SIMBIAT ABIOLA, The Story of Love And Courage

Love...... The most powerful force in the Universe....Millions of Nigerians are familiar with the story of the legendary man called MKO Abiola but not as much are familiar with a most enchanting story of love and courage of his childhood sweetheart, the gracious Ayinba Simbiat Atinuke Abiola nee Soaga. Their love was so strong that even when MKO could not resist the charm of other ladies, her place in the household and in his heart was never threatened. 

The late Simbiat Atinuke Abiola was born into the wealthy family of Rafiu Isola Soaga and Rabiatu Soaga of the prominent Soaga family in Gbagura, Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1938. Both Simbi and Moshood met at the Arabic Quranic school as secondary school youngsters in 1954 and fell in love. MKO Abiola on his own was from a thoroughly poor background and by the time her family got to know about the relationship, they insisted she could not marry someone of such a lowly and unimpressive status as MKO Abiola. However, she insisted that she had made her choice and no one would change it. She clung to MKO Abiola and MKO himself repeatedly admitted that if not for her courage and devotion even in the face of opposition, he stood no chance of marrying her.

Simbiat Abiola attended the same secondary school with foremost female political activist, Titi Ajanaku (Nawair-Ud-Deen Secondary Modern School, Ikija, Abeokuta, Ogun State).

Marriage & Children

The two young lovers married in 1960 after the death of MKO’s mother. The marriage was blessed with five children Kolawole Abdulateef, Ayodeji Shamsudeen, Agboola Nureyndeen, Bolaji and Wuraola (F). They were not rich when they got married but she threw all her support behind MKO and she was very instrumental to his stunning financial success

In an interview with the Guardian in July 2012 when he turned 50, Kola said of his late mother:

'WE’VE spoken a lot about my dad, but one person that unfortunately never lived to reap and see what he sowed, is my mother. Including my father, she went a long way to mould all of us; she’s 20 years gone now. I really don’t know how to tell you about my mum; maybe that’s where I got this background business. The quiet background has been very powerful and effective; all you need to do is to get her to support your course, you can go around and be shouting, but the work is being done. In many ways, what I am is because of her. She would tell you, ‘never forget where you started from.’ We all owe a lot to her; including the extended family.

I was born in Scotland; my parents were students then. They came back to Nigeria and we couldn’t afford to have a maid; I was the maid in the house. I remember clearly we went to the University of Lagos Staff School and my mother used to teach textile designs at Yaba College of Technology. After school, we would walk from Unilag to Yabatech (with Abu and Deji), to join our mum. That’s why Bolaji and Wura are like my daughters; then, there were no pampers, so I used to change their napkins; I used to make their food, clean them and dress them up for school. This is the kind of beginning we had; I don’t know if that’s not humble enough, then I don’t know what is humble.

Interesting Things About Simbiat Abiola

-She was fondly referred to as Ayinba.

-Contrary to what many believe, she gave her full support to MKO’s political ambition. She was in total agreement with his plan to become the Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Simbiat generally agreed with her husband on almost all issues but differed on the topic of polygamy, which is quite understandable.

-The late Simbiat Atinuke Abiola was a businesswoman and politician. In 1979, she ran for the position of a Senator in Ogun State (Gbagura Senatorial District) on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, but was defeated by Chief Kunle Oyero. She was also the patron of the women’s wing of the NPN and encouraged women to compete favourably with the males ‘in the running of the country’s affairs.‘ She also encouraged the female folk to win in large numbers, elections in the local councils ‘in preparation for the general elections of 1983'

-MKO Abiola said that it was at the home of Simbiat, his girlfriend, that he tasted fried eggs for the first time in his life.

-Holding many prestigious titles, she was the Otun Iyalode of Egbaland. The title of Otun Iyalode of Egbaland was normally zoned to Oke-Ona while the Osi Iyalode of Egbaland which was normally zoned to Gbagura was conferred on her friend, Titi Ajanaku in 1990. She was also the Yeye Tayese, Iya Egbe UMC and many more. In her own right, she was one of the wealthiest businesswomen in Nigeria.

-Like her husband, she was also a great philanthropist and was particularly focused on the welfare and emancipation of women, education and training of girls, youth and the children.

-The Simbiat was fully involved in her husband’s businesses and played a very large role in the growth of Abiola’s business empire. She was the Vice President of Concord Group of newspapers, where she saw to the setting up and maintenance of the publications and later, other ventures like the Wonder Bakery. One of a kind in Nigeria, the Wonder Baking Company opened in 1980 in Lagos and by 1981, it had employed over 140 people. Marketing under the brand name of Mother’s Pride, they made use of the same Wonder Bread recipe used in the United States and the United Kingdom. The factory gulped a sum of N2.5 million (value as at that time)

-She was also a lover of sports and in particular, promoted women football. She established and financed the Kakanfo Queens, a female football team. There was even the Simbiat Abiola Cup in Kano in February 1986, which drew over 10,000 spectators. The 1987/88 National Under-16 Girls Soccer Championship Trophy was donated by her.

