News

Ebenezer Obey: Unstoppable Flight Of Destiny (2)

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2023

Editor

Tunde Odesola

Out, out, brief candle! And the bard died. Darkness descended. The soul departed the body in a final shuttle, shuffling off this mortal coil, to be heard no more but his legacy lives on, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (MFR).

Unlike Fuji music, whose originator, Barrister, battled lifelong to assert his kingship, Jùjú music is a better-refined genre in terms of lyrical chastity, practitioners’ temperance and fan conduct. Barrister’s alter ego and abiding rival, General Kollington Ayinla aka Kébé Ńkwárà, said in an interview that enmity watered Fuji music to fruition.

Soon, the wheel of destiny caught up with a karmic past, turning full cycle in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb. While urging reigning Fuji stars to embrace peace and unity, Kollington, who fiercely challenged Barrister’s claim to Fuji kingship, admitted after Barrister died, that Agbájélolá was truly the founder of Fuji. If Kollington had died before Barrister and didn’t confess that Barrister founded Fuji, Baba Alátíká would have put a question mark on the crown of Bàrúsátì in the House of Agódo, from where Fuji originated. That wasn’t honourable, Kébé. That was a rivalry bitterly intentioned to rob Olóládé of his primacy.

However, what the Fuji genre lost to roughness, rawness and raunchiness, it gained in its simple vocal modulation, singable and danceable lyrics, making more practitioners embrace it much more than Jùjú, which pays detail to instrumentation and vocality.

In an interview with Àgbàletù TV a few months before he died, Obey’s master, Fatai Rolling Dollar, was asked about the meaning and evolution of Jùjú music. Born in Ede and christened Olayiwola Fatai Olagunju, in 1927, Rolling Dollar, who headlined music shows till he died in 2013, a few days before his 86th birthday, said: “Jùjú music doesn’t connote voodoo. The name Jùjú came from the way people threw the tambourine to one another while making music in those days. It was a fad to throw the tambourine to one another while playing music in those days, saying jú sí mi. Throw, in Yoruba language, means jú, and when you say jú repeatedly, it sounds like ‘jù-jú’.”

FROM THE AUTHOR: Ebenezer Obey: Unstoppable Flight Of Destiny (1) [OPINION ]

Rolling Dollar said Akanbi Ege was the first to play Jùjú music and also explained that Tunde King was the first to wax a Jùjú record. His words, “We had the Akanbi Ege (band), Atari Ajanaku (band) which included Ambrose Campbell before he went abroad. Atari Ajanaku (band) played the flute to their Jùjú. We also had Ayinde Bakare, Victor Olaiya, Ojoge Daniel and Rose Adetola separately played in the western region (Ibadan), Tunde Nightingale, S. F. Olowookere, IK Dairo started in Ibadan before moving to Lagos, Dele Ojo played in Ibadan before Sunday (King Sunny Ade) and Ebenezer (Obey) came on board.”

Rolling Dollar recalled how he got his nickname. “In 1935, whenever we wanted to play football in my primary school, St Patrick School located at Enu Owa-Ori Koriko on Lagos Island, I would be called upon to bring my dollar coin out and roll it, head or tail, so that we could choose 11 players each. That was where the name Rolling Dollar came from.”

Copyright issues didn’t result in bitter fights in those days as musicians showed more restraint and understanding than what obtains nowadays. The song, “Easy Motion Tourist”, which was composed by Rolling Dollar when he was in Julius Araba’s band, but remade by KSA, only attracted an apology to Rolling Dollar just as the song, ‘Ęní rí ǹkan he’, originally made by Ambrose Campbell but reworked by Obey didn’t end in acrimony.

By 1945, Rolling Dollar joined a band in Lagos. That was long before Obey apprenticed himself to Dollar in the early 50s before forming his own band, Royal Mambo Orchestra, at 15, in 1957. During their very first meeting, Obey’s prodigy shone through as he composed five songs when they walked to Dollar’s one-bedroom apartment, with the older musician strumming the guitar. The Ede prince affirmed Obey’s forebearance, hard work, managerial skills and creativity.

