Valentine’s Day is here again. This is a time lovers and celebrities across the globe display love, affection and friendship to one another. The day is celebrated in many ways worldwide on every February 14. Many people see Valentine’s Day as a special day for expressing one’s love for their special soul mate. So come Friday, 14th February, 2018, many Nigerians will celebrate this 4-letter word among their loved ones.
You can’t help but appreciate many Nigerian celebrity couples who have been able to stay in marriage for decades. Do you know some of them also have amazing love stories? Their Love stories are not the regular love stories people hear about. In the spirit of Valentine, City People has carefully compiled the love stories of these amazing celebrity couples. In it we reveal how they met, and how they were wooed by their spouses many years ago. We are sure you haven’t read them anywhere. They are exclusive to us. Below ABIOLA ORISILE reveals a lot of stories about them. Please read on and appreciate the celebrity couples who have stayed in marriage despite the ups and down.
VP OSINBAJO AND WIFE, DOLAPO
The 2nd citizen of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, haven’t spoken about their love story for once. But many people who know the couple have spoken about it. One of them is VPs brother, Akin and Dolapo Osinbajo’s father, Sir Tayo Soyode. It was revealed that Dolapo and her husband first met when they were much younger.
When we were all younger, there was a time we were all worshipping in the same church in Ikenne,”Akin started the touching story about how Dolapo and Yemi had met.
According to Akin “Papa Awolowo would sit in front row and my own parents would sit in the next row behind him. And one day we were all coming; you know during the Christmas we have thanksgiving. We the children, when it was time for thanksgiving, we were all asked to come out for thanksgiving. So, when we were coming back, because we four boys, all dressed in suit, and as teenagers we were all dancing, looked very gorgeous, and likewise the girls. Papa stood up and faced our parents and said one of the boys should marry one of his girls (that’s granddaughters) And Mama said that can’t happen. But Papa said in Israel cousins do marry. That was about 15 years before they actually got married. By the time they were marrying Papa had passed on. When the two of them came to say they wanted to marry later and the family said they could not marry because they are blood relations, Mama said, her husband, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had said they should not be stopped from marrying, that Papa had said it while he was alive that they could marry.
JUSTICE OGUNTADE AND MODUPE
Justice Olusola Oguntade (rtd) and his beautiful wife, Modupe’s, love story is very intriguing. These celebrity couple may have been off social scene, owing to the new office, they occupy in London, but they have an amazing Love story. Not only is their marriage a prayer point for many young celebrity couple, they are also role models and they have mentored lot of couples on how to have a successful marriage.
What is their love story like? According Rtd Justcice Oguntade at Mrs Modupe Oguntade, uncle‘s 80th birthday recently where he spoke about their love story, he first met the woman of his dream when he was leaving Nigeria for London to further his education.
His words: “ I first set my eyes on my wife Modupe when she was just a toddler. She came to bid her uncle, Shita-Bey, goodbye as he was leaving for London to further his education abroad. Coincidental, I was also leaving the country that time to further my education. We are together now as husband and wife and to God be the glory“. says Retired Justice of Supreme Court. Justcie Olusola Oguntade.
GOV. TAMBUWAL AND 2ND WIFE, MAIRO
The Governor of Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s 2nd wife, Mairo got married not too long ago, and their love story is also very unique. Governor of Sokoto State, Gov. Tambuwal, first met his wife when he taught his new wife, Maryam, at Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Kazaure, Jigawa State. They lost contact, and met again during Buhari’s campaign in 2014/2015 and the rest they say is history as the couple is now enjoying every bit of the marriage.
