…My mum, an old school wife-Daughter
Only few couple are as lucky and fortunate to sustain a marriage for over five decades. While many get separated earlier in their marriage due to one form of disagreement or the other, others ended up in divorce while many others through death.
For those who are fortunate to sustain their marriage up to five decades, it is always a story of great love to tell, story of several victories, though, mixed with some disappointments here and there.
Among the few lucky ones are the Chief Oladipo Jimilehin and his late wife, chief Mrs Oluremi Jimilehin.
A lawyer and Chancellor Emeritus of the African Church and at a time, secretary of the 1994 constitutional conference commission, he has the support of his wife of 54 years always dotting on him, combining this with managing the home front.
Having gotten married to the love of his life, Remi Osimokun in 1963, the love continued to wax stronger till 2017, when it pleases the Lord to separate them through the layers of death.
This year, as he marks the third anniversary of his love’s demise with a brief, social distancing compliant thanksgiving service in his Gbagada residence, presided over by clergy men and very few family friends, Chief Jimilehin, in this chat with Newdawnngr, said tha if there is anything irreplaceable in his life, “it is my darling late wife, who was the pillar of my family and home. I have struggled to fill the vacuum since and I can confess it can’t be filled by anyone else but her.”
Jimilehin declared further that throughout the changing phases of his career in law and politics,”My wife was my home manager as she was always in charge of domestic front. I was only a bread winner. Ironically, I made money in my law profession but I frittered it away in politics but for my wife who kept the home front, it would’ve been another story today.
When it comes to managing the family my wife was always in charge. She really held the home together..”
Chief Jimilehin, now in his early 80s, added further that even though, “we had a maid and cook who always prepare the food, my wife will not allow anybody else to serve me. She prepares the table and serves me herself. Besides, this, she was always there to give good counsel.
But then, how has he survived these past three years at his old age without his dotting wife and pillar?
Hear him, “It has been through the special grace of God. There is nothing like the fact that the Lord has been my strength. He has been faithful to me”.
How has he been able to occupy his time and fill the vacuum of companionship, he replied, “her death has brought me closer to God. This last three years has made me to believe in the power of prayers. I say my prayers well and I could see the traces of effectiveness of prayers.
As to what he has missed apart from the companionship, he said her advice and opinion during challenges.
In his short sermon, Venerable Afolabi Omoniyi Abiodun thanked God that he has given Chief Jimilehin the grace to continue and remain strong in spite of the demise of his wife of over five decades adding,” the grace to cope with loneliness could only be found in Christ.”
Quoting from the book of Psalm 112:6 and Hebrew 11:4, he admonished Chief Jimilehin to remain in the Lord adding that his fears will not happen so far he puts his trust in the Lord.
The clergy man enjoined the children present at the service to regard God as the ultimate sustenance of life.
To the congregation, he enjoined them to trust in the Lord that they won’t be a victim of the raging Coronavirus pandemic adding that the words in Psalm 91 :10-11 should be their guide and shield at this trying times.
He urged believers to always do well in the task that God has given them adding “whatever task God has given you the opportunity to do, do it well”.
But then, as for Oyinkan Isiorho, the deceased’s daughter who was present with hubby and daughter, at the thanksgiving, life for the family in the past three years have been interesting with her father adding, “I am beginning to appreciate him more.He has been telling me so many things. I now see him in different light. We pray together for our later years and I tapped from him life experiences, up and downward missed opportunities.
For me, it has been quite intriguing, interesting, enlightening and useful as he relates life experiences to us. ”
As to what she and her siblings missed in their mum, she retorted,”Mum had a gentle spirit, kind, full of laughter, calm and we missed all those things.I particularly missed the way she looked after her husband. She was so loyal to my father. I don’t think we can see anybody so loyal to her husband again in times like this. I don’t think we would find a woman like that.
My mum was an old school wife. Today, wives are not tolerant as her type.”
She, however, added that it’s been God’s special grace that has kept their father so far adding, “God is giving us hope that our Dad will remain here with us for so long.”
