicine. When she speaks, she has a practical approach to life and issues, and this quality has won her a sizeable following.

    Ifeanyi has a thing for long, sometimes very bright, flowing dresses that accentuates her good height and glowing skin.

     

    Ibidun Ighodalo

    Ibidun is the wife of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of the Trinity House Ministries International. An ex-beauty queen and chief executive officer of upscale events company, Elizabeth R, is one of the prettiest women on the celebrity scene. She is smart, business savvy and well connected.

    Her successes in business has inspired a generation of young businesswomen, especially in the events sector. Ibidun is a bold fashion explorer and adventurer. Her fashion sense is very well above average and she rarely takes wrong steps.

     

    Funke Felix-Adejumo

    Stylish Reverend (Mrs) Funke Felix-Adejumo is the president of the Funke Felix-Adejumo Foundation and wife of the president of Agape Christian Ministries with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Bishop Felix Adejumo.

    An accomplished pastor and teacher, she is widely popular among female Christians and people of other faith. She preaches with a folksy, down-to-earth style and does not shy away from controversy.

    She dresses classy and uses the best of accessories.

     

    Dr. Nkoyo Rapu

    Modest Pastor Nkoyo Rapu, a lawyer by profession, is one half of the socially conscious couple behind one of the most active religious organisations working to rehabilitate drug addicts and victims of sexual abuse.

    Her husband, Pastor Tony Rapu, is the pastor and founder of This Present House in Lekki. A woman of diverse interests and skills, her desire to support the less privileged led her to establish the Bethesda Child Support Agency in 2001.

    The agency runs schools in some parts of Lagos and Ogun states which provides free education to poor students. She was the visionary and founder of the notable Redeemer’s International Primary School and Redeemer’s International Secondary School.

    Her dress sense is simple but often elegant and business-like. Her simple style often exudes power. Nkoyo also gives speeches and lectures.

     

    Omodele Fatoyinbo

    Pretty co-senior Pastor Modele Fatoyinbo is the wife of Biodun Fatoyinbo, the senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Abuja.

    Pastor Fatoyinbo is a power dresser, so it is no surprise that his better half also has an unrivalled fashion sense. Her dresses and accessories are usually top of the range, but Modele has a humble and accessible reputation. Modele, the host of the annual Woman of Color Conference, is an author and speaker.

     

    Siju Iluyomade

    One of Nigeria’s most gorgeous female ministers, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, is the convener and founder of Arise Women Conference, and wife of the senior pastor Idowu Iluyomade of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Siju is super stylish. Her parish, City of David, is reputed as one of Nigeria’s richest churches attended by some of the country’s corporate titans. A group which she leads recently provided over 12,000 Nigerians with basic items and medical drugs.

  • Military wives empower 188 women

    It was a gathering of senior Army, Navy, Air Force and Police officers’ wives. It was convened by the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin. And the occasion was chaired by the wife of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Fatimah Ogohi.

    The venue was the National Secretariat of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) located at Asokoro, Abuja. And inside the hall were graduating students seated in their colourful attires and beaming with smiles and excitement.

    There were other guests, such as the representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff, Commodore A M Adegboyega, and the Special Guest of Honour Hajiya Aminat Modupe Ibrahim.

    The graduating students were especially happy for the empowerment that would cap the ceremony as starter packs ranging from sewing and knitting machines, electricity generators and driers, grinding machines and other items were on display for them to take home.

    They would also be given cash to start up various businesses depending on the areas of their training. It was a programme packaged in the past three years to bring succour and relief to women and widows. Some of the women lost their husbands in war fronts as the nation contend with security challenges ranging from Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) attacks, to cattle rustling, kidnapping and banditry.

    Addressing the gathering, the President of DEPOWA, Mrs Olonisakin said no fewer than 188 students trained in various vocational skills in the past three years have been graduated by the Skill Acquisition and Training Centre being managed by the association.

