Ero festival[Oketa Ugbama]Ogwo

Ero- festival in Ipele,Ondo state

Taiwo Abiodun reports activities of Oketa Ugbama in prepartion for the Ero-festival[Age grade]



Men and women between the ages of 40 and 50 years were all in attendance while the males wore immaculate white native knickers and native trousers with abeti aja caps to match , and were half naked, leaving their tummy and chest open for the people to have a glance and to judge who is well fed, healthy and strong among them .The females were not left out as they too wore their immaculate white native iro and buba .
They thrilled their visitors and admirers as they sang and giggled their waists as they rendered the soul searching and thought –provoking songs that sent message across that they had joined another rank higher than where they were before. In a nutshell they had been promoted from their strung of the ladder to another ladder called Oketa Ugbama or Ogwo and now matured enough to contribute their own quota to the development of the town, Ipele in Owo , Ondo state.
They in high spirits sang Ma wewu ma wewu ene ne bewu re .Ma wewu ma wewu ene ne bewu re[literally meaning don’t put on your clothes , don’t wear clothes ].About twelve of the men who led the crowd held palm frond- woven shields called Asa which were decorated with feathers .They all wore thick sandals made from motor tyres and with confidence and pageantry marched three times round the town displaying their bodies to everybody to see how broad chest, healthy, well fed and strong they are. Now with their healthy condition they can face war at this age and with their .Before this time they had prepared themselves for the D Day ; they would have being well fed and robust in order to be healthy and be are now manly enough to man the town and rescue it from being attacked or besieged by slave traders or enemies as it was done in the olden days
Rahman Abubakar a senior lecturer at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic described the occasion as one of the greatest in Ondo state, he said ‘’we treat this occasion like ‘exhibition’ time to show our bodies , protruding stomachs ,who is strong and who is weak , and who are healthy ,that was how our forefathers used to do when preparing for war in those days , they must look healthy no wonder medi.’’
This is the time a strange man of an average height called Eku Erinmi came out in his own costume .He was half -clad while his body was painted with native black and white chalk .Armed with a spear and his leather bag like a hunter strapped on his shoulder ,Eku Erinmi ‘s cap which was made of leopard’s skin and has a long tail long tail dangling on his shoulders as he walked along . Like a warrior he held his spear while the metals on his legs were clanging and making unusual noises as he briskly walked out in a frenzy and in a dreadful way that those who are not familiar with him would run away, yet he is loved by all as he displayed with dexterity his warfare skill ; running up and down , restless like a floated leaf on the river or like a bird perched on the rope .Not minding his nature the youth followed him about in ecstasy chanting some war songs and singing his praises.
‘’The Eku Erinmi prays for the town and for the unity and long life of the people living in the community. He goes into people’s houses and prays for them, if he carries any sick child on his palm and prays for her the baby becomes sound and well’’said Alabi Ojo, one of the celebrants .
High Chief said Eku Erinmi is like father Christmas , any time you see father Christmas then you will know that Christmas is coming , while another says he looks like a masquerade another man told The Nation.
All these are in preparation of the Ero .festival held every seven years. It heralds the coming of the age grade festival called Ero. According to his His Royal Majesty the Olupele of Ipele, Oba Abel Olaleye Alade describes the occasion as a festive period when the natives home and abroad come home to attend and contribute to the development of the town.
His words ‘’ this is a festive period , we celebrate and rejoice together for attaining certain ages. It is like celebrating birthdays , many will cut cake , prepare food and serve drinks to visitors. It is another way of thanking God for protecting our lives .Many even go to church and mosque to offer prayers .It shows how we love ourselves and each person will also prove how they are loved and compete with the number of their people and well wishers .It is like Christmas when all will come home to spend good time with their kinsmen as they would from far and near’’.
According to the age grade system , seven years’ time those who belonged to Ogwo will graduate to Omindami stage and from here to Ugbama and then to the last stage which is Olori Ugbama , here when one attains the Olori Ugbama he stopped serving the town and the royal father for this last stage is a resting stage, as they now become elders of the town.s.