SENATOR AMOSUN AND FUSHO
The best way to describe Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s wife, Olufusho, is cool like a dove. The amiable wife of the former Governor has been together with her husband for over 2 decades and still counting. You can’t help but admire them when their daughter married Hon. Abike Dabiri’s son a few month ago. She recently disclosed in an interview with this magazine that she met her husband while he was running his accounting firm. Hear her “I met His Excellency, who then owned an Accounting firm and the rest is history. We have 5 wonderful children who we are very proud of“
INTERIOR MINISTER, RAUF AREGBESOLA & WIFE, SHERIFAT
Have you ever seen Ogbeni Aregbesola and his wife and wondered how they met? Former Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a blunt toaster and this reflected in his wife Sherifat Aregbesola’s interview when she revealed how her husband wooed her many years ago. “I met my husband as a youth copper in Kaduna 30 years ago. He walked up to me and said: I am Rauf and I said yes, what do you want? He said we can be friends and I said that is fine, after that, I didn’t see him for the nest 3 months. He then came back and said NITEL has offered him a job and he refused because he needed to be in Kaduna because of me and that was how we started“.
GOV. WIKE AND WIFE, JUSTICE SUZZETE
River state Governor Nyesome Wike and his wife , Justice Suzzette have been married for over 19 years and they recently shared their love story on their wedding anniversary.
According to his wife, Justice Suzette on her love story ‘its funny how life sometimes takes us where we never plan or expect to go. For three years, we sat in the same lecture rooms and halls but never passed a word between each other. It was only after I chanced upon his law note books in the possession of a mutual classmate that everything changed. At that time, the law books in our library were expired and in most cases not available and we had to find other means to report our Nigerian case law. Most of us resorted to copying from others who had lawyer friends they visited in chambers and while there, used their law reports/books. It surprised me then, to realize that he was indeed a serious minded student and not as I had earlier perceived. His notes were up to date as he took time to report more cases than were cited by our lecturers, which necessarily meant better grades if you can put them all down in your answer sheets during tests and examinations. I immediately coveted that notebook and pleaded with my classmate to loan me the book after she had finished, promising to return it in two days. She refused. Another request with the promise to return it in one day as I was prepared to sit up all night copying those cases was declined. My last plea to photocopy the notebook and return it immediately fell on deaf ears. She told me to seek the permission of the owner, with the belief that I wouldn’t dare.And, of course, she was right to think that as she knew that we had never once spoken to each other. At that point, I inquired from her, his name. She replied simply: “Wike”. I wondered how odd that name sounded as I’d never heard it before. I also wondered how to approach him as I believed that he disliked me as much as I did him. But the desire to have that fully- loaded note book was too strong. I could not give up without at least, making an attempt. As he passed by us, I called his name as I had just learnt: “excuse me, Wike”. He froze and I noticed his shock and disbelief. I started putting my words together, expecting him to scowl at me, and thinking in his head – “Oh! So you have decided to talk to me now that you need my notebook and that was how we started“. Suzette revealed.
ROTIMI AMAECHI AND WIFE, JUDITH
Former Governor of Rivers State who is now Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi and his wife Judith have been in marriage for many years and still waxing strong. According to Judith who revealed their love story many months ago“My husband is a very wonderful person. He is very kind-hearted. Just forget the misconceptions some people have about him. He is a wonderful husband. This year will make it 22 years of our blissful marriage. I was 15 years old the first time I ever knew him. I met him again when I was 19. He met me for the first time in my life at a wedding. I was quite young at the time. I think he just loved me from the beginning. And I grew into loving him as well. He didn’t just propose to me at the first meeting. We dated for a while before we married.” Judith xplained
GOV. FAYEMI AND ERELU BISI
2-term Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, have been together for over 3decades. City People Magaizne once interviewed Erelu Bisi Fayemi where she spoke about her age long relationship between her and her handsome husband. She explained that she met her husband when they were both undergrads at University of Ife.
According to her: “We were in the same class and when you are a student you interact. As a student then you don’t have to start looking at all the young boys in class as potential lovers. My own priority then was to focus on my studies, but like he said, I had known him in class as someone who was quiet, but very bright, going by his interaction and behaviour in the class but when I saw him in the library that day, I needed to get some books out and I didn’t have my library card on me. I looked around and saw him sitting in a corner of the library. I walked up to him and asked him if he could take a book out for me which he did and that was how we started“, she said.