    According to her, 80 of those successfully trained are widows. They have also been given starter packs to enable them practice what they have learnt and to further empower others in an effort to reduce poverty in the country.

    She added that another batch of 52 students are graduating from the Skill Centre this year, among whom were 11 widows and wives of fallen heroes.

    Mrs Olonisakin who is the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin explained that the programme was put together to keep faith with “our sincere belief in the development of human capitalin line with our objective of giving succour to the less privileged in the society.”

    She said, “To the graduands today marks the end of your training and what you have learnt while at the center is to prepare you to face the challenges ahead.  We have groomed you to secure your future and in the process be an employer of labour and give livelihood to others too.

    “Hence, I urge you to be bold and courageous and put to use what you have learnt. As it is our custom since the inception of the empowerment programme, apart from providing the widows amongst you with monthly stipends for transportation during the course of the programme,  they will be given trade starter packs and financial assistance to secure a shop as they graduate today”.

     

  • Buhari to Governors: Support your wives’ humanitarian activities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on state governors to support their wives’ humanitarian activities.

    He made the call when wives of state governors paid him a visit under the auspices of the Northern and Southern Governors Wives Forum at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Director of Information to Wife of the President, Suleiman Haruna, commended the wives of Governors for the various humanitarian activities they are carrying out in their states.

    While assuring the governors’ wives of his support, he assured them that he would canvass more moral and financial support for them.

    He said “I appreciate the role you are playing as your work helps in pricking the conscience of the people.”

    He specifically commended their work on the IDPs and disadvantaged children as well as the fight against drug abuse.

    President Buhari also encouraged them to interface with Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Agriculture over new and existing opportunities that women farmers and entrepreneurs can take advantage of.

    The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking at the occasion, underscored the complementary role that wives of Governors play in supporting the programmes and policies of their husbands, stressing on the need for the governors to encourage them.

    She highlighted areas where efforts are more pronounced as girl-child education, child abuse, women and youth empowerment and health promotion.

    “Äs mothers of the states, wives of governors have the ears of women and youths; this is so because they run programmes that directly touch these categories of Nigerians” she said.

    She urged the President to support their work.

    Chairperson, Northern Governors Wives Forum, and wife of the Governor of Bauchi State, Mrs. Hadiza Abubakar said apart from issues of maternal health and girl-child education, the flagship programme of the forum is prevention of substance abuse, for which they rally stakeholders to come to a holistic solution.

    She commended the ban on codeine-containing cough syrups, describing it as a major breakthrough.

    The Forum, she stated, is advocating for the revival of moribund drug rehabilitation centers and the establishment of new ones in states that do not have them.

    Chairperson, Southern Governors Wives Forum and wife of the Governor of Imo State, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, said their activities take a cue from the works of Mrs. Buhari’s Future Assured Programme and focuses on issues of cultism, kidnapping, child labour, baby factories and youth restiveness.

    She said the Forum had trained 1000 women in different skills, while 2000 school children were supported with educational materials.

    Highlight of the event were presentations to the President by the two leading wives of Governors.

  • Navy wives build skills acquisition centre

    Navy wives build skills acquisition centre

    •Officers’ spouses shop for personnel families

    The Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) at the weekend unveiled an ultramodern skills acquisition centre built to equip the children of its personnel with self-reliance.

    Also unveiled were blocks of 13 shops, which the association said would be leased out at low cost to spouses of naval personnel to boost their financial standings.

    Hailing NOWA for its philanthropic gestures, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, said the association had continuously brought succour to the weary and the needy through innumerable outreach projects and programmes.

    He said: “Its stature in service delivery through expanded opportunities in education and empowerment for self-reliance, therefore, towers impressively for all to behold. The annual ritual of touching the lives of the less privileged in the society during major anniversaries and commemoration further solidifies the imprint of NOWA’s exemplary humanity in our minds.

