Afrigather John Ibironke, the son of a 68-year-old man from Ondo State, Joseph Ibironke, who claimed to have spent 9 years in the UK and 21 years in the US earlier than he discovered himself in Nigeria after a wierd sickness, tells FATTEH HAMID how he reunited together with his father
Who is Joseph Ibironke to you?
My identify is John Ibironke, I’m a constructing contractor. I’m from Igbara Oke, Ondo State. I’m the one son of my mom alive, born to Joseph Ibironke.
Your father mentioned you had been just a few months previous when he left Nigeria. What are you aware about his life or as you had been informed by your mom?
Effectively, I barely lived seven years with my mom earlier than she obtained married once more to another person and life was not simple; it was very tough. I needed to begin residing with my dad’s elder brother, Williams Ibironke, after I was about seven or eight years previous. Nevertheless, whereas nonetheless together with her and from the issues she informed me after I grew older, my father was a person who cared for me and my brother when he was nonetheless in Nigeria and we’d by no means have suffered the way in which we did if he was round.
When did your older brother die?
After all, I used to be nonetheless younger on the time but it surely was round 1987 that he died as I used to be informed by my mom. I used to be not sufficiently old at the moment.
How previous are you?
I’m going to be 43 in just a few months.
Did you not attempt to seek for your dad whenever you grew older?
I did. There’s an adage in Yoruba that claims that it is just a bastard who received’t search for his father; a real son will discover his father. After I was rising up, my mates and a few individuals in my mom’s household often known as me a fatherless boy which was a really painful abuse and unhappy for me on the time. So, I made a decision that I used to be going to seek out him. I had at all times anxious my mom that I wanted to seek out my father however she didn’t have the time to try this regardless of my insistence. It led to a battle between us and her new husband. Afterward, I had a protracted trip at school, I hustled and gathered cash collectively to journey to Lagos from Ilesa, Osun State. At the moment, his brother had already died however I didn’t know.
What occurred whenever you arrived in Lagos?
After I obtained to Ebute Metta, I went to their home and requested his spouse why I wasn’t knowledgeable when he died. She mentioned she didn’t know that I used to be going to return again. I informed her that what introduced me to Lagos was the truth that I wanted to seek out my father and going to Igbara Oke could be the very best shot to discovering him and that I wanted the deal with to get there. She gave me the deal with and I left Lagos for Ilesa after three days in Lagos. After two days in Ilesa, I went residence to Igbara Oke looking for my different prolonged relations with the hope that I’d be capable of find my father as a result of the one hyperlink I knew, which was the uncle I lived with, had already died.
How had been you acquired in Igbara Oke?
After I obtained there, nobody knew me. I needed to clarify who I used to be to them and point out all these I knew simply to have the ability to again my declare that I used to be the son of Joseph Bankole Ibironke. I spent about six days in Igbara Oke earlier than I left there.
How do you know that your father had returned to Nigeria?
It was the son of considered one of his brothers who known as me that he was again. I remembered that there was a time I went to Lagos and we exchanged contacts and he informed me that he used to attach with my dad and that he was going to contact me when he was in a position to attain out to him. Some years later, he known as to inform me that my dad was again in Nigeria. He mentioned that he obtained his Nigerian cellphone quantity and that he was going to share it with me.
Did you name your dad?
I known as my father and we spoke. He tried explaining some issues to me however I informed him that my mom needs to be his first level of contact and that if he reconciled together with her, it was all high-quality with me.
After that, he recurrently known as me however I didn’t heat as much as him. This 12 months, in June, he known as me and knowledgeable me that he was with my mom in Ilesa. I spoke to my mom by his cellphone and all was settled. He additionally noticed my mom’s new household. This took place six or seven years after our first contact notifying me that he was in Nigeria. After about two days, he known as me and informed me that he additionally needed to fulfill me and he travelled right down to Ilesa to see me and my household.
What number of kids do you could have?
Sure, I’ve a household already. I’m married with three kids.
How did you’re feeling whenever you noticed him for the primary time after many years?
It was a tragic reunion, I have to be sincere with you, particularly when he defined all he had gone by. I couldn’t cry however pity him due to the experiences he had and what life had proven him. I imagine that when there’s life, there’s hope. I’m attempting my finest to go to him in Lagos from Osogbo after I can.
How did your spouse and youngsters obtain your father?
It was emotional. My spouse had by no means seen him or his image earlier than so she didn’t recognise him. I needed to introduce each of them and in addition launched him to my kids as their grandfather. My kids and spouse had been all shocked to reunite with their grandfather and father-in-law, respectively, after so a few years.
How previous are your kids?
My first little one, who’s a boy, is nineteen years previous and my second little one is 4 years previous. The third is a toddler who’s simply 4 months previous.
