Me, D’banj and Don Jazzy : How The Cookie Crumbled by Azuka Ogujiuba

Do I even say that everything happened by sheer providence? I met D’banj and Don Jazzy about nine years ago through Dumebi Kachikwu who introduced me to these two burgeoning artistes then. When Kachukwu called me, l told him l was on a three-month maternity leave and that l would give him my colleague’s number to call so he could assist him with whatever they wanted to do. He insisted he wanted me on board; that D’banj and Don Jazzy would meet me at home or where ever l wanted. Bewildered but I braved the odd somehow. I told him l couldn’t leave my house because my baby was pretty young and was still breastfeeding. However, l probed a little further why Kachikwu wanted me to do an interview with them at all cost which in my modest submission, anyone in my office could as well prosecute. And I still have a strong presence of mind, don’t mind me, I just don’t forget certain things. These were his exact words: ‘These guys are stars, they are going to big mark my words’ and l asked: ‘Which star? Nobody knows these your emergency stars o.’ l remarked jocularly. Kachukwu insisted that they were stars and would be big soon in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Well, as a Christian, I know what the Bible says of our humble beginnings. Kachikwu continued: “Azuka, l believe in these guys. They are talented, we must support them, l really need you to come on board. You have to do this for me, please.” He pleaded tenaciously. Words almost failed me. My curiosity swelled almost to a crescendo as l pondered what was the might of these men who was making Kachikwu plead this way. Now, this wasn’t about playing hard to get; l just had a baby l wanted to spend time with her. It was my maternity leave but Kachikwu’s constant calls and pleas to interview these guy took my resolve out of the equation. I found myself shifting grounds against my will. Even Israel Edjeren who was part of the project then was also harassing me with calls on the other side to the extent he had to visit me at home apparently to know if I was playing hard to get but they found out the truth anyway. The truth was my baby was ‘shacking’ me as they say and she was all that mattered at that moment of my solitude. Kachikwu had a valentine show coming up then tagged ‘History of Love 101’ which had American stars like Chante Moore, Kenny Latimore, Donell Jones and 112 all performing on that day. Kachukwu wanted to give Dbanj and Don Jazzy a bigger platform to perform with these artistes. D’banj and Don Jazzy finally came to my house the next day. I was even breastfeeding my baby when they came, they waited patiently amid some very exciting hobnobs. They were so cool, impressively affable and felt so relaxed in my house that was inside one bush corner like that at Akoka. I noticed D’banj was the talkative like me and the extrovert while Don Jazzy had this sweet smile. He seldom talked. He just listened to me and D’banj. They even gave my baby some monetary gift, saying that in African culture they don’t see a new baby without giving him or her a gift. In no time, we became not just friends, but like family members. We exchanged numbers and called one another whether it mattered or not and our ‘gists’ would drag on forever. Their first major interview in Nigeria was done by me. It was a three-page interview spread, no newspaper in Nigeria will ever do that for an upcoming music group.

PDP Keeps Dribbling Me, 17 Years After Designing Its Umbrella Logo – Gbenga Amobonye

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, in one of the on-going campaign rallies for this year’s general elections, told on excited crowd that the party will continue to do well if it refrains from the habit of using and dumping its members. To situate this statement in its proper context, until 1998, there was no name like the PDP.

The name became famous, perhaps than other parties, because it was the party of choice when it was founded to usher in the new political dispensation in 1999. The name, however, is not as popular as its logo, the umbrella. The party is so popular that sometimes, only its logo would suffice. The now celebrated logo was designed by a journalist, Gbenga Amobonye.
However, Amobonye’s effort to the success of the party today appears an oversight as some have suggested. Thunder does not strike on the same spot twice. If after repeated efforts to get the party’s hierarchy to see the need why this unsung hero should be rewarded and, at every effort, there is a brick wall, one is quick to align with its Chairman’s postulation of use and dump. Amobonye wrote several letters to the party leadership without any response. Well, if the letters did not get to the addressee, the addressee cannot be blocked from reading Amobonye’s thoughts on the pages of newspapers.

Ambode Has Mental Disorder, Group Alleges …I’m of Sound Mind and Body, Ambode Replies

Akinwunmi Ambode

In a rather bizarre twist to the 2015 general election narrative, a group named the Greater Lagos Alliance has called for the disqualification of the Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode. The group, which claims to be non-partisan, predicated its call on the recent discovery that Ambode allegedly has a history of mental illness.

This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s president, Dr Lanre Adeoye, and made available to our correspondent. According to the statement, “We have been working behind the scenes for the enthronement of a new government that would take off from where Governor Fashola stops from. After assessing the two major candidates (Ambode and Jimi Agbaje of the People’s Democratic Party) and made our position known publicly on who to support based on their competencies and comparative advantages, we are sad to announce the withdrawal of our support for the candidate of the APC.”

TUFACE FLAUNTS WEDDING RING TO COUNTER RUMOURS

Tuface

Pop star, Tuface Idibia has been trying all his best to dispel the ugly rumour threatening his two-year-old marriage to  Annie Idibia.

The singer was spotted at the 355 Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos a night after the controversial picture linking him in a fresh romance with one of his ex-girlfriends was released (see pix after the cut). The artiste was seen posing for a photograph while proudly flashing his wedding ring at the MTV Base roundtable #chooseorlose forum in the company of his  friend and colleague, Sound Sultan.

Tuface married actress, Annie two years ago at a star studded ceremony in Dubai and he has been trying to inform all his friends and fans that his marriage is very intact with claims that whoever started the rumour is mischievous.

The Oyo State Governorship Debate: the drama, the surprise, the revelations, Akala shuns political debates

Prior to the SPLASH FM political debate, the Radio Nigeria had a debate for all the contestants for the Oyo State governorship race where Senator Rasheed Ladoja and Chief Bayo Alao-Akala were conspicously absent. A message which came from Senator Ladoja was read to the audience where he cited that he heard that serious contenstants would not be present while Akala claimed he got the notice late and was on his way to Oke-Ogun for his campaign.

Crisis Hits Yayi’s Camp As Campaign Chief Dies Of Poisoning (family alleges ‘internal connection’)

Olalekan Adeola

The ambition of lawmaker, Honorable Olalekan Adeola Solomon to represent the people of Lagos West in the Senate has been dealt a major blow barely some days after a violent clash on the streets of Lagos that left many of his supporters wounded with the recent death of one of his strongest backers who died of poisoning.

No Election if Service Chiefs Can't Guarantee Security

Attahiru Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday February 18th  assured Nigerians that the preparation process towards the general elections will continue to improve. He made this known while answering questions in the Senate chamber.