Bayo Ogundowole, one of the participants of the Ogwo said the Ogwo group is a preparation to the Ero festival and it is their own preparation for the Ero festival of which their group would partake in 21years time when they would clock between 60 and 70years.He stated the categories, ‘’after this we would graduate from here in seven years time to Omindami , then another seven years to Ugbama and another seven years they will graduate and elevated to Olori Ugbama and this is 21years time when they will then observe their opwn Ero festival. , here we will retire from active service of the king and the town , this is our resting period.
Going further , Balogun Olupitan and Gabriel Ola Orisadipe who are High chiefs in the town described Ipele as a historical town founded over 500years ago., they said the town was once called Apo Ole , [meaning the thieves pouch]
Until they changed it to Upele which is native pronunciation and later called Ipele due to civilization. According to the duo , the name Apo Ole was given to the town because thieves or robbers from Benin used to steal from the town then , ‘’they used to come there to steal tubers of yam, farm products among othe things.
Another mystery about the town is that it has never been conquered by any town and it is a town that had never experienced war in all the Yoruba land and Benin Kingdom .’’In the olden days when other towns or kingdoms were experiencing warfare and turbulence Ipele had never witnessed one , it is forbidden .in fact when slave trading was thriving no any slave merchant dare to enter the town to either capture slaves or bring in any, whoever brought in slaves were always seized and set free. This is where the roles of the youths called Ogwo comes in. The youths in the olden days dug trenches round the town and these were where their enemies fall in and captured and eventually taken away as slaves.
Again this was corroborated by other chiefs that that is where the dreaded Eku Erinmi, who wears leopard skin cap and painted his body with native chalks comes in, ‘’this Eku Erinmi would then take his spear and some of the youths holding palm fronds- woven shields[Asa]would follow him to terrify the and instil fear in their enemies in case of invasion by enemies but notwithstanding they [enemies] would have fallen into the trenches and captured .
Chief Ibidapo Awobaikun[68] who will be participating in the Ero group said , he graduated from the Ogwo 21 years ago and will be celebrating with his group, Ero which is the group of elders falls in between 60 and 75years next week ,’’ it is like resting after a day’s job. I have toiled and laboured when in those three categories that is after the Ogwo, our group which will be celebrating next week had graduated from Amindami, Egbe Bolomidamin and now Egbe Ugbama [ the final stage ] spending seven years in each group, and will now celebrate Ero ,which is 21years of serving my king and town’’
Asked the roles the Ero Group be playing now, the man responded’’ now we belong to the town’s elders group and we don’t have the physical strength we used to have before but now we have gone spiritual and we are called agbeboyorun[the ritual carriers to heaven]. By the time we joined the Ero group next week we would be in charge of the town by offering necessary sacrifices and rituals , appeasing the gods, and to make sure there are no pestilences and diseases in the land .We have fought the physical war 21years ago and now ready to fight spiritual warfare at this stage , it is now our duty to safeguard and protect the town from invaders .
Apart from the festival the town is noted for one thing ; they are forbidden to plant melon [ egunsi]seeds and must not go into the farmland where they are planted but can take it as delicacy for soup but whoever plants the melon seeds will commit suicide by hanging himself , it happened many years ago, Chief Awobaikun declared.
Architect Akintunde Imolehin ,who is the Ipele Development Summit Chairman and coordinator praised the youths for turning up in large number and from all over the world and said’’ today is a history- making day in Ipele, we began a concrete journey into self discovery , re awakening of our body and soul to face challenges threatening our heritage .Today , we choose to break the yoke of self –imposed solitude , self –destruct, denial, depression , mediocrity and failure .This day , we declare ;never again will our cherished town play second fiddle, we are free born , and we are indeed first among equals .We shall by God’s grace witness next week Ero festival ‘’,while the thunderous of amen , shook the venue to its foundation.


