Chief Tony Okoroji and wife, Queen Mary.
It was exactly 40 years ago at St Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos, that I said “I do” to my once teenage sweetheart. That was followed by a memorable reception at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island.
I was 19 and she was 17 when I first met Queen Mary and I could not understand how anyone could be so beautiful. She walked gently and spoke softly. It was love at first sight. For six years, we were practically inseparable. I was born on December 22 and she, on December 24. It was impossible for the two Capricornians not to get married on that faithful day of November 19, 1983.
The love affair inspired two emotional songs from me, “Sweet Mary” contained in my 1979 album, “Big-Big Sugar Daddy” and “Oriaku” featured in my 1981 album, “Juliana”.
Have I been a first-class husband? Certainly, not! Though, love was never lacking in our house, I frankly do not know how she has been able to cope with this restless workaholic for forty years. At first, I was either performing on stage in different parts of the country or producing in the recording studio. Each of these kept me away from home many days and many nights. Four and half years after we got married, I was elected President of PMAN. PMAN and Intellectual Property advocacy became a significant part of my life and robbed her of a good part of the time she ought to have enjoyed with me. And so came PMRS and COSON! Even at home, I would very likely be found in my study, busy with my laptop, writing or studying at 3.00 am.
As I play back the tapes of our lives, I cannot but wonder how Queen Mary has tolerated me and kept our family beautifully together all this long. Our wonderful children have had a great mother who has been there for all of us at all times.
In the last few years, Queen Mary has lived in Maryland in the United States, working as hard as ever for the family while I remained in Nigeria passionately serving my industry, the best I can. Seven days ago, after presiding over a memorable COSON AGM, I arrived Maryland USA to be with family. She picked me up in the night at BWI Airport with her friend, Juliet. I said to myself, “forty years after, she still looks beautiful!”
Two days after, Andrea, the smashing wife of Tony Junior, our son, put to bed a bouncing baby boy. I had pre-named our grandson ‘Tony Okoroji the 3rd’. I am not joking to say that Andrea made me the happiest man in the world.
Recently, I lost my beloved elder sister, Martha, in Baltimore Maryland. The sadness of my sister’s passing punctuated the elaborate celebration of this 40th Anniversary as initially planned by my youngest daughter, Stephanie Egiefameh and her husband, Sam, who had wished to throw in everything to make this day truly special.
Thank you, Queen Mary for everything you have done for us these many years. Thank you, Stephanie and Sam for your great wishes on this day. Many thanks to the Almighty who has been there for my family through thick and thin. Thank you, our friends and family for your support.
Forty years? …. No be beans!