Mr. Mahmud Elelu, a 97-year-old retired civil servant, in this interview with SUCCESS NWOGU shares his life experience
When were you born?
I was born on July 1, 1917. It was on a Monday. I am from Elelu Compound in Alanamu, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State as it is now called.
How do you feel being 97 years old?
I am very happy that I am alive. I am very grateful to God. It is so wonderful and exciting to be 97. Words are inadequate to express the joy in my heart and my gratitude to the Almighty God who is the giver of life. I am also happy and grateful to God for good health. I am very healthy and still mentally alert. There are old people who have become burdens to their families because they cannot move about or even attend to their daily needs like taking their bath, dressing or even easing themselves. But through the grace of God, I do everything that I want to do by myself. I bath myself; and go to toilet without being aided. I am not always sick. May God be praised.
When you were younger did you believe that you would live this long?
God has only spared my life because it is very rare to see my contemporaries around my area now. Many of my friends have died. I never knew I would live this long.
How many of your mates are still alive?
Most of my friends and family members who were my playmates and age mates are no more. Some of them like Adisa Oju-Abere; Amuda Olufadi and Abdulkareem Elefo are dead. But one of them is alive. He is the Magaji Ikolaba, Abubakar Sidiq, who is even older than me.
To what would you ascribe your longevity?
It is only the grace of God that brought me this far. However, to keep healthy, I try to engage in some healthy lifestyle. I do not drink alcohol or smoke. I did not chase women when I was a youth. But to avoid flirting, I married four wives which is in line with the dictates of Islam. I also try within my human capability to desist from other things that are injurious to a healthy life. It is also important to point out that no matter how one tries to keep a healthy lifestyle, God is the one that gives long life and not necessarily one’s efforts. Only God can determine who will attain old age. I cannot specifically point at what I am doing that makes me live long. That is the reason the Yoruba would say, ‘No one could determine what could happen next except God’. He knows who will die at a young age and who will live long.
Do you engage in exercise?
Yes, I do. I do exercise every morning. I do exercise every morning and in the evening. In the morning, I walk around and sometimes, I walk to the mosque in the evening to say my prayers.
Which schools did you attend?
I attended Oke-suna Primary School. I started schooling in April, 1928. In those days before any child could be allowed to enrol in a school in Ilorin, the child must have graduated from a Quranic School. This is meant to teach the person Allah’s ways and instructions, so that they would obey His dictates and become a useful member of the society.
Did you enjoy your primary school?
Yes, I did. My parents paid my school fees. The school fee then was five shillings a year. But those who could not pay were sponsored by the Native Authority. Life was rough then. Some of us even attended school naked: they would put on singlet and a small piece of cloth to cover their private parts.
Was there any day that any of your teachers flogged you at school?
No, my teachers did not flog me. I was a good pupil. But some my mates were flogged. If a pupil made a mistake in his or her school work or did something wrong, the pupil would be asked to lie down of the floor while three or four other pupils would flog him or her.
What did you do after primary school?
I proceeded to the Middle School. It was Government Secondary School, Oke-Suna now called Government Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State. I graduated in April 1938.
Did you enjoy your school days?
Yes, I did really did enjoy those years because there was no fear of insecurity. Everybody felt secure in their environment. Life was so easy that one could walk around at any time of the day without the fear of attack, abduction or harassment. My eight friends and I would move around freely without fear of being kidnapped as it is happening in some parts of the country now.
What happened after your secondary school?
I got a job as a teacher in the Teaching Service Commission of the present Kwara State. Then, Kwara State was in Northern Nigeria. I spent two years on the job.
Did you enjoy teaching?
Yes. I did. I liked being called a teacher. In those days, teachers were regarded as learned people and were highly respected. The ability to speak and write the English language was a major factor. Also, teachers were considered as being very upright.
Why did you quit teaching?
It was my uncle who influenced me to change my career. He asked me why I was teaching and what I thought would be my retirement benefit. He then advised me to get a better job. Thus, I left teaching and got a job with the Ilorin West Local Government as a veterinary assistant. Not too long after, my services were transferred to the state Ministry of Agriculture where I continued in the same capacity. Luckily for me, I later secured a scholarship to further my studies at the United Kingdom for three years. When I returned to Nigeria after my studies, I joined the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as a Livestock Officer. I worked very hard and was later promoted to Principal Livestock Officer where I retired from service in 1979.
Did you enjoy your job in the ministry?
I really enjoyed it.
How did you feel when you went to UK?
I was very happy and excited. I still congratulate myself that I went there with others. We really enjoyed it. We also observed the Ramadan fast when we were in the Northern Durham University, UK where my colleagues and I spent three years. The Europeans were surprised that we could stay so long before we ate. Sometimes, they invited us to see their homes and eat supper or dinner with them. At that time, they really liked to eat with African people to see how we ate.
How many girlfriends did you have as a young man?
I had many friends who are girls but the relationship was not the type many of young people today exhibit. In our time, one could be friendly with a girl without thinking of taking her to bed. One would just see her as a younger sister and that is all. In the primary school of those days, there were boys and girls and we would accompany one another to buy foodstuff for our teachers to eat. We had to do something to make money for our teachers because they were not paid. They were teaching us free and doing it very well.
How did you meet your wife?
I met and married my first wife while in school. I had earlier been on the look-out for a good woman before I got my wife. My first wife and I were actually related. Our parents helped to build the union. I got married on February 16, 1940.
What is the name of your first wife?
She is Usamot Mubo Elelu.
How many wives do you have?
I have four wives.
Why did you marry four wives?
Marrying four wives is part of keeping to the injunctions of Islam. It was easy getting someone to marry in those days in Ilorin because most of us are relatives and friends; thus parents preferred their sons and daughters to marry family friends. Then, children lived with their parents before and after marriage unlike now when couples move out of their family houses and stay alone.
How many children do you have?
I have 24 children but I lost three. One of my children is the current Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Mas’ud Elelu.
How many grandchildren do you have?
I cannot remember their number. Of course, they are not living with me.
What is your favourite food?
I enjoy amala, pounded yam and rice.
What is your happiest day?
I was very happy when I got admission to go and study in the UK. I enjoyed my stay in the UK. I had an unforgettable experience during my stay there. When my father died in 1956, he appeared to me in the UK. He told me he wanted to sleep. But I refused to allow him sleep at that time of the day because it was not bedtime. Then, I woke up. In the morning, I received a cable from Ilorin that my father had died. It was very painful. I am still using the advice he gave me. His advice helped me a lot. He gave his children a lot of training and guidance. There are certain things that my father told me to do and some he told me not to do. I have tried my best to abide by his instructions and they have been really helpful to me. Another day I consider one of my happiest was when I married my first wife, Usamot. One other thing that makes me happy is that my children and grandchildren are taking very good care of me.
What is your advice to young people?
Young people should be serious with their education and they must live a godly life. Many of my children and grandchildren that listened to my instructions are all doing very well. Some of them have gone to colleges and universities home and abroad but those who rejected my advice, though may still be working in some places, would have done better with their lives if they had adhered to my advice.
What is your advice to the government?
I advise the government to do as the government of the UK. Our government should be welfare-based. I advise the government to care of the people.
Don’t you also want the government to take care of the old?
In the UK, the government takes care of the old people. Unfortunately, this does not obtain in Nigeria. It will be good if the government borrows a leaf from her UK counterpart and treat her senior citizens well.
You said you give alms. Why do you do this?
A Quaranic law enjoins Muslims to give alms if they want to live long life. Hence, every Monday, I give alms to beggars.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com