We may not recover from the class and glamour that the just concluded Ojude Oba (the King’s forecourt) signposts for a very long time. The event, a masterpiece of brilliant splash of colours, pomp, pageantry and the unique Ijebu splendour, will continue to evoke pleasurable sentiments for the Ijebus and the Yorubas at large.
From the vast pool of mention-worthy appearances emerged a man whose image borders on dimensions of fantasy- FAROOQ OREAGBA. The investment banker has triumphed as the unofficial poster-boy of what Ojude Oba represents. He has even been nicknamed “the King of Steeze”.
Earlier today, I watched a clip of his interview with Arise TV on Instablog9ja’s Instagram page. I listened beyond his very smooth diction and captivating erudition. If I may share some of the talking points and lessons in that interview with you.
Farooq Oreagba was diagnosed with bone cancer (multiple myeloma) in 2014. In August of the same year, he had to undergo bone marrow transplant to give him a chance of fighting the ailment and live. He did chemotherapy for 21 days a month over the next 8 years and had been in remission. Today, he is not only counselling cancer patients, but he is improving health-wise and even gaining healthy weight. That is a fighter. That is a warrior. He is not a survivor.
Lesson- There will always be battles in our lives. We will face situations that look like we are damned to lose but we must remember that if we are still int he game, then we have a chance to live. Your resolve to live must be stronger than the threat of death. That may be the only way to emerge the winner from a cruel fight.
Farooq was a top executive, a C-suite manager, at the Nigeria Stock Exchange. According to him, the moment he left, his (for the purpose of illustration) 5million friends dropped to 1million. He lost the hangers-on and those whom he probably thought were “friends for life”.
Lesson- Do not be deceived by friendship. Pay attention to what draws them to you and listen to their hearts when they speak. People stick close when there is honey but if the hive dries up, they flee. Owó epo l’omo ar’áyé máa ń bá’ni lá.
Once his diagnosis was confirmed, his 1 million friends dropped to 100. He spent 4 years living on the beach without a home in Lagos (he did not say why). And that is how life works.
Lesson- Friends are mostly for the great days. Only very few stick around when it rains. You must understand that not every friend is made for the lonely and dark nights.
Always live your life with the consciousness that periods may come in your life, and they may be very long ones- that you will have to walk the lonely and dreary nights alone and all by yourself.
Farooq Oreagba, upon his diagnosis, was compelled to reorder his priorities. He would not know how much time he had left and he had to decide what came first and last. He chose family first. He was going to give them his all and nothing less.
In the midst of the chaos, he also found a passion that was beyond making money for himself- helping others. He started running marathons to raise awareness about cancer and money for charities supporting cancer patients.
Lesson- Chaos can birth purpose and help us find our priority. When the storms come, take the opportunity to find what is within it that gives your life greater meaning. For Farooq, it was giving and spending more time with family, and in addition, helping cancer patients find hope. The rain does not always come with only dark clouds. Sometimes, it gives more.
The last Ojude Oba was not Farooq’s first. He had been attending since 2009, 5 years before his cancer diagnosis. He has had his tats for years, judging from the interview, post-diagnosis.
He had always been involved in representing his family at the event but 2024 was different. Someone’s camera lens caught him and boom, the larger-than-life Farooq, the king of sneeze that we now see emerged. This part captivates me because there is so much to unpack:
Lesson 1- Keep showing up at your post. Do not bother whether you are seen or not. Just do what you got to do and do it with all of your heart. Do not actively seek recognition or fame. Fame mostly eludes those who set themselves up for it.
Show up when you need to show up. You may not feel adequate or you may think no one appreciates you enough. Do it still.
You never know when it will be your time.
Lesson 2 – Chance is a critical part of destiny. It has to align with time to make things happen. You do not have to plan for it because you cannot control it. Keep putting in your best. It comes when it comes. It happened for Farooq, the photographed and it so happened for the photographer who owns the lens.
When time and chance copulate, good fortunes are produced.
Finally, Farooq Oreagba’s tattoos are not merely for fashion or sneeze. They preach strong messages. Here are the readings from them:
- I live each day as if it were my last. So, don’t judge me. Carpe diem.
- Only God can judge me.
- His kids (always prioritise family above friendship)
- Details of when he had friends swarm around him like bees on a hive
- Ride or Die
Farooq is a philosopher. He is beyond the razzmatazz. He is beyond the glitz and glamour. He is beyond the fantasies.
He has seen life and he understands its hummings, bellows, whispers and roars. He interprets every sound it makes as a drummer accustomed to the voice of his drum.
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