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made in Nigeria cars

This 38year-old man built these vehicles but has nobody to support him financially to fulfil his ambition.

He read electrical engineering /comper studies from Lagos state University [LASU]

According to him he had met the former Nigerian military head od state based on what he manufactured in 1988, he had also met notable people who prosmised to help.

He once had the opportunity to meet Pastor T.B.Joshua who encouraged him and even gave him money to built an amphibian jet, of which he did but since then he had no access to him again.The two vehicles he constructed are called amphibian jet which can be used on the land and on the sea too, while the other can fly in the air , a normal jet ,Anytime he goes out with the cars people stopped him and encourage him by either praising his courage or give him money ,

If you have any information on how to impove on it pls let meknow

The mysterious crocodile at Oje Market ,Ibadan

The mysterious crocodile at Oje market

Oje market has been in Ibadan for over 500years .Known as the centre of selling the Yoruba traditional woven clothes,aso oke within and outside the country .But one thing many do not notice is the strange crocodile that is sacred and treated with dignity. According to the traditional leader of the area, Mogaji of Oje keeping the mysterious crocodile here has been the tradition since the market was established.Taiwo Abiodun writes on this strange animal

. The big crocodile jumped up from the artificial pond created for it.It’s dangerous jagged and sharp needle-like dentition had turned brown as it crawled about in its abode.It’s dirty brown scaly-body showed it has aged. Though, the healthy animal is big but its eye balls have turned brown probably due to old age .Its frightening long snout makes the animal to be feared as it stretches out its head as if ready to attack its prey.The care taker who knows how to tease the animal came around and teased the carnivorous but now domesticated animal.Thinking he brought its food [live chicken] the animal jumped up at his hand, tilted its tail sideways as the powerful iron-saw –like scales that set itself in an organised manner stood erect but when it realised he was being fooled the animal in annoyance crawled on its belly back to its pond showing its scaly and rough body.

The animal ha been there since 1932 at Oje market, Ibadan, And the question everybody asks is ‘What does a crocodile do in a market place?’ Reply;it’s a must and a tradition that at any Oje market there must be a c rocodile .

Crocodile must be kept there for everybody to see. And it has been there since the creation the market over 500years ago “.This crocodile is the fourth in this market and it has been here since 1932.An Hausa man came here with one but we rejected it saying it is forbidden to have another when this one is still alive, that was why I declined and turned it down ,that is not our tradition’ ’said MogajiYusuf Delesolu of Oje market .According to him a crocodile must be placed in all Oje market and this is the significant that it is the Oje market which according to him the practice has been in existence since the 13th century.The crocodile eats live chicken every week’ ’anytime it sees its food the animal is always happy that seeing a live chicken ’’,the royal father said’.

One interesting story about the animal is that it lays big eggs, a male crocodile for that matter. Again the eggs are in higher demand by the women who sell herbs, while its faeces are also used to prepare herbs too by those looking for the fruit of the womb.Talking about the domesticated animal, Delesalu said many years ago the animal used to play pranks ,for instance it would leave its abode and go to the main road,said the royal father,’’we have many timed seen the animal on the main road many times trying to escape but each time it is caught it is brought back into its abode.It is a heavy animal and about ten people would carry it ,gag the mouth and tie its tail and bring it back’

But what manner and how does it manage to escape?, Delesalu said ‘’before now the environment of the animal was not cemented , so it would use its powerful forelegs and hind legs to dig holes and escape in the night and we have caught the animals twice then we bound it with wires and brought it back here.’Apart from this, an interesting story is that most of the so called Ibadan natives are not from Ibadan Delesolu said.’’I can tell you categorically that over 80 percent of people in Ibadan are not from Ibadan but they only came there to settle down until they started claiming they are Ibadan indigenes. ’'

According to him his descendants came from Ogbomoso and they came to Ibadan due to tribal war.Asked why he is entitled the title he is holding presently, but the man laughed and said his father was once the title holder of the traditional office. He even boasted that he has been in the house since his youth said he Í have never in my life rented a house and I am happy for this is our own traditional house then why should I bother myself looking for house he queried ’.At the market is a place called Ile Igbejo[lo cal court]which is presided by old and experienced educated ones who preside over the market on market matters especially fighting and shop matters . We settle quarrels here ,you know this is a big place where a lot of people with different background come to and with different people of different characters so that is why we have such court. The Ile Igbejo was established in 1934 and since then we have been settling cases related to markets for example stealing in the market and other petty problems emanating from t he stalls. At Oje market we have Baba and Iya oloja [the father and mother of the market] who are the caretakers of the market.

