Abimbola is one of the daughters of the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Ebenezer Babatope. She talks about her father’s life and career with MOTUNRAYO JOEL
Kindly introduce yourself.
My name is Abimbola Babatope. I’m the third child; I have two sisters and a brother. I attended Command Children’s school, Ikeja, Lagos; Polytechnic High School, Ibadan, Oyo State; and Lagos State Polytechnic. I then travelled to the United Kingdom for further studies. I attended Eton College, UK and Middlesex University, UK. I studied Insurance at Lagos Polytechnic and I obtained a degree in Business Management at Eton College. I’m proudly Ijesa— I don’t take nonsense and I don’t joke with money.
How was growing up with your father?
I had a normal childhood, nothing extraordinary but my father was always travelling. He was hardly at home; if he wasn’t travelling, then he was in prison. I grew up with my mother and grandparents.
Some people may consider you a silver spoon kid, what is your view on that?
There was nothing special about my childhood and I am not a silver spoon. My siblings and I fetched water; we were usually given house chores by our mother despite the fact that we had a maid. My siblings and I had morning duties and we learnt how to do one thing or the other around the house. I’m industrious in nature because of my upbringing and I learnt many things while growing up. If I don’t introduce myself, one wouldn’t know I’m Babatope’s daughter.
What are some of the things you learnt from him?
I have learnt that in life, one has to be fast and smart because time waits for no one. Any opportunity lost cannot be regained and I always tell my children that.
Did you visit your father when he was in prison?
Yes I did. It made me know many parts of the country. His adventure in prisons got me enlightened; I never knew some places such as Jos and Yola exist before then.
How did you feel seeing your father in prison?
In school, whenever I told my friends that my father was in prison, the first thought that came to their minds was maybe he was involved in armed robbery. It was hard explaining to them that he was jailed due to his political leanings and views. I didn’t like seeing him in prison; no child would like that.
How did your mother handle it?
My mother handled it the best way she could. As the saying goes, when one has problems, that is when one knows one’s true friends. Many people avoided our house when my father was in prison. They left us to handle our issues. You would have people around you when there is peace and comfort but when one has problems, one is left alone.
Did any of your siblings follow your father’s career choice?
None, but one of my sisters is a lawyer and the other studied mass communication. My brother studied cinema production.
Did your father influence his children’s career choices?
Growing up, we all witnessed his imprisonments and all that happened. No one wanted to experience the same thing. Politics in Nigeria is not a fair game, it is a dirty game. Moreover, politicians don’t tell the truth. What they speak is what the society uses to judge them. The society doesn’t take time to find out things about them.
Would you have wished your father was not a politician?
Yes, because one has a better life and better relationship with one’s children if one is not a politician. The times when my father had to go for political crusades or serve jail terms were lost, they can never be regained. I would have preferred if he was a common citizen.
Do you think his absence affected his relationship with his children?
It affected us while growing up, but things have changed. I’m a mother now and I have seen all there is to be seen. My siblings and I are working on building our relationship with our father, but the relationship isn’t how it ought to be. We are closer to our mother. The parent the children see all the time is who they call their super hero. We are all closer to our mother because she was there, we saw her more. She is our super hero.
Describe your father at home?
My father is different, what gives people pleasure in life affects him. My father buys newspapers and magazines and no one dares touches any of them till he has read them. He does this every day. After reading all of them, he listens to all local news stations and international news channels. This is one reason I don’t watch the news and I’m the opposite of my father. My children know this. I grew up in a ‘news’ environment. I prefer to focus on things other than the wars and killings going on in the world.
Describe his personality?
My father always makes one laugh. He uses funny words to tease people. My parents don’t engage in physical fights when they have any misunderstanding, but once we see my father sweeping, washing plates or doing house chores, we know they just had a misunderstanding. He does these chores to make up or appease my mother. They don’t argue in front of us. It is the house chores that exposed their arguments.
Is he sociable?
My father is not sociable. When he goes to any ceremony, he is usually the first to arrive and the first to leave. Whenever he goes to wedding ceremonies, he gets to the venue before the couple. He doesn’t go to wedding receptions, once the church service ends, he leaves. We don’t like going out with him because we miss out on the food. Once, he travelled to South Africa to watch the World Cup. One would have thought he would go to the stadium to watch it, but he didn’t. Instead, he stayed in his hotel and watched it on television. He also sings during his free time; he likes to listen to Ghanaian songs and Fela. He also knows how to dance like Ghanaians, for a long time, I thought he was a Ghanaian.
What do you like about your father?
He sticks to his words. If he says yes, he sticks to it. But the only thing I don’t like about my father is that he doesn’t spend time with his family. He is over 70, and I tell him that he has served Nigeria all his life; it is time to relax with his family. Instead, he prefers to travel to Ijesa in Osun State, to settle disputes or one issue or the other. He puts other people before his family.
