I Knew What Suffering Was - Kwara State Deputy Chief of Staff

Mrs Felicia Ebun Owolabi Mrs Felicia Ebun Owolabi is the Deputy Chief Of Satff to the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki. In this interview with BAYO ALADE, she speaks on her background, job, home and what she thinks fashion is, among others.

As a career woman, how easy has it been executing your job and running the home efficiently?
I am Christian and I believe that with God’s assistance, it is possible to succeed. He has been helping me. When you talk of coping with the job and the home front, you need good health and it is only God who can guarantee that. I have the cooperation of my family members, including my mother. my mother has been staying with me all these years because I lost my father at a tender age. In the office, I work freely with everybody. Though it is not that easy, but God has been my help.

How did you meet your spouse?
I schooled in my village and in those days, one of the things we were taught was to stay within the fold, but some of us went outside the fold, maybe in the course of interacting with other colleagues. but I married from my village; those were in the days of student unionism. Along the line, we were blessed with children and God has been there for us.

How does your typical day look like?
As at now, it depends on the government’s programmes and official responsibilities. I wake up by 6:00 a.m, have family devotion and then some physical excercises. I later take my breakfast and get ready for office. I may be in the office till 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m., depending on my responsibilities for the day. When I close, I go home to meet my children. When I am free, I go to church, I am a chorister. I interact with other members of the choir, sing and dance. I compose songs and socialise when my official responsibilities permit.

And your weekends?
It also depends on the state government programmes. On Saturdays, if there are no government activities, there may be one wedding here or there. If not, I take a rest. In the evening, I go to church for singing practice and when I’m back, I relax with my children before going to bed. On Sundays, I go to church. I lost my brother last year and the widow is there with the children. It is only at weekends that we have time to be together.They either come to my place or I go to visit them.

Do you consider yourself a fashion freak?
Fashion? When you talk of fashion, it has different meanings. Some people dress in an awkward or indecent manner and call this fashion. I don’t believe in such things. I believe a woman’s beauty is in her and there are some assets given to us by God that should not be displayed anyhow. I believe in looking good and sweet.

So, what do you wear?
I’m always in native attire; I don’t go English way. I wear skirt and blouse sewn with our fabrics, Kaftan and iro and buba. I don’t use perfume. I use lip gloss not lipstick.

How do you keep fit?
I keep fit by doing some exercises with some gym equipment in my house. In the past, I used to play basketball; I still bounce the ball around within my premises with my little grandson and sometimes, if he is busy with his school work, I do it alone.

Your eating habit?
I eat when I am hungry, but according to my trainer, you have to eat to keep your system running so that your body does not store that which will not do the body good. I take cereal, fruits, bean cake, oranges, pawpaw and in the evening when I get home, I eat anything prepared for me, probably amala or any other thing which is light and will digest before I go to bed.

How was your growing up like?
I grew up with my mother and grand- mother. My father was here in Ilorin while my mother was in the village. My mother was about nine years in her husband’s house before she had me. She also happened to be the first child of her parents. So, I was the first grandchild that was long awaited. I was the apple of everybody’s eyes, but that did not stop them from giving me the education that I needed –the training, discipline and reference for God and His words. I enjoyed my mother’s and everyone’s affection. I saw my father, who was also a loving man, only during the holidays. I had my primary school education in the village, left the village for the boarding house at Offa. During the holidays, I used to visit my grandmother when my mother had moved to Ilorin.

What are those things you saw in your parents that you have imparted in your children?
Two of my children are married, so I am a grandmother. my mother placed my father where a woman should place her husband and accorded him respect. My parents have the fear of God and the consciousness that anything you do on earth would be answered for hereafter. That was imbibed in us since our childhood days. so, in anything I do, I always remember that somebody is watching. These, I saw in my mother, my father and my grandmother and these I have also imparted in my children.

One other thing is trying to feel what others are passing through. I am not from a rich home, so I know what suffering is. when I see anyone in that position, I put myself in their place. I love sincerity and the fear of God. I hate lies. I don’t like being told lies. The truth may be bitter, but I want to swallow it bitter, that is me.