· As banking magnate’s home goes agog for his new twin sons, Awele, mother of his five daughters, relishes being his wife
By Ola Ayodele
Tony Elumelu was made for Awele. To Awele, it probably feels like she had him ordered and delivered to her, to be worshipped and revered. On this note, it may be said that Tony is Awele’s idol. And this is where it gets interesting; Tony also considers Awele a boon from God. The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) treasures Awele like a priceless heirloom – this explains his predilection to flaunt her like a sapphire-studded wristwatch or button hole bouquet to the world.
Through fortunate seasons and her most trying spell, Tony stood unflinchingly by Awele, urging her to seek solace in God’s ceaseless mercies. Lest you begin to think that Awele must have been fraught with disaster, she wasn’t. The wife of UBA’s most powerful man simply rued her inability to bear him a son. Having borne him five girls, it was her heartfelt wish to bear the one of Africa’s most powerful banking moguls a son. Not that the Elumelus considered their girls lesser humans, it simply felt inappropriate for their lineage to be without a male scion, if you ask Awele.
Tony however, was reportedly satisfied with his girls. To him, they meant the world thus he never shied away from treating them to the best perks his affluence could afford.
But while the Elumelus appreciated their girls as the best gifts heaven could accord them, two wonderful cherubs arrived in their household bearing gifts of life and indescribable joy. After nine months of morning sickness, nausea and crankiness, Awele finally bore Tony, her idol, two infant idols in his towering image.
Yes, after five beautiful girls, Awele eventually bore Tony a pair of twin handsome boys. It’s a delightful to see her glow with pride and contentment over her latest feat. Her heartfelt wish has been granted and unlike so many of her peers, she never had to endure heartache or abuse from her husband before she bore him sons.
But while friends, family and business associates rejoice with the Elumelus, sources close to the family commended the couple for setting a good example by treating their daughters like special, heavenly gifts all along.
Tony has been particularly commended for exhibiting enviable maturity and tact. While so many other men would have taken mistresses outside wedlock and subjected their wives to emotional and physical torture for failing to bear them sons, Tony lovingly and dutifully stood by his wife. He is indeed a real man, so argued a close relative of the family.
