The Managing Director of NG Clearing and former Member of the Derivatives Product Advisory Committee of the Nigerian Inventory Change, Farooq Oreagba, has revealed that being identified with most cancers was the very best factor that occurred to him because it modified his priorities in life, as cancer changed my view about life… said by him
Speaking on the Morning Show on Come up TV on Sunday, Oreagba, who stole the present on the 2024 Ijude Oba, an annual celebration by the Ijebu individuals in Ogun State, talked about that though he’s battling an incurable type of most cancers, a number of myeloma, he’s captivated with giving hope to different most cancers sufferers.
Oreagba stated, “I’ve at all times been a little bit of a controversial individual, however we’ll not go into that. I feel from the second I used to be identified with most cancers in February 2014—it’s an incurable type of most cancers—priorities modified.
“I’ll say this to any individual, and it’s going to sound ridiculous. I’m 58, and if I may reside one other 20 years, I’ll say being identified with most cancers is the very best factor that ever occurred to me. It modifications my perspective on life. What I’m there for. I’m there for it.
“Counselling most cancers sufferers, attempting to enhance entry to raised healthcare, I’ll do that every one day lengthy.”
He additionally talked about that he runs marathons to lift cash for most cancers charities, simply to provide individuals hope.
“I bought hope from locations I least Anticipated, and from a few of these I anticipated, I bought nothing. That’s life, and also you study your classes,” he stated.
Oreagba additional spoke about how he has been capable of finding fulfilment and keep completely satisfied regardless of his well being standing.
He added, “You don’t know the way a lot time you’ve bought; you line up your priorities. For me, it’s household first as a result of I don’t know the way lengthy I’m going to be round, however by God’s grace, I’m 10 years and counting, and since I’ve been topped ‘king of steeze’, I’m not about to only go like that anytime quickly.
cancer changed my view about life
“I’ve been counselling most cancers sufferers for some time. I used to be identified in February 2014. I had a bone marrow transplant in August 2014. I did chemotherapy daily, 21 days a month, for eight years.
“I don’t do chemotherapy anymore; I’m residing my finest life; I’m again working. That provides me a way of fulfilment as a result of individuals ask me why I’m so completely satisfied. ‘I’m alive!’ And so long as you’re within the recreation, you may win the sport; every day is a blessing.”
Oreagba additionally defined how being identified with most cancers decreased the variety of associates he had.
He stated, “One factor I realised is that once I was a senior government on the change within the early 2000, let’s say I had 5 million associates.
“Once I left the change in 2010, my 5 million associates went down to 1 million. Once I was identified with most cancers in 2014, my a million went right down to 100. That was an important lesson; it’s necessary that you simply maintain your folks shut, preserve your 10 toes down on a regular basis, and be your self.”
Talking about his tattoos, he acknowledged that they held vital which means to him and that he had had them for years; therefore, they weren’t curated for the Ojude Oba occasion.
“Individuals discuss my tattoos; I’ve had tats for years, and I’m very specific about them. I attempt to guarantee that I don’t have a tattoo on my face and that my sleeves are down once I’m in company mode.
“Right here’s the well-known tattoo,” he stated, displaying his arm, “it says, ‘I reside every day as if it have been my final. So don’t choose me.’ That claims, ‘Solely God can choose me,’ he stated.
He additional defined that he has different tattoos for his youngsters, some indicating the second when he had numerous associates. “I’ve bought ‘Experience or die.’ These weren’t curated; they’ve been there for years.”
Discussing the significance of the Ojude Oba, Oreagba described it as a household custom spanning generations that showcases their heritage and id.
“Ojude Oba has developed through the years; I’ve been doing it for 15 years. Inside my household, the Oreagba household, my grandfather was the principle rider going again to the Sixties; he died in 1967, so we solely had one rider. My uncle took over, and he was the principle rider from ’67 to ’84.
“It’s a household affair; it’s not about one particular person, and it’s a really costly enterprise,” he stated.
He famous that he sees it as a unifying exercise that brings households collectively, including that preparations have begun for subsequent yr’s version of the occasion.
He defined, “It additionally brings households collectively since you may have one cousin who needs to journey however can’t afford a horse, and you might be all going to put on the identical outfit. You must be thoughtful of different individuals, or you need to assist them.
“However for me, it’s simply an expression of who I’m. I didn’t select the garments; the household did. They’ve began arranging garments now for what we’ll put on subsequent yr.”
On the occasion, totally different teams of individuals wore matching apparel, showcasing that they belonged to the identical affiliation. Nonetheless, Oreagba acknowledged that he doesn’t belong to any group and that the one affiliation he belongs to pertaining to the festivity is the one created by the paramount ruler and the Awujale of Ijebuland.
He stated, “The one group that I’m a member of known as the Heritage Group, and it’s a bunch that was shaped by Kabiyesi Awujale.
“I’m not a member of any ‘Egbe’; it’s a heavy factor; you need to be again in Ijebu each weekend for conferences; and I’ve a major job, which is necessary to me as a result of that permits me to afford the medicine that I’ve been utilizing.”
He additionally gave credit score to the photographers for the way his photos from the occasion went viral, stating that it wasn’t deliberate that method.
“This can be a whole shock to me. I didn’t nail it; the cameraman nailed it,” he stated.
Oreagba added, “The one factor that was curated is that it was two males on the entrance, and this time it was three. I used to be on the entrance.
“The outfits are chosen by members of the family. The doorway: I’m one in every of my grandfather’s oldest grandchildren, and if you happen to look carefully, I’m one of many two light-skinned guys as effectively, however I look precisely like my grandfather. Once we depart the palace, we go round city. It’s normally an ideal feeling when individuals see me they don’t know who I’m, however by me, they only know that I’m an Oreagba.
“My cousins and nephews need to throw horses up and down, however I’m too previous for that; if I fall off, my most cancers is bone most cancers, and if I break a bone, it can by no means set correctly.”
In the course of the interview, he additionally described his unconventional residing association on the seashore in Lagos for 4 years, highlighting his dedication to residing life to the fullest regardless of challenges.
“What I did in my spare time up till final yr was that I lived on the seashore for 4 years. I lived in Lagos, on a seashore, as my major residence for 4 years. I didn’t have a house in Lagos in any respect. I didn’t fear about safety; I simply lived my life,” he added.