Young Ajiroghene was born mentally challenged into a family of eight. He was abhorred like a plague by his mother and thus never knew motherly love because his four elders’ brothers and sisters were not handicapped..
He was scorned and made a laughing stock. He lacked the physical abilities to walk, speak and balance but what he lacked physically he got in terms of mental strenght. He knew and believed that there was ability in disability .
He resolved to turn his misfortune around, and against all odds he acquired his first school leaving certificate, he proceeded to acquire secondary education, but due to a lack of assistance he would have become a graduate today. He decided to fend for himself.
He took to comedy since his difficulty to walk and speak became assets. He prides himself as the “Richest Imbecile” Many in his stead would take to begging, others will constitute themselves into a a nuisance to their families and society. In this interview, the imbecile comedian bares his mind to Vanguard’s Akpokona Omafuaire on why he chose the lonely part, his challenges and aspirations.Excerpts:
Who is this imbecile?
I am Ajiroghene Ikono; I was born 27th January 1981, in Oyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. My father is a bricklayer while my mom is a fish trader, I am fifth from the eight children, we are four boys and four girls.
I attended Alero Primary school in 3rd Marine quarters, Warri, I got my first school leaving certificate in 1993, I proceeded to Urhobo college in Effurun and graduated in 2001 though I was unable to make my papers. (Laughs), I was born an imbecile.
How did you get to know thatWell, I learnt that from stories, I was told that my mother exclaimed “owefia”, which means, ‘God forbid’ when I was born and she realized that I was an imbecile, (laughs again).
How were you able to go to school despite your physical challengesI believe that everybody created by God has a strenght and I felt I have abilities and decided to forge ahead, to be able to maximise the talent I have despite my obvious handicap.
It was very difficult going to school; I was not able to walk to school. I was carried about by my elder sister. In the morning she will drop me at school, she will come back after school to pick me up. But when I got to primary 4 I was able to walk to school. I started to trek!
That’s a lot?He giggles, you see after my primary education, though I was not brilliant, I got scholarship to attend college from the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, they paid my school fees and bought books for me but I was trekking to and fro School from Deco road, Warri to Urhobo College in Effurun, a distance of about 5kilometres daily.
Why didn’t you attend a university since you had scholarshipLike I mentioned, I did not make my papers, and again, I discovered that nobody was ready to assist me that was why I decided to become a comedian. After all, I was doing comedy in secondary school as a member of the PLADDS Club.
Did you find it difficultIt is not easy doing it because of my difficulty to speak. There are many challenges; there are character assassins out there. In Warri, we have the Delta State comedian Association; there is division between green horns and those that have been in the business
Did People patronize you because of your disabilities?People patronize me a lot, it is not act of sympathy for me but because my style of comedy is different. I can do comedy and play music and perform funny dance steps. Sometimes in comedy, it is not the talk, it is what you do which makes people laugh that is comedy.
Are you enjoying your job as a comedianI am enjoying it, because it makes me popular and it makes you to be connected. I have many big guys as my friend, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan invited me to perform in “made in Warri,” I also performed in Delta Quest, and also at
“a Night of a thousand laughs” in Benin, I featured in the most beautiful girl in Warri.But many in like you will chose to beg, have you tried it
I am Baba Ikono, the richest imbecile in the country, God forbid that I beg. I have not begged and I am too much to do that. There is something I learnt from music of culture which states that “get up and do something for yourself” How long will you beg to live; it is tiring to beg to earn a living.
How rich are you, for you to claim to be the Richest ImbecileWell, I am rich as far as I am concerned., Although I am not as rich as the Dangotes of this world but I call myself the richest imbecile because no imbecile has come up and done what I am doing. I feed my mother and my son. My mother and I contribute to the paying of our house rent
You still stay with your mother till now, and you have a sonI don’t want to continue staying with my mom, I have a son from my girlfriend, he is 7 years and stays with me. I am separated from the mother of my son who abandoned me because of my handicap and when I did not have money
Is your son in school, does he have disability too, do you intend to have othersNo, he is well endowed, my boy is in primary two now, I am a proud father. I plan to have other kids later, because it is not easy to cater for children.
Is the job still lucrativeThe job is getting better by the day. Though I have not been empowered by the Governor or Mr. Ayiri Emami maybe because of my condition.
Why did you think soI am sure becauseI know that I am good at my job, whenever I am on stage people use to spray me money because what I do baffles them. I have called Mr. Ayiri to help me but he has not given any meaningful response, I want to contact the Governor for assistance.
How much do you charge per showIt depends, sometimes I charge between N 10,000 to N20, 000 based on the relationship I have with the person.
How do you relaxWell, on weekends I go to clubs with friends, I drink too but with restraint I play football also to keep me fit, I do funny dance routines , sing and joke with friends. I don’t womanize because I am a catholic; I attend St. Paul Catholic Church Odion. Presently, I do not have a girlfriend I want to be alone.
Do you have regrets as a comedian
I have never regretted doing comedy since I started. But my only regret was when my sister refused to sent to send me to the University I knew she had the money to train me, it pained me and I cried. I cried because when I stayed with her she did not open up that they were tired of my staying with them, they lied against me that I stole a mobile phone and they pushed me out.
So, how is your relationship with your sisterWe quarreled till she died through child birth, but her death did not pain me because of their lies against me but I have forgiven the husband.
Do you have regrets that you were born like thisI am a catholic; I attend St. Paul Catholic Church Odion. Presently, I do not have a girlfriend now, I am keeping myself. I am happy that today I can walk with my legs, some people are carried from one place to another, yet they are happy so why should I not be happy. I do not blame God for my condition.
Who are your friendsI have good relationship with comedians such as Alegbe Baba, Wiskero, and Breakfast.How is the Government helping the physically challenged
Well, I believe that the government of the state is not trying enough, they should build workshop to train those physically challenged people begging on the streets , or give them scholarship to go to school. I want them to stop begging and find something good to do for themselves and even help other needy persons.
Thank you.
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