For Bina Idonije, Bridges are for Burning

If wishes were horses, then beggars will ride, is a very popular saying, but not for Bina Idonije. She believes time and tide bring their own fruition of life’s dream, no matter when they come.

Recently, the lawyer-turned author and a women’s rights advocate fulfilled a childhood dream of writing a book of her own.

Titled, Bridges are for Burning, the unveiling held at Four Points Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos. The evening of reminiscences, music, poetry, and, of course, romance, also, featured talks on the importance of literature and friendship.

Speaking at the book unveiling, the mother of three and wife of Aaron, the executive director, ASG Solutions Insurance Brokers, stated: “As a young girl I presumed I would have my writing published by the time I turned 20, it has taken another 20 years. And so for every time you hold this book in your hands, you are reminded that whatever time of the day you wake up is your morning. So get up now and follow your dream. It’s never too late to start.”

She recalled: “Writing is a passion for me and even though I had not been published all along, I kept writing stories. I kept the dream alive. Every time I thought of it, I felt sad but it was a reminder for me that it was more than something I just liked to do – it was what I needed to do. And I read widely. I remember reading the Sugar Girl, Eze Goes to School, and grew to read widely. But it was Mills and Boons series that introduced romance into my palate.”

Bina’s memory of writing dated back to the 80s when she was about six or seven years old, she wrote a book, titled, ‘John the Scallywag.’

It was written and illustrated by her with eight pages stuck together with water gum to create a bound prose work.

“Everyone that holds the book in hand will realise that whatever time you wake up is your morning,” she said. According to Bina, “writing is a passion for me and even though I had not become published all along, I used to write stories. I kept the dream alive. When I was a young girl, I really loved to read novels.”

She said, “wanting money in itself is not a bad thing. I think it becomes a problem when it is the only thing. Just because you marry someone who is well to do does not mean it has to come with baggage. But when your sole goal is to marry for money, then you have to deal with whatever comes with it. We also have a couple whose story shows that someone can love you and still do bad things to you.”

Guests were welcomed into the author’s world of three women, bonded by family ties and life-long friendship. They had a feel of how romance and war could co-exist as the author fielded questions at an interview session hosted by the compere. This was followed by reading of some pages, identified with different characters in the book.

Idonije’s publisher, Mrs. Theresa Ominiabohs (the COO of Masobe Books) said, “As a publisher, what we are looking for is the best of African literature. It is an interesting story and we do not have a story like this in our catalogue. So, we decided to go for this. And if you read the book, you’d see why.”

The event ended with the launch of a book campaign in which the author is set to donate 2000 books to UNILAG, LASU, LASPOTECH, YABATECH libraries.

The campaign is sponsored by Mr. Etete; Mr. Omatseye; Managing Director, Emval Nig Ltd, Mr. Valentine Obidi; MD, Browngate Nig Ltd, Mr. Edward Edgal; and MD, Smile360 Dental, Dr. Amy Troare, among others.