    “Quite pleasantly, it would seem the organisation is increasingly spurred by each new accomplishment. The community of its beneficiaries and prospective ones could, therefore, feel a genuine sense of hope against the very good prospects and relentlessness of NOWA in changing and re-changing their lots for the better.

    “I invite all in need of the opportunities offered in these projects to quickly embrace them. I charge you to make it count by availing the facilities in a responsible and sustainable manner. We look forward to a feedback of measurable and tangible economic progress from participation in the businesses to be facilitated by these outlets.”

    NOWA’s President Mrs. Theresa Ibas said the projects were completed after several years of hard work, determination and perseverance.

    The NOWA chief acknowledged the contributions of her predecessors, Mrs. Vivian Ezeoba and Mrs. Usman Jibrin, who initiated the ideas during their tenures.

    She noted that the projects would reduce the suffering of naval families.

    Mrs Ibas said: “The idea is for beneficiaries to gain one skill or the other that would reduce financial burden on their parents. We sited the projects in Navy Town, Ojo, because this is where majority of personnel reside.

    “Most of our youths find themselves idle not because they love to be but for lack of means. I sincerely thank Mrs. Vivian Ezeoba for initiating this project.

    “She was passionate about the plight of widows, orphans and the navy family as a whole. She sought ways to alleviate their sufferings and came up with this beautiful idea that has become a reality. This is a milestone in the anal of NOWA.”

    The NOWA president urged naval authorities to send officers with requisite skills to run the centre.

    Aside the projects, The Nation reports that NOWA held its annual Christmas Carol and Nine Lessons, which featured performances from nursery, primary and secondary school pupils, among others.

  • Cleric recalls losing five children, three wives at 60

    Cleric recalls losing five children, three wives at 60

    Lagos cleric, Prophet Lai Bamidele, has recalled his travails in the service of God, saying it was only perseverance that had kept him in the vineyard.

    Specifically, he said he lost three wives in succession and five children with all his life savings in Kano lost to ethno-religious crisis.

    Bamidele, General Overseer of Glorious Christ End-time Envangelical Church, a church with headquarters in Lagos, spoke on the occasion of his 60th birthday penultimate weekend.

    “It was as if I would never get out of those disasters when they kept happening, and like the Biblical Job.

    “I lost three wives in quick succession during which five children also passed on. I was virtually stretched to my wits’ end but I kept on in the faith.

    “But I have been undeterred because I know the devil, having caused those losses, had forgotten that the Lord is faithful. And by the grace of God, I have been enjoying divine blessings and increase.

    “To the glory of God, I have five other glorious children, who are doing well along with my beautiful wife,” a visibly moved Bamidele said.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently raise a think-tank of credible economic experts to lead the country out of socio-economic crisis.

    According to him, rising cases of suicide were clear indications that all is not well with the Nigerian economy.

    “That people are now committing suicide owing to hunger, joblessness and social neglect is an indictment on whatever economic policy that might have been put in place and it is now time for the Buhari administration to re-strategise by forming a committee of credible economic experts, who will help lead the country out of these doldrums,” he counselled.

  • Satisfy your wives’ minimum sexual needs, Cleric tells husbands

    The Chief Imam of Area 10 Abuja Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi has advised husband to ensure satisfaction of their wives sexual needs in order to prevent immorality.
    Al-Yolawi gave the advice while during his Jumma’at Sermon titled: “ The Duties and Responsibilities of Husband and wife in Islam, “ on Friday in Abuja.
    According to him, there are certain men, who after marriage, do not satisfy the sexual needs of their wives.
    “ Such people are great sinners and will be convicted in the sight of Allah.
    “ Husbands have a duty to satisfy their wives’ minimum sexual requirements so that they may not commit a sin by eyeing other men in order to quench their thirst.
    “ Allah, the most high, has granted women the right to conjugal relations with their husbands, “ Al-Yolawi said.
    The cleric admonished husbands to value their wives and never appreciate the beauty of other woman in the present of their wives.
    “ This may lead to jealousy and suspicion in the mind of the wife. She would think that her husband has some feelings or relationship with that woman.
    “ This thought is a poison that kills matrimonial relations and should be avoided, “ he said.
    He said that in order to maintain peace and prosperity in the home, both wife and the husband should respect and take care of each other’s opinions and emotions.
    He said that the anger of husband brings to the wife nothing but tension, depression and confusion, adding that the anger of the wife brings to the husband nothing but disappointment.
    “ This can lead to mental torture, frustration and bitterness,“ he said.
    The cleric, therefore, advised couples to be patient and compassionate in their dealings and urged husbands to always express their full confidence and trust in their wives.
    “ To prove this, husbands should hand over the house keep to their wives so that they may feel dignified and involved.