What special privileges have you enjoyed being his daughter?
We haven’t enjoyed any special privilege, if any of us gets a job through my father’s connection or name, he will object to it. He would tell us to refuse the job or favour.He prefers we work to make a name for ourselves. He says things should be done the proper way.
Who would he have preferred to be governor of Lagos State?
My father doesn’t care who wins or which party wins; all he cares is for the winner to do the job properly. He feels if one is elected governor, the person should do the job properly even if the former governor was from another party. He says one should work according to one’s knowledge and ability. A leader should create a name for himself. He says leaders shouldn’t state the obvious. For example, a leader shouldn’t brag about fixing bad roads— this isn’t news. He believes leaders should do something new.
Does he read what people write about him in the papers?
My father loves to read, he reads wide. He also has a good memory. He memorises dates and times, including what is written about him. If one writes an article today, some weeks later, he will tell when the article is out. I always advise him not to reply to what people say about him. He is ageing and he should focus on God and himself.
What time does he sleep and what time does he wake up?
My father sleeps between 8pm and 9pm and he wakes up at 3am.
Why does he sleep early?
He always wakes up to write, he loves to write. If you want to know my father’s thoughts, go to his table. Apart from writing about things that need to be changed in Nigeria, he also writes things that United States President Barack Obama should put in place. Immediately he finishes praying when he wakes, he begins to write. He has a lot of notes on his table.
Describe his schedule?
He goes out but his day ends by 2 or 3 pm except he has meetings. He always eats breakfast in the morning and comes back home to eat his lunch especially if he is in town. Once he is home, his people come to see him. He eats his dinner between 7pm or 7:30pm.
What is his favourite food?
His favourite food is pounded yam.
How does he discipline any child who erred?
He shouts on them, I learnt that from him.
What special moment do you remember while growing up?
I had so many special moments, the only special moment I can remember is with my father and younger sister. He is so fond of her. If he tells her to scratch his back in the room, we are sure he has bought her a gift. On his 40th birthday, my younger sister made a remark that touched him. At the church service, she asked where the late Obafemi Awolowo was. I think that statement got them close. He felt that at her age, she already knew things and she was about three or four years old when she passed the remark.
How will he describe Awolowo in one sentence?
The best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria.
Before you got married, did he advise you on the type of man to marry?
My father doesn’t care who my siblings and I marry, all he wants is for us to love our partners. When I was getting married, my husband wasn’t too financially buoyant, but my father didn’t object to our wedding. He even encouraged me to remain strong.
How does he relax?
He relaxes by sleeping, that is the only thing that can get him to relax.
Is he very passionate about Nigeria?
Yes, I always tell him not to carry Nigeria on his head, but he doesn’t listen.
What are those things Nigerians didnt know about him?
He is emotional; his dreams always come to past. He also says he is God’s favourite child. My father can be a disciplinarian when he wants to be. He is a thorough-bred Ijesa man.
What does your father splash money on?
Newspapers and his cable television subscription.
Who is his best friend?
He has so many friends; he doesn’t have one best friend. He has so many friends.
Who are his role models?
The late Obafemi Awolowo is his only role model.
What does he say about ex-President Goodluck Jonathan?
He said Jonathan did his best, but the man trusted people who caused his downfall. He says this was his only mistake. He also said Jonathan did his best for Nigeria and that he handled Nigeria’s situation in the best manner.
If he could change things about Nigerian politics, what would they be?
To him, many politicians are there to make money. In his time, they were there to serve, if he has his way, he would change all that.
Does he have any regrets about joining politics?
No, I think he was born to be a politician.
But why did he go into politics?
I don’t know why. Till date, he still loves politics.
If he was made president, what will he do for Nigeria?
He will not discriminate between tribes; he will ensure all ethnic group share one view.
What are his dreams and aspirations?
The only dream he has is for Nigeria to go back to the way it was many years back and for things to work.
How does he like to dress?
He likes to dress in the Yoruba style.
Does your family fear for his life?
Yes, we always want him to be around his family because of safety.
What does he say about President Muhammadu Buhari?
He prays he doesn’t make the same mistake Jonathan made. Although, he thinks he will do his best and change things that need to be changed.
When did he experience a sad moment in his life?
I think it was the time his father died and he could not attend the funeral because he was in prison. He never had a chance to bid the old man goodbye.
How did he say he coped during his days in prison?
He used to tell us that when he was eating, there would be flies on the food but he couldn’t throw it away. He saidthings were tough. He said there was a time the prison officials called him and told him that food prices had increased. He stated that he didn’t care about how they got food because they brought him there.
How is his relationship with Bola Tinubu?
He doesn’t harbour ill feelings towards him, if they see each other, they will greet themselves.
What does he say about former President, Olusegun Obasanjo?
They are friends; Obasanjo gave me the name Omawunmi. My father calls him my godfather. They are friends and they will always remain friends.
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