Opinion
By Valentine Obienyem
THIS morning, I was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, with Prof. Patrick Obi before proceeding to St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Ekwulobia, where I joined Mr. Fidel Okafor in representing Mr. Peter Obi at a priestly ordination.
In an earlier phone call with Mr. Obi, who is in Abuja, I had mentioned Mr. Isaac Fayose, the younger brother of the stormy petrel we know, to him, particularly regarding the trending narratives surrounding him. Mr. Obi told me that he had already spoken with him and would meet him later in the day at his residence. He is expected in Anambra, his base, as he likes marking his birthdays, which comes up tomorrow, in the state, however symbolic that may be.
While the announcements were being made in the church at Ekwulobia, I switched on my phone and saw a message that instantly changed my plans. My last child, whom we fondly call BOTH – the Baby of the House – had just returned from school for the holidays but was running a high fever. My younger brother, who had brought her home, did not even stop at the house; he drove her straight to Regina Caeli Hospital, where my wife who was at ordination mass at St. Patrick joined them.
At that moment, nothing else mattered.
Faith or no faith; Peter Obi or no Peter Obi; Cardinal or no Cardinal; new priest or no new priests – I quietly left the church and headed straight to the hospital. There are moments in life when every other responsibility yields to family. This was one of them.
Thankfully, after receiving medical attention, she became stable.
The next engagement on my schedule was to represent His Excellency at the award ceremony held in honour of Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna and others. In the anxiety over my daughter’s condition, that engagement completely was now off my mind. Dr. Celestine Oguegbu (Ostende), whose principal was also among the award recipients, kept calling to find out when I would arrive. The moment I explained that my daughter had suddenly taken ill, he immediately said, “Nwoke m, there is no need to come again. Please take care of your IV.” Those simple words reflected understanding, compassion, and a proper appreciation of what truly comes first.
Later, while thinking about what she could eat, my wife suggested getting “fio fio” from the woman popularly known as Nwanyi Nnewi at Eke Awka, near the centre of gossip – where women plait their hair. I was not aware that our daughter had any particular fondness for “fio fio”; it was simply my wife’s ingenious way of getting me to buy one of her own favourite delicacies.
As I prepared to leave, I teased her about it. She laughed and then cautioned me:
“I don’t like you going to that crowded market, in the midst of where women plait hair, to buy food for me. One day, someone as mischievous as you or your friend Apgalaigbo will snap you while you are haggling over the price with the “fio fio” seller and post it on social media.”
My response was almost instinctive.
“Then let them take the picture. Let them photograph me buying food, walking through the market, and experiencing the everyday life of ordinary Nigerians. Better still, if they don’t take the picture, I might take it myself and post it.”
One of the greatest freedoms in life is the freedom to live naturally, without inhibition or the burden of unnecessary self-consciousness. Public life should never imprison a person or detach them from the ordinary experiences that make us human.
By embracing an ordinary life, we step into the grand, timeless stream of human continuity, finding joy in being a small, healthy part of a massive whole rather than trying to stand above it. Stepping down from a high position is not a defeat; it is the moment a person finally graduates into wisdom and learns how to truly live.
That is why I enjoy taking a keke, riding on an okada when necessary, strolling through markets, and interacting freely with people, intoxicating one another with lively teases. Those experiences keep one grounded. They remind us that leadership, influence, or public recognition should never become a barrier between us and the realities of everyday life.
As I write this, I am at the award ceremony, having first shown my daughter a father’s surpassing love. Public engagements are important, but they can wait. Family cannot.
A.I
July 19, 2026
Tags: Mr. Isaac Fayose Prof. Patrick Obi Valentine Obienyem