‘Love’, is a beautiful thing like the popular saying goes. And that is one of the reasons a day is usually set aside for the celebration of Love across the globe. So, come this week Wednesday,
14th of February, 2018, many Nigerians will join their counterparts world-wide to celebrate the 4-letter word in commemoration of the day of affection.
As usual, many Nigerians look up to the day to celebrate their loved ones in a grand style. You can’t help but appreciate many Nigerian celebrity couples who have stayed in their marriage for decades in this season of love. Do you know that such couples also have amazing love stories to tell? Their love stories are not the regular or common love ones you hear often. City People’s Assistant Society Editor, ABIOLA ORISILE, carefully compiled the love stories of the amazing celebrity couples, who are not loud about how they met, or wooed their spouses many years ago. Please read on and appreciate the celebrity couples who have stayed in their marriage despite the ups and downs.
VP PROF. OSINBAJO AND WIFE, DOLAPO
The number 2 citizen in Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, haven’t spoken about their love story in public, but many people who know the couple have spoken about it. One of them is Professor Osinbajo’s Brother, Akin and Dolapo’s father, Sir Tayo Soyode. It was revealed that Dolapo and her husband, Yemi first met when they were much younger. There was a time we were all worshipping in the same church in Ikenne,” Akin started the touching story of how Dolapo and Yemi met.
According to Akin “Papa Awolowo would sit in front row and my parents would sit in the next row behind him. And one day, we were all coming; you know during the Christmas, we had thanksgiving. We, the children, when it was time for thanksgiving, we were all asked to come out for thanksgiving. So, when we were returning to our pew, because we were four boys, all dressed in suits, and as teenagers we were all dancing, looking 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 Hanna Dideolu Awolowo said that it could not happen. But Papa said in Israel, cousins do marry. That was about 15 years before they (Yemi and Dolapo) actually married.
By the time they were getting married, Papa had passed on. When the two of them came to say they wanted to marry later and the families said they could not marry because they are blood relations, Mama said Papa had said they should not stop them from marrying, that Papa had said it while he was alive that they could marry. When City People had an interview with Dolapo Oshibajo’s father, Elder Soyode, he added that Dolapo met her husband many years ago in University of Ife“.
JUSTICE OGUNTADE AND WIFE
Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Britain, Rtd Justice Olusola Oguntade and his beautiful wife, Modupe’s love story is an intriguing one. The celebrity couple might have been off the social scene, owing to the new office of the husband, but all the same, they have an amazing love story. Their marriage is not only a prayer point for many young celebrity couples, they are also role models and they have mentored many couples on how to have a successful marriage.
What is their love story? Rtd Justice Oguntade at Mrs. Modupe Oguntade Uncle‘s 80th birthday recently spoke on their love story. He first met the woman of his dreams 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. Coincidentally 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“. Justcie Oguntade, who retired at the supreme court, said.
RASAKI OKOYA
AND SADE
Can you see Aare of Lagos with his ever dazzling wife, Sade, and not look at them again? The answer is No. They are one celebrity couple whose marriage has lasted for 2 decades and still counting. Do you know how Aare of Lagos and Dr Sade Okoya met? It was revealed by Dr Sade Okoya during her 40th birthday interview. “I met my husband 20years ago in Lagos. I remember that he told me he was going to marry me on the first day we met. He said: “I have met my wife“. Of course, it took me a while to say I do and the rest is history.
GOV. AMBODE AND WIFE
Perhaps, the only magazine that the Lagos first lady, Mrs Bolanle Akinwunmi Ambode, has ever granted an interview on her love story is City People. This was before her husband; Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, became the Governor of Lagos State. According to the cool and dazzling wife of Lagos state Governor, who had been married to her husband for over 27years, she met her husband about 24years ago, while he was working at Badagry Local Government Council as an accountant and was living with his elder brother at Somolu Area in Lagos. She added that she was a student of the Lagos State University then reading Physics. Their marriage is blessed with twins a boy and a girl.
GOV. TAMBUWAL AND 2ND WIFE, MAIRO
The Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal’s 2nd wife, Mairo, got married last year and their love story is also unique. Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal first met his wife when he taught at the 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 enjoying every bit of the marriage.