OBA SAHEED ELEGUSHI AND OLOORI SEKINAT
Not until of recent, not many people know the real love story of Olori Aramide Elegushi and her husband of 13 years, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi. Many people believed that they went to the same tertiary institution. Oloori Aramide speaking on her love story, explained that she met her husband of 13 years on Lagos Island many years ago. Her words: “I met my husband at my mother’s shop on Lagos Island. He used to come round to see some of his friends on the Island and he would see me in my mother’s shop reading novels. He asked around and got information about me and that was how we dated. We were both undergrand then as I was in Unilag while he was in Lasu“ she explained. Thirteen years down the line, the bond keeps waxing stronger and the couple seems determined to maintain that tempo of love. The union is blessed with three children.
AKINSIKU OF LAGOS AND WIFE, OLORI NOIMAT
One amazing love story we hardly talk about is the love story of Oba Dosunmu and his lovely wife, Olori Noimat. This duo are one celebrity couple many can’t stop admiring. How did Olori Eyo meet his cool- headed Wife? He revealed this in an exclusive interview saying: ”I have been married to my wife for 15 years and I am still counting. I thank God for bringing us this far. My wife is a lovely and beautiful woman, she understands me. She knows I am a socialite. “And how did they meet? I met her 15 years ago, I met her in America and since then we got married and here we are today giving glory to God”. The marriage of Chief Adebola Akinsiku of Lagos and his Olori, Noimot, is simply an enviable one as they have both balanced their marriage with their social lives.
AIG TUNJI AND WIFE, IBIPO ALAPINI
You can’t help but admire retired AIG, Tunji Alapini and his wife, Ibipo. The articulate retired Police Officer from Oke – Popo Campus area of Lagos, who is very popular on Lagos social scene, has been married to his pretty wife for over 30 years. Mrs. Ibipo Alapini revealed her love story when their son wedded few years ago. “Well, we lived in the same area. We were both campus boy and girl. We met in campus area of Lagos. His house is not too far from my house and his friend who was our best man had a girlfriend around my House. That one was actually toasting me for another friend of his and he came along. It started like a joke,” she said. They are blessed with successful sons who are doing well in their chosen careers.
OTUNBA OYEWOLE FASAWE AND AYINBA YEMISI
OBJ’s strong ally, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe and his wife, Ayimba Yemisi Fasawe, have been married for over 3 decades. Ayimba Yemisi Fasawe who is a top fabric merchant on Lagos Island recently revealed her love story. “ I met my husband many years ago when I was still a banker with one of Nigeria’s top banks. Though, I juggled business with banking and when he asked me out then, I never considered it because of the age difference. He proved that he loved me when he stormed our house when he heard I was relocating to London then. My mother, who is a prominent Ijebu woman, asked if I know him and I said yes and the rest is history”, she explained.
BABATUNDE FASHOLA AND WIFE, BIMBOLA
Former Governor of Lagos State who is now the present Minister of Power and Work and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his ever-smiling wife are definitely one of the celebrity couples whose love story is very revelling.
Mrs. Bimbola Fashola revealed her love story during her 50th birthday many years ago that she met her husband at age 27. Hear her‘ I met my husband at my best friend’s engagement then while I was serving and making sure everyone was okay and well taken care of, attending to people and all that. And then his father saw me and said: “I have a son and I will like you to meet my son”. So, I said: “No problem, Sir”. He said: “Good. My son will soon come in. When he came, we introduced ourselves. We met. We exchanged our numbers and that was it. We took it off from there. He was cool, he looked cool-headed. He was friendly. He had no airs about him. He was a simple fellow. He was already working then as a lawyer. He was at Sofunde, Belgore & Co. He clicked with my sisters too. He was always going to parties with them. He was bubbling with them. I didn’t use to go to parties with them. Since my sisters accepted him, I had no choice but to accept him,” she said.
