By Eniola Olatunji
Nigerian leaders have a way of introducing their spouses to their fellow citizens.
The iconic political Prophet leader, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo introduced his wife, a market woman selling clothes and agent of Pepsi drinks as his “Jewel of Inestimable value”. That stuck into many Nigerian husbands who still use that phrase for their spouse.
A leader simply said his wife belongs to the oza room where she should give him comfort after fulfilling the schedules in the kitchen. Women folk brought down the roof. Is Aisha baby in the Villa today?
While Nigerians celebrate her current first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who turns 66 today being born 21st September 1960 the year Igbos will sing “1960, Nigeria nwere (got) independence, Nigeria o, Nnamdi, Okpara…” her husband added to our knowledge of the beautiful damsel he traveled to the flat highly famous land of Owambe known for OJUDE OBA festivals to beget as wife.
Oluremi was born and raised in Ogun State. Born into the IKUSEBIALA FAMILY of Ijebu Ode with her mother from the Itsekiri of Delta State. Linguists will tell you Itsekiri and Yoruba languages has not only same tonations but also many similarities in culture.
Oluremi is exposed and sociable with infectious smiles that could lift burdens off your shoulders not the Ayamatanga kind of looks that could make you scream your head off in the middle of the night. She was first lady of Lagos State and a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2011-2023 before Jagaban left his Ikoyi enclave to move to the Presidential Villa.
Then in the course of political strides, she started to empower some women with N50k each to start Akara (been cake) business for self sustainance. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Olofofo Group of Nigeria (the media of which I am a member o) called his wife, Iya Alakara.
Photo journalists snapped the ‘bedroom winky winky’ Oluremi gave her husband who said “I salute my dearly beloved wife, Iya Alakara from Aso Villa”.
Some pen boys formed an Orchestra singing the folk song, “Tani npe Iya Alakara s’ere? Iya Alakara. O nta sansan si wa nimu. Iya alakara. O nta dodo si wa lofun. Iya Alakara”.
Can’t confirm whether Don Jazzy has released a studio recording of that song. I heard the mega rich music boy is trying a video shoot of that song at Isale Eko in Lagos with Iya Alakara herself. They should have gone to Ita Ntenbo in Ijebu Ode where Oluremi did onile gogoro hair style in her wundia days. Imagine Itsekiri puff puff hair style. Walahi Jagaban will set up another honey moon in Tokyo, Japan. He must have watched LOVE IN TOKYO for over 10 times.
Read Also:Remi Tinubu,Akara and the Politics of Possibility
You’re my truest friend, Tinubu celebrates First Lady @66
Smarting from a special fasting to go and break it at the Villa with the Akara that has orisirisi inside, downloaded with akamu (ogi) that has honey with grounded kulikuli, Mr. President who refused to go to the Yankee land for UNGA meeting but stay with his fine Ijebu wife told us Onunemi (children way of calling Remi) said she is his truest friend (hmmm), confidant (yes ke) and life partner (I go marry o). Make man dance sheshe kule song before kukuru defence (civil defence bring pepper spray to scatter everybody).
As olofofo, buoda Jagaban acknowledged his jewels compassion, generosity and faith with her irrepressible love to touch lives and offer hopes to several people. True true be that.
As Nigerians await supply of Akara and kulikuli for birthday snacks, we hail the woman some call mummy, some call her aunty some call her sisi but buoda Bola agba calls her ifemi (my love). Henhen, buoda Bola agba wants to call Jagaban & His Destiny Dandies United Band to sing “awon ti won nba wa jeun, ti won nba wa je, yip pada baje fun won ni.
Sing with me in Ijebu dialect: “Oni rere ne wen je o, oni rere ne wen je o, oni rere ne wen je eeee, dede eni ra n jo so. Yeepa! Dede eni ra jo nso, yeepa! Dede eni ra n jo so fo eni rere ne wen je see sisi Remi, dede eni ra n jo so”. (Just sang For She’s a jolly good fellow in Ijebu Dialect). Standing ovation for our Iya Alakara of Aso Villa.
May you have many more years of greater glory
My name is Josefu Rora but okele. Eniola Olatunji thank you for reading this. Share it to get your basin of Akamu and plate of 66 balls of Akara from the one and only Iya alakara of Aso Villa.