GOVERNOR AMOSUN AND WIFE
The best way to describe Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s, wife, Olufunsho, is calm as a dove. The amiable wife of Governor Amosun has been in wedlock for over 2 decades and still counting. You can’t help but admire the couple 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“
GOV. AREGBESOLA RAUF AND WIFE, SHERIFAT
Have you ever seen Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and His wife and wondered how they met? Governor Aregbesola is a blunt toaster and this was disclosed in his wife Sherifat Aregbesola interview when she reveled how her husband wooed her many years ago. “I met my husband as a youth copper in Kaduna, 30years 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 next 3 month. He then came back and said NITEL had 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 & WIFE, JUSTICE SUZETE
River State Governor, Nyesome Wike and his wife, Justice Suzzette, have been married for over 19years and they recently shared their love story on their wedding anniversary. According to Justice Suzette on her love story ‘its funny how life sometimes takes us where we never planned or expected 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 realise 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 wanted to covet notebook and pleaded with my classmate to lend me the book after she had finished, promising to return it in two days. She refused. Another request with a 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 notebook 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 JUDITH
Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and his wife, Judith, have been in the marriage institution for many years and still waxing stronger. 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.” Judithe explained.
DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AND ERELU BISI
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, have been together for over 3decades. City People once had an interview with Erelu Bisi Fayemi and she revealed 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
Only a few people know the real love story of Oloori Aramide Elegushi and her husband of 13years, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi. Many people believed that they went to the same tertiary institution. Speaking with Oloori Aramide on her love story, she explained that she met her husband of 13years on Lagos Island many years ago. Her words: “I met my husband at my mother’s shop on Lagos Island.
He used to come around to see some of his friends on the island and he would see me in my mother’s shop reading novel. He asked around and got information about me and that was how we dated. We were both undergrads 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 the tempo of their love. The union is blessed with three children.
AIG TUNJI
ALAPINI AND IBIPO
You can’t help but admire Retired AIG, Tunji Alapini and his wife, Ibipo. The articulate retired Police Officer from Oke-Popo Campos area of Lagos, who is very popular on Lagos social scene, has been married to his pretty wife of over 30years. Mrs Ibipo Alapini revealed her love story when their son wedded a few years ago. “Well, we lived in the same area. We are both Campos’ boy and girl. We met in Campos area of Lagos.
His house was not too far away from mine and his friend, who was our bestman 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 FASAWE
AND AYINBA YEMISI
OBJ’s strong ally, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe and his wife, Ayinba Yemisi Fasawe, have been married for over 3 decades. Ayinba Yemisi Fasawe, who is a top fabric merchant on Lagos Island, recently revealed her love story to us. “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 my banking job and when he asked me out then, I never considered it because of the age difference between us. He proved that he loves 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 knew him and I said yes and the rest is history“, she explained.
BRF AND BIMBOLA
Former Governor of Lagos State and incumbent Minister of Power and Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and his ever-smiling wife are definitely one of the celebrity couples, whose love story is very revealing.
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
OLUWO OF IWO
AND WIFE
Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi and his Canadian wife, Channel, met many years in Canada. This was revealed by his beautiful Oloori when she had an interview with this magazine many months ago in Ile- Ife. “I met my husband in Canada many years ago and for us, it was love at first sight“. They have been married for a while, but they are recently blessed with a son name Oduduwa.
OLU ITORI
& OLOORI
BARAKAT AKAMO
When you talk about marriage that has gone through many ups and downs, Oloori Akamo’s marriage is a good example of a wedlock that has stood the test of time. Despite many challenges, their love is so strong that and they never liked to leave each other’s presence. How did Oba Abdul Fatai Akorede meet his wife? Barakat?
Oloori, who granted an interview a few weeks ago, revealed that she met Kabiyesi over 23years ago on Lagos Island. Then, kabiyesi was a young man, working with a travel agency called Upright Travel and Oloori was there to buy ticket. He made advances at Oloori, 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.
SIR KESSINGTON ADEBUTU KESINGTON
& TOPE
Ijebu Billionaire, Sir Adebutu Kesington and his beautiful wife, Temitope, have been married for more than 8years ago and their love is so strong. Even age difference is not a barrier for this celebrity couple. City People’s investigation reveals that the premier Lotto boss met his beautiful wife as a youth corper many years ago.
