Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has shared how his late mother once feared he wanted to become a Babalawo after he studied Yoruba at the university.
He explained that her fears deepened because he could not secure a job after graduation, leaving her worried about his future.
Momodu, who spoke on Saturday, during the burial of pioneering female journalist, Mrs. Doyinsola Abiola, in Lagos, explained that his academic background and early struggles left his mother confused and worried.
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“My mother was wondering if I wanted to become a Babalawo or why I went to a university to study Yoruba,” he recounted.
“Then I went back to do a master’s in Literature in English, and I still couldn’t get a job.
“My mother was wondering if witches and wizards were after me from my father’s village in Edo State.”
The veteran journalist and politician also reflected on his relationship with the late MKO Abiola and his wife, Doyinsola, whom he fondly referred to as “Iya Paper.”
He credited her with shaping his career path when he moved to Lagos in 1988 in search of opportunities.
“I would like to say a big thank you to Iya Paper. That title is not original to me; the patent belongs to Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola,” he said.
“I came to Lagos desperate for a job after my studies, and she became my boss at Concord.”
Momodu further recalled Abiola’s advice on managing polygamy, saying: “Daddy told me that if you want to be a polygamist, you must be a competent polygamist.
“So as the son of a competent polygamist, you must know how to navigate and meander in such a home.”