The iya oloja is from the family of Mogaji she presides over the affairs of women and she is given such respect, According to her, her job is not only to preside on women affairs only also she offers rituals and sacrifices when the need arise in the market ditto the father of the market.,the duo are respected and treated like demigods .But what about the rumour that spirits appear in the market? this , the Mogaji refuses to believe such thing exist’ there is nothing like that , immediately everybody goes home that is the end .I don’t believe in such rumour. I do not believe No! no ! .I have been living here for over 60years and had never heard or seen such thing here ,anyway such thing does not exist in this market at all ,’’he said as he gave a loud laugh

The Calendar Man

The Calendar man

Behold the calendar man!
Here is a man who can tell you the day of your birthday and the date of your birthday if you only tell him the date, month and year.According to him he could tell from 1940 to 2090.Taiwo Abiodun met this mysterious man
Who can tell off hand what day was 7-12-40 ?Who tell us the date of Thursday of February 1983 was?
For Yinka Salami, he could tell you off hand without looking at the calendar or getting it wrong .Just mention the date of your birth and he would tell you without looking at the calendar or thinking for two minutes.
When asked what January 22, 2008 falls to , he looked askance , counted his fingers and repeated it twice or thrice and then replied Tuesday. Again when asked what October 30, 2007 falls into he answered Tuesday. For April 16,2006, he responded that it was Sunday.
‘’June 18, 2004 was Friday, March 26 2003 fell on Wednesday. Monday was August 19,2002, April 10,1995 was Monday and June 5,1998 fell on Monday, the man responded to all questions without making any mistake. Just mention the day , the month and the year of your birthday he would provide the answer in a jiffy, no wonder in all circles he is called The Calendar Man
A tailor by profession , but since he has been known as t he man that reads calendar off hand , he is then referred to as The Calendar man.
He is six feet tall, dark complexioned. At the age of 36 he is still single .According to him he is still a virgin as he claimed he has never had sex with any woman in his life .
He lives alone as nobody lives with him .He neither smoke nor drink alcohol.
Asked when he started the magic of learning it by heart , he looked at this reporter shook his head as he stopped sewing the trouser on the machine and said ‘’ I spent 20 years studying the calendar. I started in 1982 to the year 2002 and I became skilled in it .What I used to do is bring out a calendar and study it then I would close it and ask myself of a date , later I would check whether it is correct. I remember that I asked myself what July10 was that day and that year and surprisingly I got the answer.
But does he not make any mistake at all ?He replied ‘No’, except when I was still grooming myself and learning the rope .I used to close my eyes and asked myself ‘what did February 19, 1962 fall into and I would think, and say Monday, then I would go and cross check, behold I would get it .Now I can t ell all the days and dates
One day a man brought his cloth here for me to sew and we started discussing, when he told me his date of birth and I told him the date , he went to crosscheck and found out that it was correct he again brought three people who told me the days of their birth and I told them the dates they couldn’t believe their eyes and they gave me money’’
The Calendar man said he only attended primary school as he did not go to any secondary school not to talk of higher institution. He said’’ I went to Moslem Primary school Ijebu Ode in Ogun state and I obtained my primary school leaving certificate, from there I went to learn how to sew clothing materials .
The man who is an introvert ,speaks little and softly.He is an introvert, he hardly mix with people , and he hardly have friends .One of the neighbours told The Nation ,While some think he could be a cult member , the man politely said he has no business with those things and said ‘’I was once a devout Moslem and was going to the mosque regularly until I found Christ and started going to Church .I am a good Christian and I attend New Church Cathedral. I am neither an astrologer nor a spiritualist. I am a tailor by profession and that is all I do for a living . I pray a lot and it is God that gave me the knowledge, I studied it and became a master in it , it is easy and I need to do my best .It is a practical thing and I believe others can do the same, he said.
When will he get married? He smiled and said I have no money yet but when the time comes I will get the right lady and marry but marriage is not the issue now. That is Yinka Salami ,no, but The Calendar Man for you.

My adventure to Igbo Olodumare

My adventure to Igbo Olodumare

Boldly written on the blue –painted cement brick signpost is EYI NI ONA ILU IGBO OLODUMARE NI IBI TI IGBIN TI TOBI JU IJAPA LO, with the drawing of a snail bigger than a tortoise
The road is rough and bushy. Call it a thick forest , you are correct .While one can hear the whispering rustle of tree leaves , the birds sing. .Animal like squirrel are seen with their beautiful bushy tails were climbing the trees, some crossing the bush paths and one also hears the sound of snakes hissing .Once in a while one can see very few people commuting between Oke Igbo and Igbo Olodumare.

The junction has been taken over by weeds , it was originally designed like a round about while the school’s sign post reads Fagunwa Memorial High school, Igbo Olodumare , Oke Igbo, Ondo state, stands conspicuously facing the T junction, The school premises has been taken over by weeds , may be because of the long vacation or because this is Igbo Olodumare

All the houses dating back to not less than 100 years have mud walls. Inside some of them one can still see bamboo racks used as local cabinet, in fact they reminds one of one of Fagunwa’s books describing the environment.

