Nobody knew I would donate my kidney to OJB — Wife

 Producer and musician, Babatunde Okungbowa a.k.a OJB Jezreel and his wife, Mabel, talk about their 20-year-old marriage and why she gave him her kidney in an interview with Punch she layed out why she donated her kidney to him.

Why did you decide to give him one of your kidneys?

Mabel: I did not even think twice about it, I had it and I gave it to him. He is my husband, the father of our children and I love him. This is somebody I have been with all my life. I did not tell anybody before I decided to, not even my parents because I had foreseen their reaction. There was no reason to inform them.  When I married him, I told God I wanted the both of us to grow old together and live to see many generations. I am sure God knew this situation before he brought us together because not only am I a match for him, we are the same blood group and we are both stubborn.

How did you sail through the health challenge he had as a couple?

OJB: A major illness can break a home. Sometimes, instead of one partner seeing the other through the period of sickness, they would rather walk away. It could be draining them psychologically, financially or both. When you talk more as a couple, you create that atmosphere where you can actually share what you feel about the situation. I did not want anybody to donate an organ for me and I was very stubborn about it. I thought I was going to come out of the situation without a transplant. I was ready to go through any other route to make it happen. Above every other thing, I have always believed in the God factor and that is what has kept us going because Nigerians are very sceptical.

Who apologises first when you disagree?

Mabel: He does all the time and I don’t because I am very stubborn.

What do you want to change about each other?

OJB: Everybody should come down from their high horses. We both cannot be proving a point at the same time and be angry. We are in our 40s now and I think age and experience should be dealing with that.

How romantic is he?

Mabel: He is very romantic. I will score him 70 out of a 100.

OJB: She likes the romance but pretends not to. Even though she is enjoying it, it does not show on her face and sometimes, I am tempted to think she does not like it. Before, I used to misunderstand the signals and that was discouraging especially at times when I want to go all out to be romantic. Now, I know better.

Do you believe in having a joint account?

OJB: We do not have a joint account and we did not plan to separate our finances. In our early days as a couple, things were not this smooth. It was a cash to mouth, hand to mouth situation. In that situation, you don’t even think of having an account.

What are your pet names for each other?

OJB: I call her Mama J and she calls me Jigga my Nigga.