    “ Prophet Muhammad said that the woman is the guardian and caretaker of her husband’s house and Almighty Allah will require an account from her in this regard on the Day of Judgment.

    “ This will give the husband an opportunity to freely think of other things regarding the promotion, growth development and progress of his career or business.“
    Similarly, the cleric urged husbands to take responsibility over financial obligations of their wives, which include dowry, feeding clothing, accommodation and general spending.
    He also appealed to those that married more than one wife to be just, fair and show equality between co-wives and treated them in a decent, kind, love and respectful manner. (NAN)

  • Islamic preacher who married 86 wives dies in Niger

    Islamic preacher who married 86 wives dies in Niger

    Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Masaba, the controversial Islamic preacher and super polygamist, who married 86 wives, is dead.

    He was aged 93.

    His Personal Assistant, Alhaji Mutairu Salawudeen Bello, who confirmed Masaba’s death, said that the preacher died in his residence in Bida, Niger State, on Saturday, after a brief illness.

    “From Allah we come, to Him we shall all return; we announce the death of Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bello Masaba this afternoon. He was aged 93, and died after a brief illness,” Bello told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in a telephone interview.

    A sobbing Bello told NAN that his boss would be buried at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan 29.

    He said that the preacher had a premonition of his death and prepared for it.

    “Baba (Masaba), told us that his time was up; he personally told me that he had completed his divine assignment and was ready to meet his creator.

    “He also told us to remain dedicated to the cause of Islam and urged us never to deviate from his teachings on righteousness, piety and total submission to the will of Allah.

    “He warned us to shun adultery but said that we should marry our women because it is ‘Hallal’ (right), before Allah,” Bello said. ( NAN)

  • ‘I haven’t fulfilled my mission on earth’- says 92-year old cleric with 89 wives

    ‘I haven’t fulfilled my mission on earth’- says 92-year old cleric with 89 wives

    Not a few people rushed to the palatial building of the famous Bida, Niger State-based super polygamist, 92-year-old Alhaji Muhammed Bello Masaba, when the news of his death filtered out last week. It turned out, however, that his purported death was nothing more than an unfounded rumour.

    Famous for marrying 89 women against the maximum of four prescribed by Islam, the Islamic cleric has had a running battle with some Islamic scholars and traditional institution. Naturally, therefore, the news of his death generated massive interest from the social media.

    But during a visit to his Masaba Quarters in Bida, our correspondent found Pa Masaba, as he is fondly called, seated majestically among his followers, listening to their complaints and offering words of advice.

    He had earlier laughed off the calls our correspondent made to him about his rumoured death, saying, “I am not dead, I am alive. Allah’s divine assignment must be carried out. Although death is the ultimate end of all, I will fulfil my days and divine assignment.”

    He then invited our correspondent from Minna, the state capital, to his Bida home to dispel the rumour of his death.

    He said: “My dear, I have heard the wicked rumour being peddled, but Allah is greater than all the perpetrators of this wicked rumour.

    “Please, I am inviting you to come to Bida. I am now with all my children and other well wishers.

    “My health is in perfect condition and I have been attending to people since the wicked rumour went viral.”

    Off our correspondent went to Bida the next day for a chat with the super polygamist. Once at his compound, our correspondent had to climb the staircase to his three-storey building to meet him in his sitting room.

