•Says, in our days, there was peace, better security
By Kehinde Aderemi
Many of his contemporaries are in the grave, while some others or battling with one illness or another. But in spite of all the challenges he has faced in life, Chief Abraham Adewose Olorunr’okan Omoroke is still healthy and agile at the grand old age of 90.
Recently, the community leader from Iwaro-Oka Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, rolled out the drums as he joined the nonagenarian’s club.
At the event, Pa Omoroke, a community leader, shared a bit of his life’s experience with Saturday Sun, unequivocally asserting that civilisation was the cause of cultural degeneration in Nigeria and Yoruba land.
You celebrated your 90th birthday anniversary recently with pomp and ceremony. Are you fulfilled at 90?
To the glory of almighty God, I am fulfilled to be 90. I never knew I would live up to that because I grew up under very challenging situations. That is why I celebrated the milestone by going to church to celebrate the special thanksgiving service that was held at St Clara Catholic Church, Iwaro Oka Akoko. As far as I am concerned, it is the grace of God that has kept me alive till this present moment and I thank God for giving me the grace.
Why did you say you didn’t know you would live up to 90?
Well, I said it because while growing up, I was faced with so many challenges that left me hopeless.
For instance, I lost my parents at age 14. My mother died after a brief illness when I was 14 years old, and three months later, I lost my father. So it was very challenging and I began the struggle for survival at a very young age. That was the beginning of my struggle.
As the eldest son, I started living with my uncle, Mr Joseph Ogodo. And since my uncle couldn’t send me to school, I decided to train as a carpenter. I graduated in carpentry and started life as a family man.
How easy was it to cope with the challenges of life without going to school?
I was able to cope because I was very inquisitive. Though I didn’t go to school, I was able to learn the basic English language through the help of some of my friends that had the opportunity to go to school. One of them was Jerome Orole, who later retired as the Principal of St Patrick College, Iwaro Oka, Akoko.
Whenever my friends like Orole, Dare (who later became my family doctor), and Chief Arogbofa, a family friend came back from school, after I returned home from my carpentry training, I would go to them and requested to be taught the lessons they were taught in school. That was how I learned the basic English language and today, I can write a little and I understand English language.
What are the differences between your growing-up days and now?
Our days were the golden era. We lived peacefully and we were a bit comfortable. In those days, there was no insecurity. Farmers could go to their farms without fear or trepidation, unlike today where you hardly go to farm because of the fear of being kidnapped or killed by the bandits. In our days, there was nothing like that.
We went to farm, did our farming with our families because even as a carpenter, I also did farming in order to send my children to school and put food on our table. In those days, respect to the elders was total. No pretence. The way we respected our elders is not the same as what is happening now. You see a young man greeting an elder without respect. In those days, you don’t look straight into the eyes of elders; it is a sign of disrespect.
But today, what do you see? The young generation will look at you straight in the eyes and confront you. The culture degeneration came gradually through civilisation and western education, and it degenerated into bad habits that killed the culture.
I think civilisation killed our culture. Education, rather than becoming a blessing, turned out to be a curse in some instances.
I am not against good education. Even though I didn’t go to school, I tried as much as I could to send all my children to school. All of them are graduates today. I have an engineer, I have a pastor and I have an architect among them.
That tells you how much I cherish good education and how much God has blessed me with good children. But it is very sad that western education has brought us back to the stage where we lost our culture and values, including respect to the elders, honesty and fear of God. Today, it is even worse with the introduction of the social media.
The social media has even created another generation of stubborn children and they are losing the value of integrity, hard work, honesty and respect for elders.
Some children of nowadays don’t take to corrections and they love money more than anything. For instance, a large percentage of children of today’s generation don’t fear God, that is why they are involved in Yahoo Yahoo and rituals and they are very desperate and are always in a hurry to get money.
What factors do you think are responsible for the cultural degeneration and societal ills?
Civilisation and bad parenting, although our government at all levels have also failed in securing the future of this generation of our children. The rate of unemployment in the country is alarming and when they have nothing to do to survive, they become instruments of the devil. That is the reason crime like kidnapping, ritual killings and Yahoo Yahoo are on the increase .
What do you think the government could do to salvage the situation?
There is need for the leaders at all levels of government to restore our lost value and lead by good example. Values such as honesty, hard work, fear of God and respect for the elders are key for progress and development of every society.
While growing up, what sport did you love doing?
In my days, I love football. I was a centre back. I got the nickname Honourable from my various feats as a footballer. That is the popular nickname I bear till date.
Honourable simply means a man of honour. Even one of my football mates, I can’t remember his name now, later played for the national team.
At 90, what day do you consider to be your memorable day and your saddest day?
My saddest day was the day I lost my immediate younger brother. He was sick for just few days and he died. His death took a toll on me and I was bereaved for the rest of the week because the relationship between us was very deep and cordial.
The day I celebrated my 90th birthday anniversary was my most memorable day in life because it was not my making. God’s grace has kept me alive to celebrate this special day.
You are married to two wives. Why is that?
In our days, polygamy was the norm. It was the culture in our days. As a farmer, I needed more hands to help me in the farm. Our forefathers married more than one wife because they needed more hands in their farms. I toed the same path and married two wives. My first wife is Roseline and my second wife is Elizabeth Omoroke. I am lucky the two of them have been inseparable. They are the mothers of my children.
In Yoruba land, it is an abomination to count your children, however, God has blessed me with lovely children, male and female, and they are all doing well in their respective endeavours. They are Adegboyega, Sunday, Rev Emmanuel, Adekunle, Olushola, Olorunwa, Rita and Motunrayo Omoroke, among others.
Is there any of your children that followed your example of polygamy?
None of them is married to two wives. That culture is phasing out with civilisation.
What is your best food?
Pounded yam with egusi soup.
What are the lessons you’re handing over to your children?
I instil in all my children good character like honesty and hard work. I am happy today that God has blessed me with good health in old age, and with good children. I am a reliable and responsible husband to my wives and to my children. I am a disciplinarian. While growing up, I didn’t spare the rod for the children when necessary.
Training my children under the same roof was challenging, but I succeeded because I shared the same vision with my wives. The bond is real. There was no discrimination. We see each and every member of the family as one, united big family.
In my home, you hardly identify the children of the first from that of the younger wife. We trained them together with one voice and that has really helped the bonding in the family.
What advice would you give the young generation of today?
Life is not always a bed of roses. It is good to be good. I urge the generation of today to be patient in whatever they do in life. Patience is key. There is nothing so precious in life than good health and once you are healthy, be patient, work hard and believe in God as the giver of life. Then, every other thing will surely be given to you as the Bible says.
How do you relax?
I relax by enjoying my bonding with my grandchildren. I eat well, and stay indoors.
Looking back at your life, would you say you are fulfilled?
Yes. I am fulfilled that God has blessed me with good children and I am grateful to God for giving me good health that has made it possible for me to celebrate my 90th birthday ceremony.