Toyin Saraki Opens Up About Herself In Latest Interview
For Nigeria’s Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, 55 and his wife, Toyin Saraki, 53; their marital life has been shown to be blissful. The couple have been together for almost 27 years and still counting.
Saraki, a two-time governor of Kwara State, and his wife, Toyin (Nee: Ojora)- the the founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), a lawyer and a health care philanthropist are blessed with 4 children.
This couple’s love story is quite unusual plus they are both from wealthy backgrounds.
Toyin’s parents, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, 86, a former journalist, a boardroom guru and a corporate titan and her mother, The Erelu Oodua, Ojuolape Ojora, 80, are well known in Lagos Social and Corporate circle. They have been married for 63-years.
Bukola’s parents, Late Abubakar Olusola Saraki was a Nigerian politician who was a Senator of the Nigerian Second Republic. He died at the age of 79 in 2012. His mother’s name is Florence Saraki.
Fortunately for them, their pedigree aided them to build a wealthy union. Speaking in an interview with Lovehaven magazine, Toyin Saraki disclosed that even when she was the Kwara State Governor’s wife, a position she was in for 8 years; she never felt superior to others.
“I never for one moment felt like ‘a governor’s wife’ because when my husband and I got married, he most certainly was not a governor and I reminded myself of this whenever I felt things were getting out of hand!
Being a governor’s wife then and now a Senate President’s wife, was/is a responsibility, not a lifestyle, for a finite term of years, and with it, for me, came huge sacrifices which I was honored and humbled to make in support of my husband’s political leadership.
READ ALSO: Toyin Saraki Talks About Parenting: ‘Being there for my children is non-negotiable’
I have always defined myself as exactly what I am— a woman, a human being, with rights and obligations, who cares about the people around her, the environment she lives in, the community with which she interacts.
There is no level, no matter how high one may attain that will ever shake my conviction that one must cling to the basic truths of life. With blood in my veins and a heart that loves truth, I have absolutely no hesitation in defending myself on any matter of personal integrity.
I was brought up, as an Ojora, to face battles squarely, I don’t run away from issues. Of course there were times that I was under attack because often, people judge by their own standards and misconceived assumptions. The fact is that while position may protect, position can also render the occupant more vulnerable.”
READ ALSO: Dele Momodu’s Wife, Bolaji, Reveal Secrets to Their 25 Years Successful Marriage
Interestingly, the pair still share gifts and bouquet of flowers. You will recall that the Senate President sent a bouquet of flowers to his wife during a Valentine’s Day celebration which set the Internet buzzing (read here).
And when asked how a day is in the life of the Sarakis, Toyin replied:
“My daily life has always been an interesting mix of contrasts, the daily challenge of balancing my purpose as a mother and wife with the derivative duties imposed by marriage to a spouse in high office.”
Photo credit: Instagram