A reverend of the Anglican Church, Donald Tulagha, speaks about his life with SIMON UTEBOR.
Tell us about yourself.
I am Donald Tulagha married to Mrs.
Beinmo Tulagha. I am a reverend of the Anglican Church and a former
Principal of Angiama Grammar School, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area
of Bayelsa State.
Beinmo Tulagha. I am a reverend of the Anglican Church and a former
Principal of Angiama Grammar School, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area
of Bayelsa State.
When were you born?
I was born on March 21, 1937 by Mrs. Diribolouye Tulagha and Mr. Tulagha Akoru.
How did you know when you were born?
My elder brother, the late A.D. Tulagha,
told me. He was educated. He took down the record of my birth. He was
also a secondary school principal before he retired.
told me. He was educated. He took down the record of my birth. He was
also a secondary school principal before he retired.
How many children do you have?
In my area, we do not count the number of children a man has but to satisfy your curiousity, I have 11 children.
Are they all from one wife?
No, they are not from one wife. Some of
them are from outside through lovemaking. We can call them love
children. With my wife alone, I have seven.
them are from outside through lovemaking. We can call them love
children. With my wife alone, I have seven.
What do they do?
My children are not doing badly. I have a nurse, teacher, doctor, engineer, etc among them.
Did it happen before you became a pastor?
Yes, it was before I became a pastor.
When I became I pastor, I never dabbled into those things again. Before I
became a pastor, we were going up and down with ladies.
When I became I pastor, I never dabbled into those things again. Before I
became a pastor, we were going up and down with ladies.
Is it wrong for pastors to have more than a wife?
From the point of view of Christianity,
pastors are forbidden to leave their wives to meet with other women.
These things happened in those days when we were fairly primitive. We
did not know the implication then. When you have children outside, the
problems will be too many. Economically, it is not a palatable
experience.
pastors are forbidden to leave their wives to meet with other women.
These things happened in those days when we were fairly primitive. We
did not know the implication then. When you have children outside, the
problems will be too many. Economically, it is not a palatable
experience.
Would you advise any Nigerian to have up to 11 children?
I am advocating that we should limit the
number of children we give birth to. The population of Nigeria is so
teeming that people find it difficult to make ends meet. If I were to
recommend, I would say people should not have more than four children.
number of children we give birth to. The population of Nigeria is so
teeming that people find it difficult to make ends meet. If I were to
recommend, I would say people should not have more than four children.
What is your take on polygamy?
I advise that people should discourage
polygamous practice. To live a fulfilled life and enjoy longevity,
polygamy should be discouraged. I recommend one man one wife.
polygamous practice. To live a fulfilled life and enjoy longevity,
polygamy should be discouraged. I recommend one man one wife.
When did you marry your wife?
We got married in 1970.
What kind of drink do you like?
I take only soft drinks.
Do you take alcohol?
No I don’t.
Have you taken alcohol before?
I used to take just a sip according to
the Bible, for stomach’s sake. When one takes a little, it will
reactivate and reduce rumbling in the stomach and enable the food to
digest properly.
the Bible, for stomach’s sake. When one takes a little, it will
reactivate and reduce rumbling in the stomach and enable the food to
digest properly.
You mean it is advisable to take alcohol at times?
Yes, if you do not take it to excess, it
is not bad. It is not wrong to drink but when you take it too much, it
will weaken the bone system and even the muscles. Excess of everything
is bad. Excessive intake of alcohol can make one to become old untimely.
That is why those who engage in excessive alcohol become old too soon.
is not bad. It is not wrong to drink but when you take it too much, it
will weaken the bone system and even the muscles. Excess of everything
is bad. Excessive intake of alcohol can make one to become old untimely.
That is why those who engage in excessive alcohol become old too soon.
What is the secret of your good health at 80?
If you want to attain good health, you
should depend almost solely or wholly on vegetables and fruits. Then eat
regularly, not too much. We know that the economic situation has forced
people to change the course of their meals. However, it is advisable to
take meals appropriately.
should depend almost solely or wholly on vegetables and fruits. Then eat
regularly, not too much. We know that the economic situation has forced
people to change the course of their meals. However, it is advisable to
take meals appropriately.
What is your view about the standard of education in Nigeria?
The standard of education is falling
compared to that of my days. It is brought about by the lack of teacher
training colleges, I mean well established teacher training colleges
where people go to learn about how to teach. But today, things are
muddled up.
compared to that of my days. It is brought about by the lack of teacher
training colleges, I mean well established teacher training colleges
where people go to learn about how to teach. But today, things are
muddled up.
What is your advice to married couples to check divorce rate?
The importance of marriage depends on
love. Many times people marry because of facial beauty. Marriage should
go with love. It is that love that makes marriage to endure. When there
is love, couples will tolerate each other. Marriage should be preceded
by genuine love; if people marry without considering this, they divorce
because they have not studied each other’s likes and dislikes.
love. Many times people marry because of facial beauty. Marriage should
go with love. It is that love that makes marriage to endure. When there
is love, couples will tolerate each other. Marriage should be preceded
by genuine love; if people marry without considering this, they divorce
because they have not studied each other’s likes and dislikes.
What is your most memorable day?
Most of my colleagues who schooled with
me in secondary school were not able to get university education. The
day I passed through the university was the most memorable day in my
life. The day the result came that I had got a degree, I was so happy. I
consider it as my happiest day.
me in secondary school were not able to get university education. The
day I passed through the university was the most memorable day in my
life. The day the result came that I had got a degree, I was so happy. I
consider it as my happiest day.
Did you undergo the compulsory youth service when you finished from the university?
By the time I finished from the
university, I was older than the service year, hence I did not serve. I
was issued a certificate of exemption.
university, I was older than the service year, hence I did not serve. I
was issued a certificate of exemption.
One of your children was
killed in a mysterious circumstance allegedly by security agencies. How
would you relate the trauma you passed through during the period?
killed in a mysterious circumstance allegedly by security agencies. How
would you relate the trauma you passed through during the period?
Up till now, I am still traumatised. You
know when a plant is growing and the bud is removed, it seriously
suffers growth retardation. Since that incident happened, I have become
heart-broken and all these days, if not because I am a man, no smile
will spread over my face.
know when a plant is growing and the bud is removed, it seriously
suffers growth retardation. Since that incident happened, I have become
heart-broken and all these days, if not because I am a man, no smile
will spread over my face.