Never heard story of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Sanusi Lamido

A Lagos based author and speaker, Nimi Ekere, who seem to be very close to the Ighodalos has just given an insight into the long and existing relationship/friendship between Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Former CBN Governor, and Ex-Kano Emir, Sanusi. In lengthy facebook post, Nimi while making emphasis on the importance of maintaining and sustaining a healthy friendships/relationships using Pastor Ituah and Sanusi as a case study;

According to the Nimi, Ituah and Sanusi who are mostly been refer to as twins from different mothers have been friends for decades, right from their secondary school days. Below is her highlight;

I don’t think I have fully recovered from the shock of Pastor Ibidunni Ighodalo’s passing. It shocked me, it pained me. I still couldn’t wrap my head around why it had to happen. But as christians, our hope is that we will see her again if we hold on tenaciously to our faith.

Today, I am not going to talk about her but her husband, Pastor Ituah (PI). One thing I noticed about both PI and his brother, Asue Ighodalo is their ties with their old friends. I have a relative whose brother was PI’s friend at Kings College, years ago and even if the friend passed on long,long ago, PI has always remained consistent in their family. He has remained a friend of the family even if his friend died more than 30 years ago. How phenomenal, how kind!

I noticed that most of Pastor Ituah’s friends from childhood especially from secondary school are still his close friends up till today. And all of them came in genuineness of heart to support their friend who was now a brother to them. We all know that his late wife was an event planner who had jobs all over the country. Of course, her husband’s quality of keeping relationships would have helped her business a great deal. 

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Worthy of mention is PI’s friend and seat mate (from form 1 to 5), the former Emir of Kano, Emir Sanusi who came into the church for the funeral service. He came in with his full regalia and Asue, PI’s brother called him PI’s twin from another mother. These two have been able to keep their friendship from secondary school up till today ( from the time they were ten to their late fifties). Irrespective of their religious differences, these two have held it together for so long. Asue Ighodalo also added that PI had always been there for Sanusi especially when others turned his back at him. They even went on vacations together with their wives..while PI went with Ibidunni, Emir went with his wife and sometimes wives. They respected their life’s choices but held on to that which was dear to them – their friendship. 

PI is a genuine Christian but did not discard his moslem friend like we see today. Lest I forget, my dad had friends but his muslim friend, uncle Ali was the one who I can call a friend that stuck closer than a brother” to us. Uncle Ali was there when my dad passed on and a lot of people forgot about us. He was a staunch Muslim while my dad was a staunch Christian but their friendship was unwavering. It is okay to have friends that share the same beliefs as you but don’t be too dogmatic and narrow minded about it that you would believe that anyone not in your religious circle is a demon. They might even make better friends than those you think are really your friends. Jesus dined with unbelievers and was a friend to all.

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Today, I speak to people who are nothing but fault finders and cannot keep cordial relationships. You may not go as far as you desire, my dear (except God has mercy), and this is the truth. No one is perfect. If you keep finding faults in people, then you have the problem. Wake up today and build your broken relationships. Mend them, water them. Call that person, find out how they are doing. Be intentional about your relationships and friendships. Don’t always be a fault finder or a bridge burner. You might need that bridge so badly and it might be too late.

Appreciate what people have done in the past for you and quit being ungrateful because of unrealistic expectations. The truth is that the globe takers and very successful have discovered this secret and are taking over the world, nurturing their relationships and intentionally working at it and of course they are reaping the benefits. Can you not see how highly placed and connected they all are? The  myopic on the other hand are still holding on to hurts that would impede their growth ultimately. And you hear them say, ” I don’t need anyone, God will help me”. I don’t disagree with your beliefs and assertions but God uses people to lift you and you never know if that person to help/ recommend you is the one you have “thrown away.”

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I am learning to be at peace with everyone I have come in contact with. I don’t have to be their friend, but we should not be enemies either. And if anyone is bitter at me and has decided to carry on like that, it is their cup of tea but you see, I have resolved to nurture my relationships because life is relational. I don’t want to burn bridges, I am learning to make calls or send texts to find out how my loved ones are doing ( i have not been good at it in the past). I am learning that no one is perfect and I have to appreciate people’s strengths rather than emphasise their weaknesses. It is a lot of work but I am learning and I will not stop, God helping me. 

Dr John Maxwell said, “everything in life rises and falls on leadership” and I say, “everything in life rises and falls on relationships.” Nimi Ekere writes from Lagos, she is a Consultant Family Physician, Author, Speaker, Child Advocate and Parenting Enthusiast.

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