Nigerian singer, Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni or Teni Makanaki, has narrated the dynamics of growing up as an Apata, saying, the passing away of her father when she was two years old robbed her of having a father figure.
The late Brig. Gen. Simeon Apata (rtd.) was assassinated in front of his family by gunmen on January 8, 1995, in Lagos.
Featuring as a guest in the latest episode of the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by actor, Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh, aka Taymesan; Teni said she was just two years old when the incident occurred in their living room.
She said, “My father was a disciplinarian. He was a soldier and he owned a school, Apata Memorial High School. He was also a big philanthropist. He sent a lot of people to school, provided houses for many and also changed a lot of people’s lives.
“The trauma of losing my father at a young age affected me. You know, him being assassinated in the presence of all of us and all that. I was just two at the time. It sort of made me have trust issues growing up because the gunmen came into our house purposely to kill my father.”
She however noted that her father remains her hero.
See the video:
