Afrigather •What FIRDAUS AKANBI Advised PUNCH Newspaper
Olori Firdaus Akanbi is the gorgeous spouse of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abulrosheed Akanbi. She tells BOLA BAMIGBOLA of PUNCH about life because the queen of a monarch outdoors her tribe, amongst different points.
Earlier than your marriage to Oluwo, not many individuals from this a part of Nigeria knew you. Are you able to inform us briefly about your self?
My identify is Firdaus Abdullahi Akanbi. I’m from Kano State. I’m a 28-year-old mom of 1. I studied Enterprise Administration at Fashionable College of Science and Know-how Cairo, Egypt. I’m married to Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abulrosheed Adewale Akanbi.
It was reported earlier than your marriage to Oluwo that you simply had been a princess from Kano. Are you able to throw extra mild on this?
I’m from the Bayero household in Kano State. My dad, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Sani Yola, was Madakin Kano whereas he was alive, and my grandfather, Dr Ado Bayero, reigned as Emir of Kano. I grew up within the palace.
Are you able to share a few of your fond childhood reminiscences, rising up within the palace?
I grew up within the royal household. We hardly exit. I had loads of enjoyable as a baby rising up amidst love and affection from everybody. I loved spending my vacation at my grand-parents home as a result of we used to have a lot enjoyable being round them.
What knowledgeable your choice to review a business-related course on the college?
Properly, I grew as much as like enterprise and that was why I selected Enterprise Administration. I wish to handle companies. It’s one thing I’ve ardour for and I used to be doing that earlier than I obtained married to Oba Akanbi.
What sort of enterprise had been you concerned in earlier than marriage?
I had a cooking/catering enterprise, truly a restaurant earlier than I obtained married. Being a enterprise lady is my ardour and I like to do enterprise, particularly the one that may create alternatives to earn first rate dwelling for different individuals. It is probably not so large a enterprise, however one thing that may create jobs. It’s my ardour.
With the wedding now, has that zeal not being killed?
I simply should let it go for now, not killed. The fervour remains to be in me and I wish to proceed it in future since it’s my ardour.
What knowledgeable your alternative of husband?
My marriage to him is God’s making and I’m grateful to Allah. Kabiesi is your best option of husband for me. I’m right here and I’m pleased with him. Whoever will get to know him, stays with him, will know that he’s an excellent man and I all the time thank God for bringing him to my life. It’s a miracle.
How a lot of him do you know earlier than marriage and the way did you meet?
Properly, I met him by my aunt, Mrs Hadiza Bayero Dambazau, spouse of Lt. Gen. Dambazau (retd), former Minister of Inside. She launched him to me and different issues adopted in fast succession after the primary assembly and we obtained married.
What was your first impression the day you met him?
I used to be wowed by his look and character the primary time I noticed him as a result of I by no means thought he was that cool. Kabiesi is a really playful, sort and jovial particular person. It was a case of affection at first sight. I fell in love instantly I noticed him.
Did you harbour any scary thought, marrying a Yoruba monarch going by the variations in his tradition to the one you might be used to?
To say the reality, at first, I used to be scared as a result of I didn’t know the tradition or something about Yorubaland earlier than my marriage to Oba Akanbi. However regularly, I’m starting to grasp that Yoruba individuals are very accommodating, good and nice individuals. So, I obtained no motive to be scared once more, quite I felt at house being right here; every part is simply regular.
Regardless of being a younger lady and a queen, you’ll have to handle affairs of many aged ladies and different queens. How are you dealing with that?
It isn’t troublesome. Folks accord me my due respect and I deal with individuals with respect too. It’s simply that I’ve to grasp the individuals and know the way to relate with them and accommodate them as a result of our cultures differ a bit. I’m attempting my utmost greatest to adapt to Yoruba tradition.
Within the final one 12 months of dwelling in Yorubaland, what’s your impression?
There are loads of issues that I actually respect in Yorubaland. I like the individuals, their tradition and custom. Being right here will not be completely different from being in Kano State.
What do you do in your capability as Queen of Oluwo?
In my capability as queen, I coordinate the free feeding that the palace offers for the individuals. We feed individuals on Mondays and Fridays, each week. Additionally, to mark particular events, the palace organises events for youngsters. We do that in Kids’s Day. Like Ramadan interval now, we feed orphans and the much less privileged. I assist and complement my husband within the working of the city. It’s a large activity.