OLU OF ITORI AND OLORI BARAKAT AKAMO
When you talk about marriage that has gone through ups and downs, Olori Akamo’s Marriage has stood the test of time. Despite this, their love is so strong that and they never like to leave each other’s sight. How did Oba Abdul Fatai Akorede meet his wife, Barakat? Olori who granted an interview with City People, some time ago revealed that she met Kabiyesi over 23 years ago on the Island. Then, Kabiyesi was a young man working with a travel agency called Upright Travel and Olori, was there to buy a ticket. He made advances at Olori, who felt that was how he used to ask many women out. She was reluctant for a couple of months before she gave in and the rest is history.
OTUNBA SUBOMI BALOGUN AND WIFE, ABIMBOLA
FCMB Chairman, Otunba Subomi Balogun and his wife had been married for over 50 years. He granted an interview with City People a few years ago where he spoke about how he met his wife, Bimbola. His words:“ I met my wife on the Island precisely in Ikoyi area. I was staying around Glover and I saw this beautiful young lady coming with her friends. I told my friends that I like this girl, but they felt she was too young for me. I told them I will bring her to my taste. I told her she was going to become Olori and the rest is history now“ he explained.
SKYMIT BOSS, TAYO AND TUTU AYENI
According to Tayo Ayeni’s wife, she explained that she met her husband when she was 17 years old. “I met him when I was 17 years old and I didn’t tell my mum because I was too young to say such a thing, but I told my uncle. I was also very afraid because as at that time, I was young and he had a reputation of being a ladies’ man. He first took me as his friend and he didn’t rush me“, said Tutu Ayeni.
SIR OLU OKE- OWO AND WIFE ADEJOKE
You can hardly get to read about the love story of Gibrata’s boss, Sir Olu Okeowo and that of his wife, Joke but City People once had an interview with Mrs Joke Okeowo where she gave a snippet about her marriage and love story on her 50th birthday. According to Adejoke, she explained that she met her husband through an elder sister of hers many years ago when her husband had nothing and they weathered the storm together. Her husband is one of the big giants in Construction Company and their marriage is blessed with sons.
SENATOR LANRE TEJUOSO AND MOJI
Senator Lanre Tejuoso and his wife, Moji Okoya Tejuoso, have been married for over 30 years. Recently, Moji Okoya granted an interview with City People where she spoke about her love story. She explained that she met her husband as a young medical doctor many years ago. “Because our family are no stranger to each other, we started off as friends before we got married many years later“, she explained.
REAL ESTATE GURU, ALHAJI ANIMASHAUN AND WIFE, ERELU FOLASADE
They are one of Lagos celebrity couples who are doing so well for themselves. You can’t help but appreciate them when you see them at events. We are taking about Erelu Folasade Animashaun, the brain behind that Luxury kitchenwares store in Lagos. Her husband, Alhaji Animashaun is one of the best friends of Olu-Itori, Oba Abdul Fatai Akamo. How did they meet? According to Erelu Folasade, a few months ago, she explained that she met her husband when she was a branch manager at one of the Micro-Finance Banks in Lagos. “I met my husband in the course of my job. We started up as friends before he asked me out. I am a very disciplined person so I turned it down. It took him many months to convince me before I said yes and the rest is history. We have been married for years.
OTUNBA WALE SARANDA AND TEMITOPE ASABI
Otunba Wale Saranda is one of Ogun popular celebrity and his wife Asabi Temitope, need little or no introduction on Ogun Social scene. This celebrity couple who love each other till date are one of the couples whose love for each other never dimmed. According to Asabi Saranda, many months ago on her love story, she revealed that she met her husband 27 years ago when she went to visit her sister.“ When I got to my sister’s house that day, I met a young guy in the living room chatting with my sister’s husband. After a while, my sister’s husband came to me and said someone wants to meet me. We started dating officially in 1993“. Their marriage is blessed with successful kids
K1 AND TITI
Do you believe in a popular saying of “Quesera Sera“, whatever would be would be? That is the case of the love story between K1 and his beautiful wife, Titi Marshal. Let’s tell you how they met. K1 first met Titi Marshal at a popular Lagos big wedding many years ago through Titi’s friend, Nike. Then Titi was much single and she had not given birth to her first child. Mrs Titi Mashal didn’t accept the proposal until their paths crossed again when K1 had his 55th birthday… He asked her out again and the rest is history. Titi and K1 have been able to stay strong while the love grows each day.
