Recently, an article surfaced online titled ‘Lagos Big Spenders Hailed By ‘K1 The Ultimate’ That Are No Where To Be Found.’
The article is authored by one Seyi Chicago, a self-acclaimed media writer and first published by the Opera news platform some months ago. Perhaps because of the very nature of the article; intentionally intended to malign the big boys of a certain era, the article soon gained traction, going viral across WhatsApp groups and platforms where it enjoyed wide circulation among many users. The article also enjoys a trending status on some groups on Facebook as well as other social media platforms.
The ostentatious article went ahead and reeled out names of these individuals which it noted dominated the news and party waves of Lagos society; big spenders like Sanje (Sanjay) Olohuntoyin, Muyiwa Bashorun aka Bill Gates of Africa aka Borokini of Isolo, Niyi Obodo (Niyi Aderinoye), Sati Ramon aka Omo Salawe aka Ibu Owo Oko Monica, Rilwan Aleshinloye, Tunde Borokinni, Wale Saubana Balogun, Wale Adeniyi Saubana, Goddy Anabor and Alumile Adedeji aka Ade Bendel.
Other names it mentioned are Monsurat Chicago, Kayode Oduniyi aka Kay-Hanger, Dotun Aderibigbe aka Lobito, Jide Okunnu aka Oga Copperfield, Segun Alawaye, Ade Odutayo, Babatunde Onakoya aka Debasco, Wole Amodemaja, Tunde Oloko, Muhideen Aileru, Kayode Lanihun, Segun Awesu, Wale Awesu, Tayo Alaikum, Taiye Adekambi and Olumide Abegunde, among others.
The badly written misnomer of an article went on to make a conclusion devoid of rational reasoning, logic or even commonsense. It said, “These people were hailed to no end by musicians but 99% of them are nowhere to be found today, although almost all of them are alive. Some gone broke and went bankrupt.”
Rounding off the article in the fashion of a motivational speaker that must leave a moral lesson to be remembered, the writer had sermonised, “If you are wealthy today, use it in the way of God not to showcase to musicians while members of your families and friends are dying of hunger…”
Understandably, the short article was curated for the operanews for pecuniary reason as content creators for the platform are paid according to the number of times or clicks such an article gets. And because the writer is not proud of the gobbledygook he or she penned down, they dissociated themselves from the article, using a pseudonym, Seyi Chicago, instead on the article. If not for the fact that the writer had explicitly gone ahead to malign good names in the quest to pass what could have been a good lesson, the article is not deserving of a rejoinder which this writeup sets to do.
Unfortunately, the badly researched, error-ridden article has caused a friction between Wasiu Ayinde (K1 The Ultimate) and many of the prominent names written on the list. This is for the reason that since the widely shared article had been circulating, the singer has not done anything in response either to protect the integrity of these individuals who have in no small way contributed to growing his brand and helping him achieve what he has today in his hugely successful music career. With his huge following, his network of persons and the very nature of his person, many of the individuals believed that KI could have put the record straight.
This is also coming on the heels of a currently trending video where another ace Fuji musician, Pasuma Wonder is seen prostrating before K1, obviously apologising for something he must have done to slight the older musician. From the video, K1 was seen to have completely disregarded Pasuma who is also a big shot in his very right.
The action which spells disdain, condescension and derision has generated a lot of reactions across the fan base of the duo and has elicited the response of one of the individuals touted to have lost his glory in the above discussed article. The man, Wole Amodemaja, who is a businessman based in the United Kingdom and owns a chain of restaurants over there, in his reaction, took to his social media page to unequivocally condemn the actions of both Pasuma and K1. He lambasted Pasuma for stooping so low to prostrating to someone who obviously has no respect for his actions. He equally lambasted K1 for his demeaning reaction and allowing his aides to post the humiliating video out for public consumption.
The fallout of that incident is a consideration for another article.
Back to the issue at hand, the article on the Lagos spenders who K1 sang about is badly researched to have come to a finite conclusion that “…but 99% of them are nowhere to be found today, although almost all of them are alive. Some gone broke and went bankrupt,” is malicious, malignant and malevolent, to say the least. One of the points the article made was the fact that these individuals where big spenders many decades ago. Had the writer considered there comes a point in life when people get tired of hugging the limelight to give room for others, the unfounded conclusions would not have sufficed.
O ya ka re Royal Castle, ni Surulere, nile Saubana Atanda Balogun 🎶🎶🎶🎶
The above rendition was blasted by K1 in 1989 at the house warming of one of those mentioned in the list, Chief Saubana Atanda. It is interesting to note that Chief Atanda is still alive and doing very well. Rumour also has it that that the musician was one of those that arranged chairs at the said event back then.
Perhaps, this writer had considered the ‘big spenders’ of today in the scope of the likes Shina Peller, among others. Has he considered that these people were not born or were still running around with catarrh running down their noses when the so-called ‘broke and bankrupt’ individuals were reigning? Many of these people have left the spotlight for their children. Some others have left these climes to settle in other countries where they are renowned for their philanthropic and humanitarian gestures. These are people like the Wole Amodemaja and Otunba Olumide Abegunde earlier mentioned.
It is a fact that whatever this rejoinder can achieve, a reaction and response from the K1 himself will do so much more. It behooves the singer as someone who has enjoyed the patronages of these individuals whose names have been maligned in the said article (still enjoys it today) to rise up to the occasion and set the record straight. After all, this is what is expected of him.
It is also noteworthy that five people on the unnecessary list are no more. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
