By David Onwuchekwa
The former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief (Dr) Simon Nsobundu Okeke on January 7, 2025 celebrated his 90th birthday with fanfare which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.
He spoke about the secret behind longevity, how to get it right in lifestyle while God does the rest.
He spoke to The Nijasun.com on the essentials of his lifestyle over these 90 years of existence.
Excepts:To clock 90 years is not an easy one. Can you give an insight on the secret behind it?
It’s all by God. That was why the first thing I decided to do was to go to Church to say thank you to Almighty God for His mercy in my life.
The secret behind longevity is a combination of being in peace with your Creator, yourself, other fellow human beings. You should be in peace at home. If you see me with my children, you will think we’re of the same age. We’re all in peace.
Nothing reduces life span so much as stress, living false life and being negative. Try as much as you can to maintain integrity, honesty in all your dealings.
Longevity depends on your state of mind, then what you eat, your attitude to life and how you exercise your body counts. You should eat right. Moderation in all you do is necessary, to keep things in check.
I was forced to eat meat, growing up, but I never. I only eat chicken and fish because I took after my mother. My mother was known for selling fish
I was forced to swallow akpu (fufu or cassava) but I never liked it. I managed to eat garri or pounded yam maybe once in a week. I have been fortunate right from the beginning of my life.
I smoked. I enjoyed smoking. But I couldn’t afford the best cigarettes. It was during the civil war when Pius Okigb came from France and offered me a packet of Benson & Hedges. That was the best cigarette I ever smoked up till 1993/94 when I caught cold and because of that I said I would not smoke untill the cold goes.
I traveled from New York to London on vacation but the cold persisted. I said now I’m on holiday and smoking should be on holiday also. I finally called it a quit. Till today, I no longer smoke.
Of course I equally like drinking beer and other brands of alcohol. But moderation is the key. As for womanizing, no comment.
People say you live life of implicity and humility, how do you react to that?
I don’t know whether I’m humble or not. But I don’t try to impress people by what I do. I belong to the old Igbo values unlike the youths of today who are very noisy, full of themselves and without respect for elders.
My own generation believes in hard work, decency and normal way of life contrary to what is happening today. I was brought up to work hard and I learnt it from my father.
Many successful people in Igbo those days were humble. For instance, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu the father of late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1956 hired his Roce Royce Vehicle to Federal Government to drive round Queen Elizabeth of England who visited Nigeria at that time.
But Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu could pass by your side without knowing he was the richest man of his generation. He was very humble. That is the Igbo value I belong to. That value is hard to maintain today.
In October 1980, I was forced to accept the Ochendo Amichi Chieftaincy title. But today people pay for Chieftaincy titles and if you address someone without adding “Chief” or “Dr” the person you address won’t be happy with you.
During the civil war, I was the Head of Military Intelligence and I was instrumental to stopping the “vandals” from entering Nnewi.
To God be the glory.
