At 98, Chief (Mrs) Funke Arthur-Worrey remains very articulate, with huge retentive memory. In this chat with KEHINDE AKINSEINDE-JAYEOBA, the scion of Ogunmade Onile Gable Royal Family of Isale Eko, and former President Ikeja Lioness Club (now Ikeja Golden Club), goes down the memory lane, giving reasons why she still enjoys the late music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s songs, even at 98.
Mama, at 98, how do you feel?
Yes, I’m 98 years old. I can’t believe I’m 98 because I can still talk, I see you, and I can walk although not like before that I could run. I thank God. And I go to the market when I want to. I eat what I want. I go to where I want. You can’t force me to do anything I don’t want to do. And, you see, my thinking my faculty is still alright. I talk to and meet people like you. So, I thank God and my families that are looking after me left and right. I don’t know what more to say than to thank God, who has been so good to me. Years ago, when I lost my husband, I didn’t know what to do, but I thank God for people that surrounded me.
But what could be the secret of this very good health despite the age and what you’ve gone through?
The secret is my God, Jehovah.
I’m asking so that the younger ones can have one or two things to emulate?
First, you have to believe in one God. I don’t care whether you’re a Muslim or you worship whatever, because it’s all one God. Believe in God. And then, you don’t follow what is happening around. You think well of your surroundings and of the country. You cut your cloth according to yourself and then you have to be friendly with everybody. When I mean friendly, not when we have problem, you go and disturb people. So we have to manage it. Then, be happy with what God has given you. Nobody has it all. The little God has given you as your portion, you should try and enjoy it and be happy with it.
You are a chartered member of the Golden Lions Club, and its former president. One would have thought you would follow that up by going into politics. Why did you not join politics?
I do it privately but I am not into active politics. I never liked it because once you’re a politician, your life is not your own again. And whatever you do will be criticised. Like, I was reading an old copy of the Tell Magazine, which talked about former President Yar’adua. I didn’t even remember that he was that much attacked in the paper. So, as quiet and lovable the man was, people still found fault with him. So, as a politician, there is nothing you do that people will not criticise, and this is what I run away from.
But politics would have been the easiest way for you to touch lives. I’m sure you still remain a part and parcel of the Lions Club because of the organisation’s focus on touching lives. Perhaps, you would have been able to touch more lives by going into politics, don’t you think so?
Well, I don’t know. It has never even crossed my mind, because I have all the politicians around me, but I was not born to be a politician. I talk politics. I know what is going on in Europe, in Nigeria, and around the globe. But I’m not a politician. I don’t have the stamina. I didn’t have the flair for it. My brother, HO Davis was a politician with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Shonibare, Macaulay and others. We used to follow him everywhere; and those people were always in our house then, even before I got married, we see them at my father’s house; they were always there. But it didn’t even occur to me to be a politician, because your time is not your time again, your family is not your family again. No privacy, and whatever you do, your opponent will criticise you.
Are you aware of what is happening in the National Assembly?
I’m aware of the scandal. Natasha, Akpabio and so many others as well as the way they shout, but then it happens everywhere. I just watched BBC where they aired the UK plenary and they were criticising one another. I think that’s politics generally.
You have relationship with the people like Obasanjo, Igbinedion, Alakija, and many more. How did your path cross with these people?
Don’t forget that I’ve been in this Lagos for 98 years now. My childhood, everything was in Lagos. And at that time, Lagos was very small. We were well-knit; we were always together. Then, you were the uncle and aunt to your friend’s children. We were so close. Like Fatai Williams, we grew up together. I met Obasanjo through my husband in the 1970s during the military government with Murtala Muhammed.
Do you still get in touch with some of these people, and what do you normally talk about?
Yes. But, we are all old now. When I see them, they’re happy to see me, I’m happy to see them and their children, too. They’re happy that in my little corner, I didn’t bother them for anything, because I put everything in the hands of God.
