The thrills and spills of last week’s grand celebration of the 55th birthday anniversary of Ibadan-based billionaire businessman and Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Engr Dotun Sanusi in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital believed to have been attended by about 10,000 guests, was not without some dramas from the celebrant’s wife, Joyce Sanusi.
Supportive of her husband’s success stories and enthusiastic of the guests that thronged the two venues (Olugbade Hall and Mini Stadium both at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort) where a group known as “Friends of Ilaji” comprising business associates of the celebrant at home and Diaspora, traditional rulers across Yorubaland; market men and women and a host of others had gathered to serenade well wishers of the hotelier, the wife nearly created a scene towards the end of the event.
This ugly development made some guests to wander and wonder in surprise on what Mrs Joyce Dotun Sanusi truly wants in her Man?
Dignitaries who observed the ‘unhealthy countenance’ of Madam Joyce to the well wishers and traditional rulers who had come to present a gift made of a well crafted and specially made silver-plaited statue of Oduduwa from Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to Dotun Sanusi, were taken aback by the manner with which the celebrant’s wife scorned ‘this gift’.
An Ibadan Mogaji who didn’t want his name in print because of the wonderful disposition of the celebrant to the traditional leaders and his philanthropic gestures to the high and the low in the society retorted thus, “Mrs Joyce though an Igbo woman and devout Christian ought to appreciate the fact that her husband is a Yorubaman with a Muslim background and yet embraces both religions and has built and donated churches and mosques to a number of communities and including in Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort.
“Mrs Joyce, by now, should understand that her hubby, Chief Dotun Sanusi is a pro-Yoruba race, cultural icon, believer in the traditional institution and indeed on his way to becoming future Olubadan as Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland today.
“Madam’s utterances and countenances against the well wishers leaves sour taste in the mouth. She should be reminded and told in clear terms that her husband is today a community leader and highly urbane and hospitable personality who welcomes everybody and shares his wealth to all manner of people without looking for anything in return.
“Engr Sir Dotun Sanusi though a convert welcomes Muslims and adherents of other religions with open arms and warm disposition to all. He believes in the efficacy of prayers and he serves God diligently as a man who has been so blessed by the Almighty.
“This man can eventually become a King in Ibadanland as Olubadan of Ibadanland and when that time comes, what role(s) does she wants to play? An onlooker in the palace or she would stay away from the throne because she is a Christian?
“A Redeemed Pastor where she worships is today the Soun of Ogbomosoland. The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye gave his nod to the aspiration of the new Soun and today he is a crowned traditional ruler.
“For Mrs Joyce to be insinuating that what the Ooni presented to her husband was demonic is absolutely uncalled for. She needs to embrace Yoruba culture and norms as a wife of a potential monarch in future.
“That silver-statue made of Oduduwa head has never been given to anybody as a gift by the Ooni. The gift rather than being seen as demonic is a special gift to the man the Ooni holds in high esteem because of his antecedents as a great supporter of Kabiyesi and pro-Yoruba culture.
“Saying that what played out during the celebration was not a life of a Christian, is a misguided statement especially if the lives of great men in the Bibile like King Solomon and others were anything to go by.
“She should allow her husband to be and understand the man’s true nature as a man of the people. Needless to add that since a special Christian session was held for the celebrant by Reverend Aramsiola who represented Pastor Enoch Adeboye at the colourful event, in addition to 55hours special praise and worship that heralded the birthday celebration, one begin to wonder what Mrs Joyce Sanusi want her husband to do for her again?, the Chief asked rhetorically.
