How I Have Sustained My 43 Yr Marriage

• Senator MUSILIU OBANIKORO’s Wife, MORUFAT

• Talks About Her Life @ 65

Alhaja Morufat Obanikoro is the pretty wife of popular politician and ambassador, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. The foremost business woman and Lagos society woman has got all going for her. At 65 she does not look a bit her age. She is still very strong, beautiful and ageing gracefully. She is one of the society women who dazzle at A. list events, though she is a bit reserved but you can’t but notice her presence or appearance at any gathering.

The fabric merchant is a dutiful woman who has held her home very firmly, having been married to a politician and also having her son also in politics. It is a combination of jostling between being a mother in her home and also making sure her responsibility as a wife is not left unattended to.

You will always see her at the fore front supporting her husband and children in all their different careers.

She is one who realizes that family is first and no wonder she takes it very seriously and has been at this for 43 years.

Let’s also talk about her style, she is very fashionable. What do you expect from someone who has been a fabric merchant for many years. She knows how to combine her ensembles well. When you sight her at parties, one thing you cannot miss on her is her love for her signature headgear.

There is this particular way she ties her headgear that is peculiar to her. She has been tieing this signature headgear for the past 40 years. Isn’t that surprising? You can tell that she is not one who readily follows the trend because she creates her own style.

As part of her love for fashion and exclusive apparels for that matter, she was one of the celebrity women who stormed Lagos premium fashion outfit, Hauwa De Zuzu pop up show last week. She was looking very lovely and beautiful in her simple Ankara styled outfit.

It was at this event she was accosted by City People Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI where she spoke about her love for fashion, how she has dominated the social scene for many years and she has been able to keep up being a wife of a very popular politician, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Read on.

How do you feel attending this fashion pop up show by Hauwa de Zuzu?

I am very happy, extremely happy for my daughter., Bukky, the brain behind the luxury fashion brand. She happens to be one of my friend, Alhaja Bola Owoyemi’s daughter so when one of our mutual friends, Mrs Kosoko mentioned it to me, I told myself I have no choice than to be there. I am glad I am here, I am not disappointed on all the designs I have seen so far. I have chosen some. Those that are not ready, my measurements has been taken, to be delivered shortly. The prices are also very reasonable and affordable for the unique and quality of designs they have put out there. I like to support my friends and also their children too, this is what we have been doing together for many years.

What do you think about the particular couture designs the label is making?

The quality is standard as I said. It is not the regular common style you see around. I quite patronize some of the bespoke designs out there but Hauwa de Zuzu is very unique and it stands out.

You have been very stylish for many years. What informs your style?

My style is unique. I create it by myself, I love to look good and I believe less is always more. It is good to be trendy. I love things that are not common and that is why when you see me, you might not see the many common fashion items on me. I love to be me. So I always want to be stylish in my own terms not copying anybody.

What is that very thing or fashion accessories  you can not do without while you dress?

That one thing is my headgear oooo, it is very rare you see me without tying headgear except in exceptional cases as occasion calls, I have a particular headgear that i tie. People know me with it, I have been tieing it for close to 50 years. It is my signature look. When I tie my gele differently some times and when people see me, they find it hard to recognize me so I have sticked to the way I tie it.

When people see me with another style of headgear, they most times say they can’t recognize me, that I should not join the bandwagon and let my signature remain. So I have let it be over the years. I am known with this style. It has become a part of me. And why I have been doing this for over 4 decades is because I am a Muslim. Since when I was young I always tie headties so it has been a part of me. Once in a while I use wig maybe when I am not in the country but mostly you will see something on my head, whether scarf, Turban or headgear. I have friends all around and whenever I attend their parties, they know me with this headgear.

What is your beauty routine, you look very beautiful and young at 65, kindly share the secret with us?

My first beauty routine is peace of mind. I am a very natural person and I eat organic. I eat natural foods. I don’t try new things. I take my regular food, I drink water a lot. I am not one person who tries new things, I stick to what works to me, I take my rest when the body calls for, I enjoy taking tea all the time and mostly optimum rest is important as one grows older.

I also don’t really wear make up, except for a slight one for some occasions as you can see now.. I let my face be. I use strictly moisturizers which nourishes my skin and my sunscreen for my face. I make sure that my food is my drug, I don’t take drugs, I don’t take any vitamins.

Your husband is a politician, your son is also into politics, What can you say about them?

Alhamdulilahi, glory be to be God for the family he has giving me. I am happy for my husband and happy for my children. God has used them to bless me and has also used me to bless them. Firstly I thank God, I thank my husband and I thank myself because it takes a lot of effort, with God’s support and his favour on us. I thank them too for the effort put within because all of us go North, South, West and East and we come back to meet at the center. We thank God for the glory on us.

You have been married for over 40 years, how have you been able to keep up as a wife and a mother?

It takes a lot of understanding, endurance and patience. You have to be submissive to be a good wife. You don’t have to argue but that does not mean you should turn yourself to a dummy, No, you should understand self expression very well, everything is not argument. Make sure you respect your husband, make sure you reach agreement on whatever discussion you both  take. In my family we talk with one voice.,mostly in one voice. My children are grown and I thank God for where all of them are now, I am also grateful for all of my children that Allah has blessed me with. My husband is a type that cherishes family bond so let me also thank him too for his effort on our marriage. He values his family and makes it his utmost priority.

How did you meet and why did you end up being his wife?

I met him as far back as 1978. April 28 to be precise and since then we have been together. What attracted me to him was his realness. My husband was very real and open from day one so I have no doubt about his sense of his responsibility. I knew he is a very responsible person and that has not changed about him up till now, he is a responsible father. I refer to my husband as M.O, I actually met him in Lagos, Isale Eko to be precise. I am also from Isale Eko in Lagos. I grew up in Lagos Island.

-TAYO OYEDIJI

(08111811219)