Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin while speaking at a dinner party he hosted in Benin-city at the weekend to honour Nigerian music icon, Prof. Victor Uwaifo, a lecturer at the University of Benin, who marked his 80th birthday in March this year said that himself and Uwaifo were street hawkers while they were younger, that he was selling Kerosene while Uwaifo was selling Kola-nuts.
“you are a great man; one of the greatest human beings in life. To clock 80 years, you must have a good mind.”
Igbinedion recalled their childhood days in the city, saying: “I was selling Kerosene while Uwaifo was selling Kola-nuts.”
“To clock 80, you must have a good mind. You are a great man and one of the greatest human beings on earth.”
The iconic musician, who was accompanied by his wife, noted that Igbinedion, who rose from grass to grace and conquered poverty, greatly surprised him.
He said: “I have never smoked in my life. I do not take drugs. I do not drink alcohol. It is now that I started taking wine. Music makes me high.
“If you are smoking, doing drugs or taking alcohol, it is not too late to stop. Parents must warn their children against taking drugs and not to wrongly imitate people.”
Uwaifo, in respose to the honour given him said;
“Tonight, Chief Igbinedion has surprised me. This is the man who rose from grass to grace, and who conquered poverty.
“Any person, who wants to know, must be given the opportunity to know and keep knowing. “If you go through the crucible of life, then you will know the value of life, and you must add principles.”
