Twins are usually not solely cute for his or her distinctive identification, connection and traits. They’re certainly cherished for being uncommon bred of particular people as they’re often bonded in each approach and method of their lives. Nevertheless, this bond is seen as extraordinary when the people so referred within the headline of this text are usually not born as twins however lived their life as in the event that they had been one. In life nevertheless, most individuals are usually not born as twin however in the middle of their earthly journey, they encounter the opposite self both in friendship, college, church or marriage.
In fact, they might not be equivalent in nature being one of many signatures during which society examines these born as twins. However, the Madunagu Twins connection goes past mere facial identification. One fairly finds their uniqueness in character, conduct, self-discipline, humanist nature, patriotism, revolutionary activism amongst others.
The Madunagu twins crossed one another’s path approach again in 1973 on the College of Lagos. Whereas one was a graduate pupil of Botany, (Feminine), the opposite was a graduate pupil of Arithmetic, (Male). By windfall or as God can have it, each resided on campus and their hostel and college had been intently situated. This proximity is the place the connecting build-up began. I’ll check with this improvement as ‘love via the window sight.’ I shall return to this.
On the most concrete degree, the Madunagu’s twins ineradicable revolutionary consciousness and transformation took form on campus on the College of Lagos. They joined a number of campus unions and non-campus Left teams and actions of those radical teams led to comrade Edwin Madunagu first detention in January 1975.
In his salute to Bene Madunagu at 70, Comrade Edwin Madunagu hinted on the love and radical revolutionary chemistry between them took form. He wrote, “….The hostel the place I resided and the hostel Bene resided and the College of Science the place each Bene and I had been college students had been intently situated as if it was by design of historical past. As if additionally by design, Benedicta’s path from her hostel to her laboratory within the college handed in entrance of my window within the male hostel….. I took notice of her going and coming at any time when I might. My pals knew this and assist me to take notice at any time when I used to be unable to take action… Benedicta was unaware of this remark, which was the primary impression she made to me”. In fact, rather a lot transpired and between 1973 and 1976 the ‘love via the window sight’ had developed quickly and so they had grow to be pals, comrade and husband and spouse and the revolutionary bond between them grew even stronger thereafter.
However this very sturdy inseparable bond and affection shared and maintained by Professor (Mrs) Benedicta Madunagu and Comrade Edwin Madunagu, as socialist revolutionary and Marxist in addition to husband and spouse, there got here an eclipse of the solar one devoted sunny day.
On this unhappy and unforgettable day, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 within the afternoon, Mumsy B, as she was fondly known as breathed her final with comrade Edwin Madunagu sitting beside her as she lied on her sick-bed. It’s clear Bene might be missed however her mental stature was no much less exceptional.
Her lengthy keep within the College of Calabar neighborhood the place she lectured supplied Mumsy B a possibility to set a worthy instance, marked by hardwork, selflessness and dedication. She was a humanitarian and an activist for the worthy causes that she believed in, and he or she put her means the place her coronary heart was. She performed a formidable function in conscientising the girl-child by strongly advocating for gender equality and girls’s proper.
Once more, you will need to notice that Mumsy B was an distinctive Nigerian girl who championed the wrestle for girls in numerous fronts. She remained a humanist within the unique sense of the phrase, her love for mankind and particularly her concern for her gender, translated into activism within the social sphere. By means of her phrases and deeds she remodeled the lives of hundreds of ladies in Nigeria and has remained an inspiration to tens of millions of women and girls all through Africa and the world.
Regardless of being launched into revolutionary motion in addition to being the spouse of Edwin Madunagu, Mumsy B actually got here into her personal self each as a lecturer, activist or socialist revolutionary. Standing tall like a colossus, shines just like the northern star and along with her excellent life she drew consideration to the plight of ladies not solely in Nigeria however globally.
In his tribute to Mumsy B at 60, on March 21, 2007, Professor Biodun Jeyifo (BJ) wrote: “Whether it is simple that a part of the identification of Bene Madunagu derives from the truth that she is the spouse of Eddie Madunagu, it’s equally true that Bene stands so utterly on her personal footwear and in so many numerous areas of life that one can equally say that Eddie Madunagu derives a part of his identification from being the husband of Bene.”
Certainly, Bene was a job mannequin and mother-figure to generations of youthful girls who drew inspiration from her dedication within the wrestle for gender equality and girls’s proper. She was a lady whose hat is dotted with many revolutionary feathers. In 1988-1990 Mumsy B was chair of the Educational Workers Union of College of Calabar for 3 time period tenure, was Chair, Govt Board, Women’ Energy Initiative (GPI) Nigeria, member, Nigerian Youth Motion Committee (NYAC) (1973) Society for Progress (SOPRO) (1974) Anti-Poverty Motion of Nigeria (APMON) (1974), Revolutionary Motion for the Liberation of Nigeria (REMLON) 1976 amongst others.
Loads was made, after all, of Mumsy B the revolutionary activist, the bundle of humour, heat and kindness. As comrade Edwin Madunagu righty famous in his 2017 salute to Mumsy B at 70 that, “…three integral attributes of the connection between Bene and myself: compatibility, complementarily and love. The primary two attributes are necessary- and certainly, irreducible- for a cell in revolutionary motion. However a revolutionary cell which, as well as, is endowed with inside love has an added benefit of excessive diploma. Bene and I’ve constituted such a cell within the Nigerian Left since 1975.”
Though Bene isn’t any extra, mourned by the hundreds who beloved her and know her intently and by the tens of millions who benefited from her undaunted braveness, hardwork, humanitarian and revolutionary actions, her imperishable achievements stand tall everywhere in the nation and past. These multitudes of individuals will certainly do her homage all the time. We are going to always remember her indomitable spirit, her sort and delicate coronary heart.