OTUNBA BABATUNDE AND SADE ADESOYE
Lagos Diamond Merchant, Otunba Folasade Adesoye and her Ijebu billionaire husband. Otunba Babatunde Adesoye’s love story dates over 40 years ago when they were both teenagers in Ijebu-Ode.
In an exclusive interview granted by the Awujale’s Chief, Otunba Babatunde Adesoye, the Gbaderogun of Ijebu land explained that he fell in love with Sade when they were both in Form 3.
According to him, “ My house was 3 houses away from Sade’s house and we were staying on the same street. She was in Ijebu Igbo Grammar school, while I was in Isoyin Grammar school. I asked her out and it took her time to say yes because her mother was a disciplinarian. We both dated till we left secondary school. We lost contact as she went abroad to school. She got married while I also got married. Our paths crossed again, while I was single again as she was also single and we had a very glamorous court wedding and the rest is history. He revealed.
OTUNBA WALE SAUBANA AND WIFE, BOLANLE
Otunba Wale Sauba is one of the popular Lagos socialites. He is one of those who is always praised to high heaven by many top Nigerian musicians. He plays big in oil and gas and his wife is a successful businesswoman. In an interview Bolanle granted City People few months ago, she explained that she met her husband in the United States of America when she was there to study. “We met in United States and I had my reservation because I am more like an introvert while he is extrovert. I saw the good side of him in no time and I said yes. We have been married for over 20 years.
PAPER MERCHANT LAIDE FOWOSERE AND WIFE, O BABY
Popular Ijebu millionaire, Otunba Laide Fowosere and his pretty wife are surely one of the hot couples for this valentine. They always walk hand-in-hand to any party. How did Laide meet O‘baby? Accroding to his wife Obaby, she explained that she met her husband on an aircraft and the first statement Laide Fowosere made was “what a beautiful woman and the rest is history now“. They have been married for over 8 years and still counting.
PRINCE KAYODE AND TOYIN KOLADE
Top Lagos freight Forwarder Princess Toyin Kolade and her handsome hubby, Prince Kayode Kolade, who is one of the Ogun’s top Princes need little or no introduction on Lagos social scene. This celebrity couple hardly grant interviews about their private lives but guess what, City People had an exclusive gist on how Prince Kayode Kolade and Princess Toyin Kolade’s path crossed in Lagos. Yes, it was in course of their jobs and it took the humble woman many years before she could give her consent to the marriage.
PRINCE KAYODE AND DURO OSHINUSI
Lagos socialite, Sir K Oshinusi and Princess Duro Oshinusi’s Love story is an amazing story. This is because, Sir Kayode Oshinusi, the In-Law of General Abubakar Abdul Salam, first met Princess Duro Oshinusi when she was a young babe at a Lagos party. She turned down his love advances as she felt Sir K is a Muslim and her parents would frown against her move to marry a Muslim, but as God will have it, she lost her husband and moved to London with her kids. She was in Nigeria for a short visit when her friend invited her to a social gathering and she met Sir K again. It was love at first sight when they rekindled their love and they have been married for over 10 years and still waxing strong.
CHIEF SUNNY AND SUSAN HART KUKU
Not many believed that Ijebu High Chief Sunny Kuku and his ex-beauty Queen wife, Susan Hart, have been married for over 11 years not until when City People broke the news many years ago. According to the pretty mother of one “We have been married for some years of years now and I am still enjoying it like yesterday and he makes me really happy. I have a son for him who is over 10 years old, our love story is a very unique one but we don’t intend to reveal it yet.
