In my next life, I wish to come back as a white man — Ex-naval worker, 99

 

A former technician at the Nigerian Navy, 99-year-old Albert Adesanwo, tells ARUKAINO UMUKORO the story of his life

When and where were you born?

I was born on September 11, 1916 in Igede Alaro, Ijebu North-East, Ogun State. I grew up in Igede Alaro before I later moved to Lagos in later years. I am the second of my father’s eight children. My father was a hunter, his nickname was Akeransobe. Even up till now, if you go to Ijebu Ode or Ijebu North and ask of Akeransobe, people would still remember who he was. Some persons also call me by that alias. He married three wives. I went through some difficulty while growing up, I was suffering from what they called abiku in those days, a label given to children who died early a after birth. But I stayed. Before then, some people advised my father to marry another wife. Because of that, they gave me a name, Bulejo, which I did not like. I fought with a lot of people and ensured that the name did not appear in any of my documents.

How did you know your birth date?

That was what was written on my baptismal card. I was baptised at St. Michael Catholic Church, Igede Alaro, Ogun State. I don’t have the document again because I lost all my credentials in a fire accident in my house shortly after I retired.

What schools did you attend?

I went to St. Michael Catholic Primary School, Igede Alaro, Ogun State for my primary school education between 1921 and 1927. Remember my father had three wives. One of them convinced him not to send me to secondary school.  So, I learnt a trade instead. When I relocated to Lagos, I worked as a house help and hawked bread for some time before one of my brothers then advised me to learn a trade, so I learnt barbing for six months. I earned money with it for about a year.

Where did you work?

I worked in the Nigerian Navy Dockyard, Victoria Island building, beside the Nigerian Television Authority, for 22 years until I retired as a machinist/technician in 1984. Then, they asked that they wanted to retain our services (I and some other workers) for a few more years, because of the good job performance while in service. They persuaded us to come back. So I later worked with them for five more years on a contract basis before I fully retired.

Did you work elsewhere before joining the Nigerian Navy as a technician?

I worked with a shipping line (Ededemster) in Lagos for about 20 years. My work took me around Nigeria by ship. I travelled to countries like Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, France, Senegal and South Africa. In fact, I went to South Africa several times, it was almost like a backyard for me. In some places like the United States and United Kingdom, when we made a stopover, they did not allow us to tour the cities.

You fended for yourself hawking bread for a while. What would you say about the move by the Lagos State government to ban hawking?

Our fingers are not equal. Not everyone is privileged like the rich people. What the state government can do for those hawking on the streets and highways is to loan them some money to start-up a trade or build shops for them where they can ply their trade without harassment. But government would not do that because the hawkers are many. And by stopping them, the government would be indirectly forcing them to go into criminal activities to earn a living.

What do you recollect about Nigeria before Independence in 1960?

Nigeria before Independence was much better than what we are witnessing now. Because then, the economy was better, people had good food to eat without spending too much. One shilling then could buy enough food. I think the British people acted better than Nigerians who took over the country after independence. The British politicians never promised us what they could not do, and whenever they made promises, they went out of their way to ensure they fulfilled it. Also, when one was employed in a company, they treated the workers better. I remember working with a Briton who was my boss. We got the same good treatment as the chief engineers who were way ahead of us technicians. There was no discrimination.

Do you wish Nigeria did not gain her independence as early as 1960?

I wished the British ruled Nigeria for longer, who knows; maybe things would have been better than they are now. I remember a few days before independence, one of my bosses then, a Briton called Mr. Key, said to us, “Now that you (Nigerians) would soon gain your Independence, what do you think you can do?” Our reply to him was that he should allow us gain the independence first.

I liked it when we first got independence, but after independence on October 1, 1960, and the things we began to see from our leaders, I thought otherwise. There was dishonesty and nepotism. If I were to come back to this world, I wished to come back as a white man, not as a black and Nigerian. I will give you some examples. Shortly after my retirement in 1984, all my documents and properties got burnt in a fire incident in my house. The fire fighters were called in but they could not put out the fire because they did not have enough equipment. I came out of my house naked. Then, I had served the nation for so many years and did a lot of things for the country before I retired. But, in the last five or six years, we have not been paid our pensions and entitlements. Ever since, I have been struggling to survive.

When last were you paid your pension?

I have not received my pension since 2010. I used to go to Apapa, Marina and Victoria Island to collect my pension back then. Many pensioners have died while trying to collect their pensions. The Federal Government pays my pension.

How much is your pension?

Five thousand naira per month. One of my grandsons used to give me N5,000 every month until he encountered some financial difficulty. Now, whenever I try to make efforts to collect my pension, some people advise me to go to Abuja to make a complaint. But I don’t even have money to transport myself from her to another place in the state, not to talk of travelling to Abuja.

How many children do you have?

I had nine children, but only one is still alive. In those days, when a child did not survive, they were labelled abikus. Things are different now and health care is better.

When did you get married?

I got married 68 years ago. I met my wife after my first marriage did not work. I later remarried. I was attracted to my wife because of her good character and qualities. We had our church wedding 26 years ago. She died in June this year at the age of 89. I miss her so much. She was a wonderful woman.

What is your advice to married couples?

Like my wife used to say, “We were born in a time when if something was broken, you fixed it, not throw it away.” But nowadays, young people want to give up on their love and marriage simply because of little problems and differences. Also, married couples should not allow outsiders to settle their quarrel. They should sort out their differences between themselves and work on improving their marriages.

What kind of food and drink do you like?

I like eba, pounded yam, amala, with vegetable soup and ewedu. I like drinking beer and stout.

You will clock 100 in September, and you still look agile. What would you attribute to your long life and good health?

It is the grace of God. I would not say that I do a particular thing to keep healthy. But I take boiled natural herbs regularly, they are medicinal. I don’t smoke.

How would you like to celebrate your 100th birthday?

I pray for my child and grandchildren to have money to celebrate it for me. But whatever they do, I will appreciate it. I feel for them also. It is not easy.

What are you most fulfilled about in life?

I am happy for the life I have been able to live.

Do you have any regrets?

No, I don’t regret anything. But I feel sad that my other children did not survive.