Let’s go down memory lane a bit. I want you to compare your Lagos then and what we presently have as Lagos.
Lagos was beautiful then. The Lagos radius was from Yaba. And we only go to Yaba maybe once a year or so and that’s if you had a relative there. Lagos was Isale Eko, Tokunbo, Campos Square to Ikoyi. And, I remember, then, nobody could just go to Ikoyi like that, except where they had their cemetery, because that was where our colonial masters lived then. So, in Lagos then, you must know somebody everywhere; we were all related. My father and grandfather came from Isale Eko. I remember my father would hold my hand like this when I was about maybe eight years old to visit our cousins because we had aunties and uncles everywhere. There was nothing like insecurity. We were walking barefoot everywhere. We loved each other then. There was this love that was pervasive then, irrespective of where you came from. Once you knew each other, we would take care of each other, and become a family.
Lagos was fantastic then. We had everything; there was water and light. We would go everywhere to see our people. But now, it’s a different kettle of fish due population explosion. It was like London. I still love it, but I just don’t like the way it has been left to deteriorate. It is sad that it is being polluted by beggars and miscreants.
As I mentioned earlier, in terms of security then, Lagos was much more secure. You could move anytime of the day. Lagos was beautiful. And then children, back then, were not spoilt.
On Saturday, you had to do your chores; even, on school days before you were allowed to go to school, you must do your duty. Talk about respect, we had it then. We were taught to respect our elders. Lagos was beautiful.
Unlike now, we observed festive periods together irrespective of your religious leanings. Christmas, Ileya festivals were done together because we were interwoven. No room for discrimination. As a Christian, you had Muslims relatives; it could be your uncle or your aunt. But we all got on so well.
Would I be right to describe you as one of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s fans, since I see his portrait, conspicuously displayed on your shelf here?
Fela is my favourite. I still listen to his music, and I enjoy it. Everything Fela sang about is happening now. Honestly, he was a visionary and I like him. I like his mother.
Looking back now, what are your proudest achievements?
I think my greatest achievement is that I grew up in Lagos and went to school in Lagos. Though I got married in England, I still came back to Lagos and enjoyed Lagos. I love Lagos. I travel a lot. God help me to travel outside the country and even within Nigeria. I see the way people are. But Lagos is the best for me, because really, we were lucky. You know, if you go to school here, unless you don’t want to study, you can study anything. That is why I still consider Lagos as still the best out of the 36 states.
What are the biggest lessons life has taught you?
It has taught me to be humble and to love one another. I’m not saying I’m perfect, when it comes to the issue of love. All I’m saying is that you should give it your best shot. We all have challenges, but never take your problem out on others. Enjoy life, travel, if you can. We all can’t travel abroad, but just go out, change the atmosphere. Enjoy your neighbours. You know, there’s no life more than this. And then you need to have a hobby, either gardening, or any other thing and you may not be perfect on it. And then make yourself comfortable by eating well, by sleeping on time, by going to party if you can or just dance to music anyway. Thank God we still have all these old music and fashion.
But, do you still go to parties?
Yes, family functions. Aside from my societies, IWS and all, who will not leave me alone. They were all here the other day. They are all my children now, but then we are so close, so interwoven, that whenever they have something to do, I attend. Though now I don’t go outside Lagos.
Years back, you said in 10 to 15 years, Nigeria might have a female president. But right now we have only three women at the Senate. Are you not concerned?
We are trying, but don’t forget in some parts of the country, their mentality is different from ours here in the South. There are some who still believe women should not be doing anything more than having babies. So, if those people have a changed mindset, and they want a female president, it will definitely happen.
Do you think Nigerian politics is fair to women generally?
While there is room for improvement, I think our women are doing well. We have so many women that come out bravely to talk, even in the north. But then don’t forget, as I said, in Nigeria, we still have those places that limit women, and hold back their growth. But I believe the issue of having a female president in this country will happen one day.
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