You might be hardly seen outside; why is that so?
That’s my nature. I don’t actually like going to public outings a lot. I wish to have my area and peace, however regularly, I’ll be taught to mingle with individuals. Additionally, I conceived few months after I obtained right here and I’d not need the general public to see me throughout that interval. Now that the newborn is right here, I can be seen extra outdoors.
What has motherhood modified in you?
It has not modified many issues about me, nevertheless it has not been straightforward doing many issues that motherhood calls for. Nonetheless, I nonetheless love every part about it. I’m coping effectively. Bear in mind I stated earlier that I grew up within the palace and that gave me the chance to handle my aunts, sisters, uncles’ kids and that made it a straightforward activity for me now.
What have you learnt about Oluwo that you simply really feel individuals outdoors don’t about him?
To me, he’s a loving, charming, accommodating and an easygoing particular person. Perhaps he has a special character within the reckoning of another person, however to me, he is a superb particular person.
Are you aware some individuals will disagree with this your description of him, as some will see him as a fearless, powerful and controversial monarch?
I strive my greatest to take excellent care of him and take heed to him. His calm character made it simpler for me to get together with him simply.
Will you say being raised within the palace ready you for all times as a queen?
Whereas rising up, my father used to say that I’ll change into someone vital as a result of I hardly battle with individuals or do issues that may harm anybody. I’m a peaceable particular person. Each time anybody does one thing unhealthy to me, I’ll simply depart it to God to guage and my father will take a look at me, and say that sooner or later, God shall reward me with one thing large. Perhaps, that’s the reason why I’m right here as a queen. Furthermore, I’m a princess and I additionally deserve a king as husband.
After assembly Oluwo, did anybody amongst your individuals or from elsewhere opposed your alternative?
Nobody objected to me marrying him from my aspect. Although there have been some issues that had been being stated about him, I don’t care about that. I do know who he’s and what’s being stated in opposition to him is simply meaningless to me.
What are these issues being stated about him?
Let’s depart that.
Oluwo is named a fearless monarch, who’s overtly oppose to conventional rulers worshipping idols. He doesn’t entertain concern in opposing no matter he doesn’t like. Do you at occasions concern he will be harmed?
Sure, I do get scared, however once you consider in God, nothing will actually scare you once more on this life. I’m a prayerful particular person. I do hear loads of scary tales, although not about deities, whereas rising up on the palace. Nonetheless, since I consider within the God that I serve, I don’t enable something to get me scared once more.
Since I obtained to this palace, nothing has obtained me scared like that, however I do pray for him and I believe what he’s doing is what God has commanded us to do. He’s doing it proper; I do know God received’t enable any evil factor to befall us as a result of what he’s doing is what God desires him to do.
You stated you don’t wish to attend many social features, and you might be married to a flamboyant monarch, who can be enticing. Do you at occasions get jealous seeing his footage being surrounded by fairly ladies at social occasions?
In fact, (I get jealous), however I simply consider in myself and I’ve advised him that at any time when he desires to marry one other spouse, he’s free to take action as a result of in our faith, a person is allowed to marry as much as 4 wives. I’ll desire him marrying one other spouse, as a substitute of mingling with completely different ladies.
Are you afraid that he might quickly usher in one other lady?
I can’t be afraid, even when he marries extra ladies. I’m open to it anytime he desires to marry one other spouse, although it isn’t straightforward (having to share husband).
What are you future plans as queen?
I wish to be supporting ladies particularly the much less privileged ones and widows. I’ll wish to assist them by small scale companies that can be arrange. Ladies empowerment can be my fundamental focus.
Do you converse Yoruba language and why are you not carrying a crown like Oluwo’s previous spouse?
I’ve already began studying the language. Each time he desires me to start out carrying a crown, I’ll put on it. I like it (crown) as a result of it’s lovely.
Is your new standing as a queen drawing extra buddies in the direction of you?
A Iot of individuals wish to be round me, discuss to me as a result of I’m a queen now, however typically it’s important to watch out with the sort of individuals you enable to get shut. Nonetheless, my buddies are nonetheless my buddies and I get to know extra individuals right here. I’ve to be very cautious in order to not enable incorrect individuals to get shut. Every little thing is regular identical to earlier than, however there may be just a bit little bit of change.
What’s your recommendation for girls?
My recommendation for them is that they need to take heed to their husbands, be respectful, submissive and accommodating to their husbands’ households, buddies and the general public.
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