Daddy Showkey recounts near death experience

‘My life is more important than career’
 
GHETTO soldier, Daddy Showkey is no longer the rave of the moment, but he’s not worried one bit by this.  John Asiemo, that’s his biological name, is rather grateful to God Almighty for sparing his life after a terrible car accident some years ago.
In an exclusive interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Thursday, August 7, 2014, the Galala dance exponent explained why his fortunes in music have dwindled in the last few years, while lamenting that friends abandoned him while he was sick.  He also insisted that the serial attacks on him in 2012, that left his personal assistant dead, was a clear assassination attempt and not a case of armed robbery.
The famous musician and one-time Glo ambassador equally opened up on his latest musical effort, Asalamabi.

Many have been asking what happened to Daddy Showkey?
I was down with sickness for about eight years now that almost took my life.  And people would see me and ask, Showkey, why are you not singing?  I will just look at these people, asking me about singing after what I went through you are asking me about singing?  You should ask me about my life because I know what I went through.  Some people died when I was out of the country.  I couldn’t walk for three years and nobody cared.  Listen to me, people associate with you today because you are popular, but if something happens to you, you would know who your friends are.  And I thank God that He showed me who my friends are.
Nobody cares about you if you dropped dead today.  I was away for three years because of my spinal cord injury. Nobody visited me. No one from my generation of singers identified with me.  That was bad.  And this makes me think we don’t care about ourselves anymore. It’s just eye service we are doing here.  This world, wetin my eyes see no be small thing.  That was a bitter experience.  Some only come to you when you have money.  They are fair weather friends.
You are here today to celebrate with your former PMAN National President, Bolaji Rosiji?
Yes, he is my friend.  When I returned from hospital after three years, Bolaji was among the few who visited me. He sent people to see me.  And apart from that, he is a good person.  In those days, when we were living in Ajegunle, he had a recording studio we were using at a very reduced cost.  We had to cross over in our canoe to record.  So, he played a role in our lives.  Whatever we are today, he contributed to it.  For us from Ajegunle to go to Apapa, where we then called big man area was unusual.  But with Bolaji, it was easy for us.
What’s your take on the current PMAN leadership crisis?
I have always said that love supersedes hatred, but if you give hatred a chance to supersede love, nothing can work.  For me, the problem with PMAN is the fact that we have lost the love we used to have for one another.  I’m happy with Nollywood though they have their own problem too.
Though they say they have two factions in PMAN, to me, PMAN is one. It’s high time we forgot our selfish interests and think about the future of our children.  What we lay down is what the up and coming ones will work on.  We should arrange our house.  No matter what happens, we should all come together and find the way to move our union forward.
Are you also worried that needy musicians can’t take care of their health needs?
Today, so many musicians have died because they couldn’t afford their medical bills. Now, everybody wants to be PMAN president. That’s not the issue.  The bone of contention is to get musicians together.  We need to help each other so we don’t all die like chicken.
So, what’s new for Daddy Showkey?
The Asalama Movement just dey come back.
What’s Asalama all about?
Asalama is all about beauty, when something is beautiful.  My movement is for peace.  I’m not here for wahala.  We are celebrating women’s beauty.
Is the song out?
Yes, I featured Harrysong.
When is the album dropping?
I can’t disclose that now.
What has changed about your music?
Nothing has changed. Music would always be music.  It is universal.  I’m not going to change my kind of music, though I will work with my producer to make some adjustments here and there.  I’m not going to do Hip Hop.  I will still do my kind of music because my fans are still there, yearning for it.  I will just flow with my producer.
What about changing your look?
What’s there to change?  Daddy Showkey is still Daddy Showkey. I sing for young people and I sing for my people. I also do conscious music where I challenge government to live up to their expectations.  I can’t change my style or look because that is Daddy Showkey.  I’m still very close to my roots.  I can’t leave my people.  I represent the masses.
How’s life, Daddy Showkey?
We are pushing on. God’s on our side.
What about family life?
We are very much okay.  I love my wife and children.
You are one of the lucky musicians who became landlords years back.  How does it feel?
That’s my private life.  And I have no comment on that.  My brother, I don’t talk about what I have or other people’s acquisition.
After the car accident, you suffered series of armed robbery attacks?
Armed robbers did not come to my house.  They were hired assassins because armed robber cannot rob me.  They love my music.  When that thing happened, a lot of boys were in the street, they were calling me, Baba no be we o, Baba no be we o.  Don’t forget I also lost one of my aides, which is still paining me till today.
Few weeks back, there was also this disturbing story that Daddy Showkey is now broke?
Sorry, I don’t talk about wealth.  Leave that to God.  If you come to my house, you would know whether I’m rich or hungry.  I’m a street boy. I grew up in the ghetto.  So, I can’t be exhibiting wealth.  Everybody knows my grass to grace story.  So, forget that one, please.
Having been out of the industry for about three years now, are you still appreciated?
I’m still very much appreciated.  We thank God.  My fans are still there for me.
Are you not threatened by the younger generation artistes?
Many years ago, I was up and coming too and some musicians were there.  And they are still there till today.  This one come another one goes, they go still dey here.  That’s life, my brother.

–               UCHE OLEHI