Mrs Yemisi Wada who recently clocked 50 and has also been the talk of
the town because of her beautiful figure at 50, has revealed to Nonye
Ben-Nwankwo how her marriage to former minister of aviation, Femi
Fani-Kayode was orchestrated, and how she had two babies and left his
house with one more pregnancy in less then three years making their
children three altogether. She also spoke about her new love, Mr Dahiru
Wada and how they met in London. One of her children to FFK will be
getting married in July and Mrs Yemisi is too excited about it. If FFK
would be there is something she did not mention. The interview below...
How do you feel having a daughter who is getting married?
I am ecstatic. My daughter is getting married in July by the Grace of
God. I got married at 24 and I am reaping the benefits as I have had the
opportunity to grow up with my girls. I feel it has made us closer. I
am happy because people are different and in her case, she is mature
enough to take up that role. She has also found a good man by the grace
of God from good stock and surely that must be every mother’s prayer.
Why did you choose to study law?
My father was a lawyer but that was not my motivation. It was the
courtroom drama I used to watch on television and the whole wig and gown
that attracted me. My father worked for the Lagos State Ministry of
Justice. He was State Prosecutor at some stage and in those days, if I
was home and he was trying any interesting case like the ‘Iyabo
Olounkoya’ drug case, my mum and I would go and watch.
Your parents must have been very comfortable for them to send you to study in the UK.
To be honest back then, our economy was okay. The year I went abroad to
school was when the Naira became N3-1 pound. Life was easier. My father
came from quite a wealthy family and he inherited property but didn’t
really like the idea of receiving income from them. He used to go out of
his way to tell us he would not leave any property in his will and that
we should work for our own money. He had property in Ikorodu and Ogba,
which some companies were renting. My mother left work when I was still
young and till today she’s a very successful business woman. So between
them, we got by.
Would you still remember those days you used to work in your ex father-in-law’s law firm?
I actually never worked in Chief Fani-Kayode’s Law firm. When I got
married straight after Law School, my father wanted me to work. After my
youth service when it seemed my then husband didn’t want me to work, my
father threatened to pull me out of the marriage. Chief had some
election petition cases in Kano, so he drafted me into his team to work
on them and later the appeals in Kaduna. That was how I met Mr. Raji
Ahmed who was in the team as well and we later set up a law office
together, along with Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo. Working on those cases were
the best times I had at the time. That was also the first salary I
earned as a lawyer.
Why did you even quit practising?
Law is a long-term earner. At the time, being a single mother with three
children and wanting to give them the best like I had as a child, I
could not afford to stay in practice. Besides, I needed to be the boss
of my own time to be available for my children when I was needed.
What inspired you to establish Haven for Nigerian Children?
Seeing that there were children living on the streets and I was going up
and down cuddling mine made me sit up and think. I decided to do
something about it and pray my own children if they were ever in need,
would meet a helper. I have often wondered if this is a selfish notion.
If it is, well I am not a saint and that’s my Achilles heel. At least,
it has created a passion and I intend to keep running Haven as long as
God grants me life.
Why are you so passionate about the street kids?
I’m passionate about rendering assistance in any way. I counsel very
well. Nothing gives me more joy than knowing whoever meets me or comes
into my life in any way gains something from my experiences. That’s
where I derive my joy.
How is life being Mrs. Dahiru Wada?
It’s very interesting. My father in-law loves me very much and my
husband has many brothers who are like him, very loving. So you’re
living in an atmosphere of love. It’s a very nice feeling. The best
description of my husband is that he is a gentleman’s gentleman. He is
also very cultured and well travelled. He loves good food and
travelling. He is very well read and extensively knowledgeable in all
things. He is very generous and for us kind almost to a fault.
You reportedly said your husband doesn’t like partying and dancing
but these are things you love doing. So how do you manage this?
If I want to party and dance, he is not in my way. We understand each
other perfectly. Many times, you will see us at parties and before long,
you will not see him because he would have left quietly. Having said
that, my husband observes more at that same party and when we analyse
the proceedings after, I would be amazed. Seriously we complement each
other nicely.
Can you tell us about growing up?
Growing up for me was awesome. We lived in GRA Ikeja, we walked and
cycled about in clean and safe environment by ourselves. Most of our
activities were centred on the home and the street. We climbed trees,
raised dogs, rode bicycles. It was bliss.
What fond memories do you have when you were still growing up?
I have several. The best was how my paternal grandmother ‘Iya Alaje’
would come and stay with us when our parents travelled. She was very
wealthy but not literate and she loved a good life. She would ask us
what we would normally eat and my brother, Bayo and I would lie that we
didn’t eat pepper. That would mean no eba and amala. She would take us
to Kingsway Stores and buy us ham and all the nice things for
sandwiches. The funny thing though was only Bayo had a palate for those
things. I preferred my eba, so why I went along with it still baffles
me. I guess it was the thrill of getting away with such nonsense.
As a young girl, if anybody had told you your marriage would break up, would you have believed it?
No, I would not have. That is why even after three children, I knew I
would remarry. I don’t know if it is that love of being a wife or to run
a home. Whichever, I love being married.
Can you still remember those days you were with your ex-husband, Femi Fani-Kayode?
I have no fond memories of then except having my daughters, as I am sure
he would say same if asked. What people do not seem to realise is that
we were together for only a very short while. The marriage itself lasted
less than three years. The fact that I have three daughters makes it
seem longer but I left just when I was pregnant with my youngest
daughter.
Did you decide to marry him because his family was influential?
I don’t know what that means because I grew up in a home where I had all
I wanted. There was nothing I got there that I didn’t have before.
Actually I had more at home.
What was the attraction back then?
It was a long time ago but I think at the time, all the men I knew were
clubbing like I was but he was already serious in politics. He was a
national youth leader of his party and the proposal was very direct as
he said, ‘I am in politics and I need a homemaker.’
Since the marriage produced beautiful kids, would you ever say you regret it?
No way. In fact, I always say if I came back in another life, I would do
it again to have these same beautiful and dramatically intelligent
daughters. I would just have a better exit plan.
How did you meet Mr. Wada?
Dahiru and I met at a party in London. It’s funny how we met. I thought
he was someone else and planned to tease him but his incredible wit got
the better of me and in the end, the joke was on me. He actually
insinuated that I was a airhead!
What do you love about him?
He’s gentle, he is patient and he is kind. He has a wicked sense of
humour and he can gist. He has an infectious laugh and like me, he loves
to entertain. Like me also, he is a very good cook. He is the king of
roasts and curries. He is an amazing father. He loves his kids to bits. I
am always complimented about how well behaved my boys are but it is
because they live with a gentleman father and they live by example.
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