The late Daniel Fgunwa was undoubtedly the greatest novelist in Yoruba language that ever lived .In all , he published five books before his death in 1963.Two of them had been translated into English .Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka translated Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole as the Forest of a Thousand Deamons, while a journalist Dapo Adeniyi translated Irinkerindo Ninu Igbo Elegbeje as Expedition to the Mount of Thought .However , one of his famous books is Igbo Olodumare set in this idyll village…..

The road to Oke Langbodo was rough, and hilly and narrow , it was about 20minutes okada as this reporter was climbing over 76steps that lead to the base of the mountain his heart was pounding, and was panting like a tired dog who had ran about 200 kilometres per hour., and sitting majestically is the mighty rock like royalty unperturbed ……The forest was full of cocoa, iroko , teak and mahogany trees, and no matter how strong and healthy one is , you will pant like a hunter’s dog while climbing the staircase of which the late Governor of Ondo state , Chief Adebayo Adefarati constructed making the place a tourist centre.

The environment was as silent as the graveyard. According to the monarch of the community ,His Highness Oba Nathaniel Oluwayemi Iyiola, this was the late Fagunwa’s favourite spot .’’This is where the late Fagunwa came in those days to spend five, six days with his files clutched by his side’

At the base of the rock was the sculpture of Baba Onirungbon Yeuke , a fictional character from Fagunwá’s Igbo Olodumare with his legendary long beard and pot, smoking his pipe.
There is the belief that strange animals still inhabit in the forest as the monarch said , the area is isolated , it is a no go area due to the presence of dangerous animals’’we still have Ojola Ibinu[ the mythical giant man-eating python with human head of Fagunwa’s book ] in this area and it comes out once in three years’’ .Asked whether the snake has human head as it was told in Fagunwa’s creative writing , the royal father said it could be possible.

‘’Yes, it is possible for the kind of ojola is as big as you can imagine you see his chest and neck you will know what I am talking about. It comes out twice and spent time on the flat rock. Now the rain will not allow anybody to go to the top for it is slippery ‘’, the royal father said .
According to him, he used to see a strange man , an elf sort of , in the area in the 1930s before and during the period Fagunwa did the writing.

On the death of Fagunwa, his wife Madam Elizabeth Fagunwa said ‘’we were in Ibadan when we heard the news of his death. ’’James, his driver of my husband came to tell us how it happened.
According to Madam Fagunwa , the driver drove him to the river bank to take a canoe across on his way to Ilorin to visit a friend .. he was about to enter a wooden canoe when he fell into the river.

Another version said he died while watching birds as they flew and unfortunately dived into the river of Bida in the present Niger state, according to his first cousin High Chief [Sir]Israel Akinrinola Olowu ..However, when his body was recovered it was brought to Oke Igbo for burial.

Due to some arguments over it ;some said his corpse was not recovered and not buried , however ,one of the then officiating members at his funeral service in 1963,Venerable C.G Wemida said his remains was brought to St.Luke’s Anglican church where he was buried. He added that he did not open the coffin , he said he did not for his duty was to pray for the corpse only.
When this reporter went to the cathedral, he met the Vicar in charge who brought out the register burial in the Parish dated 1915-date , and on page 35, and the entry on the page was No 279 bearing the name of D.O Fagunwa , date and burial was 10-12-63,4PM, with the signatures of about 18 ministers of God accompany the record.

Again , this reporter went to the cemetery where he was buried to see the tomb.

Orlando Owoh

Before Orlando Owoh died few years ago , as a reporter I had an exclusive interview with him .His mother is still alive kicking.She wept and wept having lost his popular son.She is still alive.In one of these days i will post the last interview i had with him , it was published in The Nation newspaper.The late musician was one of the greatest Nigerian musicians and was also a ganja smoker like Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Bob Marley all of blessed memory.

will u allow your son to marry a physically challenged lady? this wedding took place in April,2011

‘I faced many challenges before our marriage ’

