Love Has Kept Us Together —Couple

Plantain roasting couple, Mr. and Mrs. Igharha, say their deep love for each other has been the reason for their staying married after twelve years.

Speaking at their Ojubode, Obalende Motor Park stand in Ikorodu, the husband, Vincent Igharha, who always carries their baby on his chest, kangaroo style, said he has continued to help his wife with the simple chore, not just for the fun of it, but because of the love he has for her.

“I try to tolerate her and she does the same with me. The love I have for her is the reason I’ve been able to do all I have done with her so far. It really looks easy but it isn’t as easy as it seems, but we have to do it as that is our only source of livelihood for the family at the moment.”

“I’m a building contractor and it hasn’t been easy getting jobs recently, but with this business we’ve been able to weather the storm together,” the Delta-born father of two said.

Vincent said that he had twice been arrested by the CID and the Police, who accused him of child trafficking because he was always carrying the baby, but he was released on both occasions after showing the security operatives his wife.

For those who think that the plantain roasting business isn’t rewarding, Vincent said:  “On the average, we make about N3, 000 on a daily basis and we buy plantains worth N10,000 within the space of three days. The money doesn’t come as easily as I put it anyway, because we go to bed as late as 12midnight every day, while trying to prepare for the next day. We wake up as early as 3a.m. so as to get here before people start going to work.”

The ever-busy wife, Patience who spoke reluctantly with our correspondent, said she had to stick with her husband despite advances from wealthy men around, asking her to dump him and leave her stressful business for a better means of livelihood.

“We’ve been married since we were young and I can’t imagine myself abandoning him when he needs me more. So many rich men have asked me to leave him but I cannot do so because I love him so much, and the fact that he is a very caring man despite the hardship we’re facing” she offered.

The 32-year old Vincent believes that if he gets a better job which will help him cater for his family without going through the stress he goes through on a daily basis.

—Damilare Okunola