Celebrities
From Jollof to Manifesto: Husband Turns Wife’s 60th Into APC Rally
By Joseph Sunday
From jollof to manifesto, veteran journalist Chief Kayode Odunaro finally solved the age-old marital problem of how to thank a long-suffering wife: At a colourful 60th birthday party for his wife, Mrs. Susan Odunaro, in Abeokuta on Sunday, he turned her thanksgiving service into an APC rally for his boss.
His solution: use her 60th birthday to campaign for his boss.
Mrs. Susan Odunaro had clocked 60. Her son Timilehin, her birthday mate, had clocked 21. The order of service was holy and orderly – praise worship, hymn, Bible reading, citation, testimonies, exhortation, prayers. Then Chief Odunaro was called to the microphone to appreciate his wife for tolerating him as an “absentee husband.”
He appreciated her for exactly 45 seconds before finding his true calling.
Without missing a beat, the celebrant’s husband switched from romance to politics, declaring that Senator Olamilekan Adeola, aka Yayi, is on a mission to right 50 years of injustice in Ogun State. He told stunned guests, who were still holding their hymn books, that this is a project that started in 2012 and they should all consider Yayi as the next governor.
As Chief of Staff to the Senator, Odunaro was not going to be accused of hiding his CV.
He then raised his voice and launched the chorus: “Yayi Ni joo, Yayi Ni Jare!” – which, after two plates of rice and free drinks, the guests dutifully adopted as their new anthem.
Odunaro prophesied a landslide victory in 2027, announced that Yayi is God’s chosen candidate for Ogun State, and advised the congregation to guard their PVCs like their offering baskets, lest dubious politicians steal them. He assured them that from performance as Senator to his ITESIWAJU 9-Pillars agenda, Yayi remains the best choice “from the coming year” – even though the election is still in 2027.
After the church service, the train moved to the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Hall, Magbon, Abeokuta, where the real evangelism began. Old and new generation music rented the air, sumptuous meals circulated, and politics was served as dessert.
Among those who witnessed the miraculous conversion of a birthday to a campaign ground were Pastor Sam Adeniran, RCCG Assistant Pastor for CSR, Pastor Olufunbi Kuye, Prof. Joyce Ogwezi, Prof. Olulana of FUNAAB, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose of BON, Hon. Olufemi Ogunbanwo, Hon. Bukky Braimoh, Hon. Tunde Tella and others.
At the end, Mrs. Odunaro was 60, well celebrated, and now fully aware that in her house, even birthdays are ITESIWAJU.
