13th April, 2012
Erelu Mojisola Adams, wife of National Co-ordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, spoke with AYODELE LAWAL about the joy of motherhood after waiting for about nine years
Erelu Mojisola Gani Adams, Congratulations.
Thank you.
Well, there is no point asking you how you feel, because definitely you’re happy. But how would you explain the joy of motherhood after waiting for about nine years for this first baby?
Very interesting, the joy, the pain and the whole thing that followed.
What is the joy and what is the pain?
The normal labour is the pain while the joy is the promise of God being fulfilled in my life because God said that you should go forth into the world and multiply, I thank God that I have brought forth my own flesh and blood. So I am happy and overwhelmed.
Your husband is a traditionalist and you are calling Jesus?
Not as you think, my husband is a traditionalist but he believes in Almighty God, so throughout my labour I was calling on Dr. Jesus and I believe so much in God.
When did you know that you conceived?
There is no way a woman will conceive and will not know, because you will see some symptoms, like in my own case I was vomiting and after some months I discovered that God was working, there and then I knew it was a reality. Mind you, I have been conceiving and having miscarriages.
Were you afraid that you might have another miscarriage?
No. I believe it’s the Lord’s doing.
Did you take some extra measures so as not to lose the pregnancy?
Yes. Everybody has faith but there is no way you will not take extra care as a human being because, I felt oh! this is another chance because we thought about the years since 2003, after a long wait and people didn’t see you carrying a baby they will be asking questions such as ‘what is going on?’ At times people prayed for me publicly during functions not knowing that it is very embarrassing. At times I will ask ‘God why me now?’ Each time I attended naming ceremonies, I usually used it as point of contact, because I am not barren.
Did you ever feel that because your husband has supernatural powers that is why you were unable to conceive?
No. Since I got married to Otunba Gani Adams, I have never seen anything so scary, or seen anything that has been sucking blood in his possession. Though he is a traditionalist, he uses charms, yes. I will not deny that, but he has nothing harmful in his possession. Since I was conceiving, I knew that one day I would have a child.
Looking back nine months ago, can you recall the night you knew that, this will result in pregnancy?
No. I can’t recollect, I believe it is just natural, because, I did not take any concoction or fertility drugs, though I took those drugs in the past. But this conception was just natural. I told God to take all the Glory and I am happy. He took all the Glory.
Despite being the wife of an OPC leader, so you were disturbed?
Of course, there is no woman that will be married for that number of years without a child that will not be disturbed. In fact most of my mates, whom we married at the same time are saying that they are hanging the boot. Look at my age, I thank God because some are not as lucky as I am.
Did you have an inkling that you will have a baby one day?
Yes. Because, there is a difference between not conceiving at all and having miscarriage. So I knew that I was not barren and that it was just a matter of time.
In those agonising days, how did you cope with your inlaws or was there no pressure on your husband to marry another wife?
Well, I will give kudos to my husband because he stood by me. He always consoled me by telling me that his mother waited for seven years before he was conceived, and after him, the mum also waited for several years before she conceived again.
Did they confront you?
They never confronted me but you know the normal thing, they will not do it in your presence individually.
Do you nurse any fear that he might have kids out of wedlock before this baby?
Well, initially, I was scared because of the way an average Nigerian man behaves when he is facing that kind of challenge. But I had faith in God and my husband stood by me.
Did you ever advise your husband to settle for artificial insemination?
Yes, I did, but this baby was born naturally. In those trying times when I advised him about the artificial insemination option, he always told me that babies born that way were plastic children and not natural.
When you conceived this child, did you take extra precaution?
Yes, my husband gave me some dos and don’ts and advised me against doing any strenuous job.
When you were delivered of the baby how did you feel seeing a bundle of joy, which is yours for the first time?
I felt the normal joy of every woman. I was very happy.
Will you give the baby extra protection because of the long wait?
God will take control. God will protect my child.
I’m Fulfilled
National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, has finally fathered a baby boy after nine years of waiting. Adams speaks on the agonising years
Otunba Gani Adams, congratulations!
Thank you.
Being the leader of a powerful organisation, a lot of people believe that you should have had a child before now.
No matter how powerful you are, God is the only person that can give you a baby and He knows the time that is ripe for you to have a baby. But when my wife gave birth to the baby, I was highly delighted and I am still in a happy mood since my wife gave birth to my baby boy on Sunday. I believe that I am fulfilled in life by having a child because I know that what people are expecting from me have come to pass. A lot of people always sympathised with me any time the opportunity arose and people have been praying along with me to have the fruit of the womb and God has done it. I give the glory to God for this child. You may make progress within a short period but when it comes to child, God has a way of doing things. Even if you go to the extent of artificial insemination, God is supreme.
Is the child from artificial insemination?
No! It is natural. The baby was conceived by my wife through me. So he is not a product of artificial insemination.
While the waiting lasted, did you consult any oracle to know whether you could have a child or not?
Oracles don’t give children, but people pray to God through oracle for a child. Children are from God.
How did you pray to God for this child?
I prayed a lot in different ways through different means.
How will you describe the waiting years?
The waiting years could be described as the years of agony, the years of serious challenges, the years of trauma in different perspectives. Though I could bear it, what about my wife? There was a lot of pressure from my family that we should have a child.
Were you told by your family to get another wife?
I won’t deceive you. There was pressure from my family but I resisted it. I told them that my wife will bear me a child.
As the leader of a powerful group, OPC, did it occur to you that your role could have been the cause of the delay?
Well, I’m a person that believes in the Bible, Quran and traditional world. I have lots of references. Despite that, I have a strong belief that God will do it. Let me tell you, before this child, my wife had about 18 miscarriages. So it is not as if she is barren. This gave us the confidence that one day, she will give me a child.
Are you planning an elaborate celebration for the child’s naming ceremony?
Well, my plan is to celebrate my birthday with the new baby and that comes up on 5 May 2012 because we have a very busy schedule. The child will be given a name on 15 April according to the Yoruba eighth day traditional ceremony. If we have to do an elaborate naming on the eighth day, that one may disrupt some of our programmes because we have lots of programmes like seven days after my birthday, we have the Oranmiyan festival in Oyo and few weeks after that, we have Obatala festival in Gbongan on 24 May, and 4 June Kudira Abiola’s remembrance ceremony and June 12 programme among other things.
As a traditionalist, are you naming the child in the three different ways?
Oh yes! We will be having the traditional prayers in the morning, followed by the Muslim prayers and the Christian prayers in the evening.
So the child will be given three different names?
As far as I am concerned, the child will be named on the eighth day, but I cannot give you the names now. It is too early.