OTUNBA BALOGUN AND WIFE, ABIMBOLA
FCMB Chairman, Otunba Subomi Balogun and his wife had been married for over 50years. He granted City People an interview a few years ago where he spoke about how he met his wife, Bimbola. His words were: “ 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 Oloori and the rest is history now“ he explained.
TAYO AYENI
AND TUTU
According to Tayo Ayeni’s wife, she explained that she met her husband when she was 17years old. “I met him when I was 17years 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 for 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, JOKE
You can hardly get to know the love story of Gibrata boss, Sir Olu Okeowo, and that of his wife, Joke, But City People once had an interview with Mrs. Joke Okeowo, a few years ago, where she gave a snippet about her marriage and love story on her 50th birthday, a few years ago. According to Adejoke, who explained that she met her husband through an elder sister many years ago, said her husband had nothing then and they weathered the storm together. Her husband is one of the big giants in Construction Sub-Sector and their marriage is blessed with sons.
SENATOR
LANRE TEJUOSO
AND WIFE, MOJI
Senator Lanre Tejuoso and his wife, Moji Okoya Tejuoso, have been married for over 30years. Recently, Moji Okoya granted City People an interview where she spoke about her love story. She explained that she met her husband as a young medical doctor many years ago. “Because our families are no strangers to each other, we started off as friends before we got married many years later,“ she explained.
ALHAJI ANIMASHAUN AND WIFE, ERELU FOLASADE
They are one of the Lagos celebrity couple, 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 Kitchen ware 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 off as friends before he asked me out. I am a very disciplined person, so I turned his gesture 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 the Ogun popular celebrities and his wife, Asabi Temitope, need little or no introduction on Ogun social scene. These celebrity couple, who love each other till date are one of the couples whose love never waver. According to Asabi Saranda many months ago on her love story, she revealed that she met her husband 27 years ago when I went to visit my sister.“ When I got to my sister 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 wanted to meet me. We started dating officially in 1993“. Their marriage is blessed with successful kids.
K1 AND TITI
Do you believe in that popular saying “que cera cere“, what would be would be. That is 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 thorough Titi’s friend, Nike. Then Titi was single and she had not given birth to her first child. Titi Mashal didnt accept the proposal until their paths crossed again when K1 held his 55th birthday. He asked her out again and the rest is history. Don’t forget that Titi and K1 have been able to stay strong, while the love grows stronger each day.
OTUNBA ADESOYE
AND SADE
Lagos diamond merchant, Otunba Folasade Adesoye and an Ijebu billionaire, Otunba Babatunde Adesoye’s love story dates back to 4 decades when they were both teenagers in Ijebu-Ode. In an exclusive interview granted by Otunba Babtunde Adesoye, the Gbaderogun of Ijebuland 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 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 BOLANLE
Otunba Wale Sauba is one of the popular Lagos socialites. He is one of those who is always loudly praised by many top Nigerian musicians. He plays big in oil and gas and his wife is a successful business woman. In an interview, Bolanle granted City Peoples a few months ago, she explained that she met her husband in the United State of America (USA) when she was there to study. “We met in the US 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 20years.
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? According to his wife, O’Baby, she met her husband on board an aircraft and the first statement Laide Fowosere said was:“ What a beautiful woman and the rest is history now“. They have been married for over 8years and still counting.
PRINCE KAYODE KOLADE & TOYIN
Top Lagos freight forwarder, Princess Toyin Kolade and her handsome hubby, Prince Kayode Kolade, who is one of Ogun top Princes need little or no introduction on Lagos social scene. This celebrity couple hardly grants interview about their private life, but guess what, City People had an exclusive chat and Princess Toyin Kolade and she revealed how their paths crossed in Lagos, in the course of their jobs and it took the humble woman many years before she could give her consent to the relationship that led to marriage..
SIR K & DURO OSHINUSI
Lagos socialites, Sir K Oshinusi and Princess Duro Oshinusi’s love is like a game of what would be would be. 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 at any more on to marry him, but as God would 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 10years and still waxing stronger.
DR. SUNNY KUKU AND SUSAN
Not many believef that Ijebu High Chief, Sunny Kuku and his ex beauty Queen wife, Susan Hart, has been married for over 11years until City People broke the news many years ago. According to the pretty mother of one, “We have been married for a couple of years now and I am still enjoying it as if it started only 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.
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