Whenever a shining success and emblem of hope lights up the horizon; naysayers, haters and bad belle people have a bone to pick with the scenario.
Enter Olajumoke, whom less than a month ago was hustling N500 ($1.44) a day for her and her two kids, whilst her husband was reportedly also hustling in Osun, their native land. Then Tinie Tempah flies into town and after spending some time hanging out with Wizkid and other celebs, heads for a photo shoot with TY Bello. Cue the photo bombing incident and several days later, Olajumoke is an international super star with multi million Naira endorsements and companies falling over themselves to sign her. Every media savvy brand in Corporate Nigeria, desiring a piece of the action.
Now with her family finally rescued from poverty, the Orisagunas are presented with an opportunity to live a good life. A life free from the hunger pangs millions of Nigerian are presented with on a daily basis.
Sadly on social media, the naysayers have shifted the conversation away from the message of hope and success. On popular online forum, Nairaland, one subscriber said that Olajumoke had become an object of shame.
He wrote:
A street bread seller becomes an object of half unclothedness on the front pages of magazines and that’s success
You may never know what true success is until you die and find yourself among those who submitted to their creator or those who would be losers in the Hereafter.
The dictionary may define success but it can’t define true success..
Quran 3:19,Qur’an 3:85,Qur’an 3:102
Many other Nigerians have been asking how the husband is faring and are curious to know if he is being carried along, most noteworthy of these inquisitors is Charles Novia who said:
Olajumoke has to be careful. She has a family. She has a husband. From empirical antecedents, the marriage is usually the first casualty of this kind of invasion of privacy. It happens all the time.
If the young lady loved her husband as a bread seller, she should be encouraged to strengthen that love now that she’s literally a bread bringer to the home. Because she would soon start mixing with the hawkish lot who would soon start whispering serpentine advice into her ears. It happens all the time. Beyond the media glare would be a fundamental introspection of her future with the spouse.
And that’s where the crunch lies.
The media is all pleasant and powerful when it comes to pushing the Olajumokes of this world to new heights. But the media gives with one hand and takes with the other.
My suggestivism does not in any pre-suppose an impending doom but alerts on an intending loom.
The live of the Bread Seller is presently brought to us closer through a whimsical telescope. It won’t be long before the want of more sensationalism would put her life under a selfish microscope.
Stories would soon be cooked up or exaggerated about her, just to suit the media.
One Facebook member, a Nigerian based in UK also asked a similar question
Its all about Olajumoke Orisaguna right now, numerous modelling contracts, luxury apartment, various endorsement deals etc. We thank God for his Grace and Favor, but i hope to God that those managing her are carrying her Husband along and not sidelining him so that this Favor does not Disfavor her home.
In support, a Facebook friend said
So am not the only one seeing all these. Hmmm couldnt help but notice how the guy was carrying the baby all through by the side. As if the photographers are delibrately cutting him of. Please they should try and empower the husband ooo. We know typical african men. May God help her.
One Commentator took the other side of the argument and asked
If the gender roles were reversed, would you still ask the question?
And the following jewel is dropped in the conversation
Husbands are supposed to love their wives no matter their earning power. Ego is never healthy in relationships and it takes good emotional intelligence to learn how to sheathe pride. It’s not always necessary, if only for the interest of common sense.
She is already earning money the man never may have earned in his lifetime. Money that rescued their family from acute poverty. We are talking growling bellies here. Versus ego? Laughable!
The poverty in Nigeria can stretch across generations and hold people back. Frankly I’m happy Olajumoke came to the spotlight, no matter the casualties as it helps to shed light on the income and gender inequality in Nigeria, among other inequalities.
If the husband is wise he will go and chill in one corner and start a small side hustle, and be bringing her breakfast in bed on her birthday, Valentine’s Day or if she expecting again. Gotta treat the goose that lays the golden eggs with respect. If only for the sake of the eggs. Although there is nothing wrong with love being stronger than pride.
The fact is nobody ever looks down on a man being empowered or being rewarded by the forces in the universe for his hustle, so why is it an issue if a woman has a shot at being a great success.
There are too many vices being currently employed by women to overcome poverty, some even go to the extent of bleaching the skin of their babies. As though their skin color was a cause of their poverty, we need to root out poverty mindset in Africa.
Let everyone celebrate this symbol of hope and success Olajumoke for as long as we can. Her beauty is a reflection of the good in our society, the beauty of blackness. Our strength, our resilience, our capability to identify success and commitment to uplift our people.
What people fail to realize is that her husband has struck gold. After all, all he had to do was tuck his ego in and allow his wife go to Lagos to hustle.
Now there is enough bread for everybody.