There is ability in disability, says Mrs. Bolanle Tolulope Longe. A graduate of Computer Science / Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University [OAU] Ife, Osun state. She was disabled at two, spent less than three years in primary school, passed her SS 3Certificate while in JSS2 and gained admission to read Computer studies in two universities same year . She recently married to a civil engineer. Taiwo Abiodun met her
She was born without deformity as she walked with her two legs until tragedy struck when she was two years old she could not stand or walk on her two legs again. Since then she had been using clutches to aid her movement. Yet , she refused to give up. She remains undaunted, she was hopeful and set to conquer the world .That is Bola , a physically challenged Computer science /Economics graduate .
Decked in her traditional attire with silver necklace and hand chain to match. She was full of smiles as she stood by the veranda , beckoned to this reporter and screamed f her voice ‘’ we have been expecting you for the interview, please come in’’.
In the living room was her husband in the same Ankara clothes , while her mother in law was reeling in an uproar aaughter as Bola cracked jokes. ’’That is how she has been cracking jokes , she is jovial and there is no dull moment here at all, ‘’ the mother in law of Bola told The Nation .As Bola effortlessly sat on the sofa chair, adjusted herself , she threw her shining silver- coloured clutches aside to tell the story of her life.
Narrating her story , she said’’ I was not born like, it is very unfortunate but what do I do? I have lost count of clutches I have used . That was how I found myself and this does not stop my ambition to become a Computer scientist in life’’, she told The Nation.
She went into labyrinth of history to narrate how she became crippled. ’My parents told me that a day before I got crippled my mother took me out as I was bubbling with life until I screamed out from my sleep at night on the 31st December, 1988 and the following day which was January 1, 1989 I could not walk again. As expected from those who were not Born Again then, I was taken to places like herbalists’ homes , churches and some other spiritual places looking for solution to my problem, later I was left with my grandmother in the village, in Iddo- Ekiti where I started my elementary school at the age of eight and started my secondary school at the age of 10 I left the village at the age of 14 for Lagos to stay with my parents.’’
She continued ‘’I spent three years in primary school, for they said I was brilliant and was given double promotion. Again when I got to secondary school I performed very well and only read up to JSS 3 and did not even complete it ,that means I did not spend up to three years in secondary school for I later enrolled in Coaching centres to study and when I did my senior secondary school exam[SS3] I came out in flying colours.’’, she said as she burst into laughter.
With her good result , she sat for JAMB and passed the exam , and later gained admission to Olabisi Onabanjo State University ,Ogun state[OSU] , Ago Iwoye in Ogun state in 2004 to study Computer science but her parents did not want her to continue and had wanted her to go to Obafemi Awolowo University,Ife[OAU] for two reasons, ‘’my father finished from OAU where he read Agric Economics and used to beat his chest that his children must also go to the institution . Secondly, he said the institution can be vouched for its good security and discipline . Later, I sat for another JAMB in 2005 , and picked my first choice, Obafemi Awolowo University , and my name was on the Vice Chancellor’s list, Dean’s List and Faculty’s list. But when I did not hear from them I went to the Dean’s office[now the outgoing V C.] ,Professor Fagborode to lodge complain to him but each time I went there I was always denied access to him .But as God would have it one day I saw him within the premises and complained bitterly to him , I told him my predicament .He looked at me and begged me that he would do something , he was such a nice and loving father , he was not annoyed the way I approached him, later I got the admission’’
Coping with lectures and climbing the staircases was tough and stressful but she proved smart to the surprise of the students and lecturers who were always amazed seeing her in the class earlier than others.
She however faced challenges along the line as she wakes up at 5am and gets to the lecture room for lecture which was slated for 10am , she said ‘’ many kept wondering how I was always the first student in the class to receive lecture, and they were always baffled how they always meet me in the class, some would even thought I was a spirit, but the fact is that I would wake up at 5am and take a bike to the main hall and then with my clutches get to the class by 5:30am. I always refused to be assisted for I would tell them that ‘’ if you assist me today will I see you here again tomorrow to assist me ?’Later a lot of students were asking me how I would cope in the Computer /engineering faculty but I maintain my stead.
Another challenge she had was of her result, ‘’when I was in Olabisi Onabanjo state University I had ‘A’ in all my courses through out my first semester . but to my surprise when I got to Ife it was a different thing entirely as I could not get what I was obtaining in OOSU. At OAU, I had a ridiculous second class lower while in Part one , then I was afraid and then buckled up and made a second class Upper and ,made 3.67.points.We are few who had such result.