He recalled he got the inspiration for the hit, “Easy Motion Tourist,” when he and his truanting musical colleagues returned to the house of a friend, Olaseeni Tejuosho aka Téjè, from a gig late into the night. “The father of Téjè was a successful and rich lawyer who didn’t want his son to play music. We returned to their house after midnight, his father opened the window of his bedroom upstairs and asked where we were coming from. Téjè said we were coming from a gig. His father said we should return to where we were coming from. It was his mother that came to open the door for us later. That was where I got the inspiration from, we were coming from faaji (easy motion), and the son of the landlord was locked outside.”

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For 20 years, Obey’s mother, Abigail Oyindamola, was in the pit of sorrow because she was barren. Her family, fearing she could hurt herself with depression, felt a change of environment would do her some good. So, they advised her to go and stay with some family members in Ìdògò. In Ìdògò, a carpenter saw the beautiful lady, and told his friends, who were her elder brothers, “I will marry this your younger sister and she will give birth to male and female children for me.” The carpenter had three wives and many children already.

The prediction came through as the carpenter, Nathaniel Olaseewo Fabiyi, married Oyindamola, and their union was blessed with a baby girl they named Ooreofe Grace Olasunbo Amoke Fabiyi. Oyindamola, a cloth seller, was overjoyed.

Three years after the birth of their firstborn, the couple was blessed with a baby boy, Ebenezer Olasupo Remilekun Aremu Fabiyi. The carpenter-father wanted Ebenezer to become a carpenter like him, teaching him carpentry but Ebenezer had sold his soul to music from heaven.

To actualise his destiny, Obey left Ìdògò for Lagos, working as a newspaper vendor, bricklayer and well digger. But he remained focused on his goal – to become a ‘future star’. In fact, this was what he told the female secretary, who attempted to prevent him from seeing the Managing Director of Decca Studios, Yaba. Obey begged the secretary at the top of his voice, “I’m a future star! Don’t give me money, my music will sell.” It was the noise the Managing Director of Decca (West Africa) Limited, a white man, heard that prompted him to ask on the intercom what was happening. “Sir, there’s a young man who says he’s a future star. I told him the artist manager is on leave but he won’t listen,” the secretary said. “Send him to my office,” the MD replied. Obey later rose to become the Chairman of Decca after the death of Chief MKO Abiola.

If Obey didn’t understand his mother tongue proficiently, he could never reach his destiny. This is a lesson to parents who denigrate Nigerian languages, placing a premium on foreign languages. On the leadership rung of the country’s ladder, hardly can you find a successful Nigerian who cannot speak their mother tongue.

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For families who have been forced to relocate abroad because of misgovernment, it’s still important to teach your children their mother tongue, for no matter how long they stay abroad, there’s no place like home.

To our mediocre and corrupt governments, who deserve heaps of curses daily, the sense of displacement and identity loss suffered by Nigerians who relocate abroad cannot be overemphasised. ‘Tis disgraceful that public officers ceaselessly engage in trifling when starvation stalked Nigerians.

Obey, whose oeuvre consists of countless gospel songs, in the 1990s, finally quit recording secular music and became an evangelist. He formed DeCross Gospel Mission, a massive church located along Oyewole Road, Orile Agege, near Omotoye Estate, where his elder sister, Mama Olasunbo Keyede, lived with her husband, Baba Keyede, and their beautiful children – Seyi, Funke, Olumide, Tosin and Tolu. Olumide is my childhood friend. We bonded in the early 80s on Omotoye Estate where I also lived with my parents. Baba Keyede would stop you, no matter how young you are, and have a chatty discussion with you about your education. May his soul and that of his wife rest in peace.

Destiny and Fate are curious co-travellers. As a youngster, my family once lived at No 2 Lawanson Crescent, off Kayode Street, Mushin. One afternoon, I was sitting with my little sister on a table, near the balcony balustrade. Something caught my attention and I looked away. When my gaze returned to the table, I didn’t see my kid sister. I looked under the table, but she was not there. I looked down at the ground floor, there she was on the concrete floor! People rushed towards her, I fled downstairs.

Florence lived. She had no scratch on her body. Florence Ariyike Adewusi nee Odesola lived for 47 years before death came calling through cancer. She long gave her life to God and lived in his worship. She was a diligent worker at DeCross Church. Little wonder Baba Obey backrolled her funeral, saying ‘Florence was my daughter’.

Concluded.

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com

Facebook: @Tunde Odesola

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News

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

15 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

16 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

21 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”