Born in Odosenbora in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs. Mabel Taiwo Adesoye and Deaconess Flora Kehinde Shodiya, on July 7, 2021 clocked 90 years of age. In this interview by IFEDAYO OGUNYEMI, the twins who were born into the family of Reverend and Mrs. Jonathan Osiwoja, reminisce on interesting aspects of their lives.
At the age of 90, what are the things that made your journey memorable?
Kehinde: I give God all the glory for security, and for protection because we were young when our mother died. Our paternal grandmother had only one child. She took care of us till we became adults. We experienced many challenges as children but we are thankful for how things eventually turned out.
There was a time we were involved in cassava production. We would process cassava tubers and sell them. Another time, I made dresses. We did all of those things and God provided for our welfare. When our elder sister got married, I was taken along; my twin sister (Taiwo) was left behind. She said she woud not allow me go except a chicken was killed in her honour. She did and I left with them; there were no hassles afterwards. It was there that I continued my education. I blossomed over there and had many friends. The first Miss Nigeria, Grace Oyelude, was my classmate. At the end of Standard Six, we had grown to be of marriageable age.
I attend Christ Apostolic Church; I was a member of the choir in church. One of the children at my elder sister’s place had oka (baby’s soft spot) on the head. We cared for it but it didn’t improve. Then I asked that they take the child to church. We took her to an Apostolic Church. They prayed over water and we applied it; the child was healed. I became a church member because of that. I had attempted to attend Anglican Church and I was told they only relate with children who had parents with means. I told them my father was a minister of God but they didn’t allow me, so I stopped going there.
But at the Apostolic Church, they allowed me to join the choir. It was there that I got married. My sister was into business; I was a chemist. I thank God that we are successful after all. We had stillbirths and live births. The live births are who you see with us today. I give God all the glory for our journey. They are doing wonderful things for both of us till today.
You started school and got married before your sister, how did that feel?
Taiwo: She went to the North with our brother who got married and I was at home. I later got married in 1948 and left for Okitipupa (of the Ikales). I was into business over there with my husband.
But before then, we were about seven years old when our mother died. Our grandmother took care of us till she died. Whenever we came down with any ailment, she would ask us to read portions of the book of Psalms into water; we would drink the water and such ailment would be gone.
Our grandmother only gave birth to our father. She didn’t give birth early. Our grandmother brought another woman who eventually got married to her husband. They both lived happily and their union was blessed with the fruit of the womb. It was after the new wife gave birth that our grandmother got pregnant and she didn’t even know she was pregnant. She gave birth to our father at the age of 50. She was happy that they both had children.
What fond memories do you have about your father?
Taiwo: He was first an environment inspector before he became a catechist and was transferred all over the place. My mother’s sibling had died and I travelled to go inform my father. They rang a bell to signal time for prayers and I went back to Ijebu-Ode. I was at home when they brought my father the following morning saying he died after I left the day earlier. His mother (our grandmother) wept and asked that they take her to the forest because she wanted to die with him. We prevailed on her and she later continued to take care of us till we started giving birth to our own children. She would come to our matrimonial homes to care for our kids.
Why did your twin sister start school before you?
Kehinde: When we went for enrolment at Ilugun Central Primary School, Imuroko, Ijebu-Ode, there was this ‘owo to eti’ method of determining when kids would start school then. I was asked to place my right hand over my head and touch my left ear. I couldn’t but she did. I was at home till the following year before I was enrolled in school.
What businesses did you do over the years?
Taiwo: I was a businesswoman in Okitipupa. I sold many things including soap over the years. I moved to Lagos over 50 years ago; I sold drugs for a long time. I hawked cigarettes before then.
How did you come about travelling to different countries?
Kehinde: My husband was a staff of the Nigerian Airways and the company would give them free tickets to travel anywhere in the world. When I first travelled out of Nigeria, I was away for five months. Mrs. Onasanya who was here earlier had a relative who was staying abroad then; I used to live there with the person whenever I travelled to that country. I would buy clothes there and bring them home to sell. My husband would sometimes return from work in the afternoon and say those with free tickets would be travelling that day and I would just pick up a few things and leave. I was going and coming like that and my children also travelled out too. I travelled to the United States of America, London, Southampton, and even saw the palace of the Queen of England. I went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. I should have gone with my twin sister but we already had kids at home. She was taking care of them while tending to my business venture too. We have been friends since childhood.
Taiwo: We were taking care of our children together. There was no difference among our children. What I forbid is what she forbids. You wouldn’t know the difference among them because there was none.
How did you meet your husband?
Kehinde: I met my husband in the Apostolic Church in Kano. We were baptised the same day. He started attending the church around the time I joined the church. It wasn’t long that he got a job with the Nigerian Airways.
Taiwo: I was still living in Ijebu then. He just sent someone to me that he wanted to marry me. And that was it. His father was a ‘Baba Ijo’ (church patron). His father and my father were friends.
Were there times that you disagreed on issues?
Kehinde: We don’t fight. When our mother was alive and we were still suckling, Taiwo would ask me to leave a particular side because she suckled there the previous day. If I agreed, there won’t be any other issue anymore. We tolerate and enjoy ourselves till this date.
Are there things that you still do together now?
Kehinde: We don’t work anymore. Since we clocked 80 years old, we have just been taking care of and enjoying ourselves. She has not been working in the last 30 years; what she does is to tend and care for our children and grandchildren. It was same for me. But before now I worked for a long time as a member of staff of the postal agency. I spent about 35 years as a chemist. We have so far built three houses.
At 90, what other things are you grateful for?
Taiwo: They are numerous to count. There are many things that we are grateful for over our lives, our children, our grandchildren and every other thing. And I am so grateful to God for all.
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