When asked how he met her heartthrob, she smiled , shook her head and looked at her mother in-law’s face and then responded with a laughter ‘’it was just a miracle ,’’ she said. According to her , she met her husband in a library in Ogba where she went to read for her JAMB in 2004.’’I used to leave Ifako for Ogba to read and one day , a young man sat by my side , and I asked him to assist me solve a Chemistry problem I was battling with , he agreed and later we lost contact while a friend who knew him asked after me from him in Port Harcourt , despite the fact that I had changed my cell number he managed to get it and was calling me and even sending text messages to me , then as a lady I knew what he was up to and I too kept a sealed lip, watching ‘’.
However, her mother kept watching and advising her not to marry a disabled person like her, she said’’ My mother one day chased away a young disabled boy from me thinking he would have interest in me , she said she did not want me to marry a disabled husband like me but I had to tell her that we had no thought of that . Later my friendship with Michael blossomed and most of our discussion was based on Biblical topics .He was sending messages to me, The Titanic’’
On how he responded to his toasting, she said ‘’one day I went into the room and I heard a voice saying ‘’ Hold him, don’t let him go , the voice kept on repeating itself. Before then I used to pray to God to give me my own husband that will even love me more than myself , in fact we are three girls from my mother and my mother used to pray for me to be rich .One day I went into my room naked and prayed to God to give me an understanding man. The prayer started manifesting when three days to our matriculation Michael came to OAU , I was in Part One , then .It was then our love life started. And I can boast it that it was Michael who deflowered me .’’
Describing her wedding day, Bola said it was her happiest moment in life, ‘’ I told few people that it would be a parlour wedding but I was too happy when I saw over 500people who came for the wedding .We went to Agege Registry and later went to church …. To seal it up.
However, the husband Longe Olusegun Michael, a civil engineer in Port Harcourt described their union as one sealed from the above .He corroborated what his wife said about their first meeting and courtship, he added ‘’while I was looking for a tall, dark complexioned lady I thought I would marry ,and went into prayer session ,Bola’s name kept on ringing and appearing to me. While as a human being I asked God some questions on why she should give me such an handicapped lady .I went to meet those who are spiritually powerful than me and they too assisted me in prayer and to asked me to go on with my plan. But when I went to meet the dark complexioned tall girl I had in mind she told me she was not ready for marriage. And on December 26th 2005 I went to Bola and proposed to her, but she was confused and asked whether my people would accept her condition .Her parents too were sceptical of our relations until I convinced them that there is no problem.’’
The two lovebirds faced a lot of challenges as pressure mounted on Michael not to marry a physically challenged lady . According to Michael some of his family members did not want him to marry her because of her condition but he insisted that that is what he wanted .This was corroborated by his mother who said many people from her side too criticised her for allowing her son to marry a disabled girl.
The woman [Michael’s mother] declared : ’’It is true the couple faced a lot of challenges, my late husband criticised me for allowing Michael to bring home a disabled girl while some of his brothers too condemned the idea. But my son who is in USA had different opinion he advised us all to let the couple live their lives .He asked if I were the mother of the girl will I not be happy for her for getting married ? .In fact I was at the receiving end .But I thank God that the girl is a nice girl’’
What was the reaction of the mother of Michael ?, ‘’My reaction was simple , I kept on looking at all of them , I listened to their arguments and was just laughing .That is what my son wanted and we had no choice than to be supported .I love the girl, she is very simple and she smiles always .She cracks jokes always and I see nothing wrong with her at all, My prayer for her is to deliver twins for me to carry .I am very happy that she does not allow anybody to pity her , she does many things on her own and what else do I want ?’’
According to her , she met some handicapped ladies who were moved with emotions and wept on her shoulder thanking her for receiving Bola. ‘’One of them narrated how her fiancée family members seized her documents when the boy who proposed to her wanted her to go with him to America , they accused their son of bringing an handicapped home’’
The President Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students of OAU Branch,[09/10 set] Engineer Fadoju Oladokun describes the courage of Bola as rare for she does not want self pity ,’’this is a girl that does so many things on campus
She is always happy and free with everyone in the class, No wonder on her wedding day the place was jam packed with students’’.
As this reporter was leaving Bola threw another joke and everybody was reeling with laughter

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This is the world of Taiwo, the mystic story writer. You'll surely enjoy yourself as you read the numerous, heart-rending, touching stories of men and women in our world. Ah, N'nkan be.