-Alhaja Simbiat studied dressmaking abroad and was quite good at it. She even taught dressmaking and textile designs at the Yaba College of Technology and worked with Eve de Negri, a British artist and fashion designer.

-During her lifetime, she lived with Abiola’s three other wives in the same compound at the Moshood Abiola Crescent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos and she was described as not only being very warm and accommodating, she did not set out to bully anyone. But MKO got uneasy atimes, perhaps due to pangs of conscience at what he did to his first love. It was said that anytime MKO was very excited, she would tease him saying:

Daddy wa, shey ikan ninu awon iyawo yin ti bimo tuntun ni? (Our father, has one of your new wives given birth to a new child?)

A shy MKO would go silent and calm. He never even bothered her with news of delivery of kids by other wives, despite his great love for children.

-At a time, Simbiat had to resign to fate, accepting her husband’s vulnerability to women. When Deji, her son, was involved in a bloody fracas with officers of the Nigerian Air Force, both of them had to appear at the Nigerian Air Force base to sort out the issue. While they were seated, she sneered at her husband and whispered to him:

Ewo bi awon obinrin yen tin ji yin wo (See how those ladies are flirtingly looking at you).

MKO could not control his laughter when he said:

Iya wa, ninu oro to wa nile yii, awon obinrin ton wo mi lenri wo (Our Mother, of the serious issue we have on ground, all that concerns you is that of ladies ogling at me).

And they both laughed.

-Simbiat’s role as the most senior wife in the compound was never overshadowed in her lifetime. Even her own apartment in the building was elevated above others.

-Nigeria’s Bonsue fuji exponent, Adewale Ayuba is one person who will never forget her. In June 2012, he narrated his experience with Simbiat, who would become a patron of his band. It was in 1991 and Ayuba’s band boys were refused visas at the British Embassy. Being the patron of the band, Ayuba ran to her for help and explained that they could not get visas for a concert in the UK. Ayuba said she asked her:

Shey o ti so fun baba e? (Have you told your father?)

A dazed Ayuba even thought she was referring to his own father and when he realized she meant MKO, he was too shocked and surprised. He had never met MKO one-on-one before that time. There and then, Ayinba Simbiat picked up the phone and called her husband saying:

Daddy, e ma boo o. Omo yin fe ri yin (Daddy, kindly come downstairs. Your child wants to speak with you).

But MKO replied that he was too busy at the moment but told her to instruct him to come to his room. Ayuba was petrified and excited at the same time. When he got to the room, he opened the door and in was the legendary MKO who said:

Omo mi. Ki lo de? (My child, what is the matter?)

Then Ayuba explained the case to him. MKO asked if he had working documents and he replied that he had all the papers but did not know why he was being denied visas. Instantly, MKO called the British Embassy and placed an appointment for the next day. Ayuba still couldn’t believe all he was seeing and hearing. MKO told him to come back the following morning by 7.00am. Ayuba was at his gate by 6.30am…lol! But he was surprised to find MKO already dressed up and even waiting for him. They then drove to the Embassy (then located at Marina). MKO went in and after a few minutes, he returned and faced Ayuba. Ayuba in his words said MKO told him:

‘Don’t worry, they are not giving you this time around but they will give you next year.’ Ayuba continued:

…and true to his word, I was granted the visas the following year without any hassle and that was it and that was how I fell in love with this man.

Her Death

On the 10th of November, 1992, tragedy struck in faraway London but the news vibrated in Nigeria. After a bitter fight with cancer, Simbiat Atinuke Abiola passed away in a British hospital. A devastated Abiola family tried their best to remain strong in the face of the matriarch’s demise. On the 17th of November, a condolence register was opened for her at the Aare Abiola House, 26-32 Whistler Street, London N4, 1NH. The precise nature of her malignancy was shrouded in secrecy with various reports, some stating it was of the breasts and others stating it was of the stomach. While she was on the deathbed and in pains from the cancer she battled so hard, Simbiat Abiola’s generosity still shone. She was watching the television and when she came to see the devastation and havoc wreaked upon the Egyptian capital of Cairo by an earthquake, she was touched. She was so moved that from her sick bed, she pledged the sum of $100,000 in donation to rebuild a school for young children which was destroyed by the earthquake. A month after her death, the foundation stone for the school was laid, in her honour in an event attended by the most powerful in the Egyptian society.

Nigeria mourned the passing of the amiable and meek wife of one of Africa’s richest men and great philanthropists

MKO Abiola would later move on with life but would never forget his late wife or pretend that her space could be filled. In his will, dated 25th October, 1989,  Simbiat children got the highest fraction of money according to the will, with the amount estimated to be about 450,000 British pounds. Today, the Simbiat Abiola (formerly Medical Road) Way, Ikeja, in Lagos State is named after her.

When Abiola died in 1998, he was buried in a grave at the base of a coconut tree, next to his wife, companion, love, lover, supporter and sweetheart, Simbiat Atinuke.

Acknowledgement: Naija Archives, Abiyamo, Tun Extra