    On her way up the staircase, our correspondent met many of his wives and children as they swarmed up and down the staircase. Others around the compound were busy with the process of preparing lunchmeasuring the spices, cleaning the fish and so on. The mood in the compound was gay and there was not the slightest indication of sadness or despair in the face of any.

    Pa Masaba’s sitting room was filled with his followers. He was seated in a chair with his personal assistant seated close to him. Looking hale and hearty, he beamed a smile at the sight of the reporter.

    “You must have been here before,” he said, prompting the reporter to affirm his words. He then said he purposely invited a correspondent of The Nation to let the world know that he was hale and hearty. He then said he would not entertain any question because he was under “divine directive” not to speak to the media on any issue now.

    He said: “I only want you to come and see me. I am alive and well. I really cannot speak to you today because I am under divine directive not to speak to the media, either about my rumored death, my views about the nation, my family or anything. So I am not speaking. I follow every directive I receive from God.”

    After leaving the cleric, our correspondent engaged his personal assistant, Alhaji Matahiru Salahudeen Bello, who has been with him for more than 27 years, in a conversation.

    Bello disclosed that all Masaba’s followers were saddened by the rumour of his death, which he said must have emanated from the camp of his enemies. He said the cleric had never been sick, which made the rumour totally unfounded.

    Bello said: “Baba is not sick. He is well. This must be the work of his enemies. He is 92 years old now and he is enjoying life to the fullest.

    “We have been receiving calls from all over the country since the enemies planted the fake news of Baba’s death. The panic the report has caused can only be imagined. That is why we have asked Baba to stay outside and address the faithful.

    “Baba is not sick, not to talk of being dead. His enemies are at work. Like he has told us, no man can take his life when he is not due.

    “He climbs the staircase to his three-storey building every day. He went down at 4.30 this morning and climbed up a few hours before you arrived. No one helped him to climb the stairs.

    “Baba can do what a man of 65 cannot do. That is to show how healthy he is.”

    Speaking further about the super polygamist, Bello added: “Baba Masaba is not an ordinary being, he is an agent of God and he cures whatever sickness is brought to him.

    “His character is very good. He is good and open to everyone and extends his charity to all and sundry.

    “He is more than a father to me and many of us here. He is my mentor.”

    Asked how Pa Masaba treats the patients that are brought to him, Bello said the Islamic cleric treats them without medicine. But he expects everyone that comes to him to submit to the will of God.

    “Whatever sickness is brought to him, he treats it. He believes that God cures all and he is the agent that tells you how God will cure you.

    “He treats people without herbal or orthodox medicine. He expects his patients to submit to God and shun adultery, alcohol, fornication and other vices.

    “My wives, children and myself have been with him for almost 30 years, and we have been living without the application of drugs. The same goes for others.”

    Some of his followers who spoke with our correspondent expressed their wish for the Islamic cleric to live longer. “We want him to be alive. If possible, for many more years. He is more than a million to us,” one of them said.

    It was learnt that Pa Masaba has more than 5,000 dependants, who he feeds and houses. Most of his followers earn their living around the place where the building that houses the Masaba family is sited.

    One of them, who earns a living from cleaning people’s nails, says he earns between N2,500 and N3,000 every week cleaning nails for visitors and patients of the cleric.

  • ‘Ooni’s wives can’t re-marry’

    ‘Ooni’s wives can’t re-marry’

    The wives of the late‎ Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re-marry after the demise of their husband, according to a palace chief.

    The chief, who preferred not to be named, said the order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

    Maintaining that the Ooni still lives, he said it is forbidden for wives left behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry.

    He said: “The rules is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni.”

    He added that it does not matter whether the wives are young or old, “what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.”

    The late Ooni’s wives are Oloris Morisola, Ladun, Odunayo, Adedolapo and Linda and their ages are between 40’s and 60’s.

    The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son, Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade.