Encomium
ON Sunday, January 18, 2015, Fuji lord, Alhaji Wasiu Olasunkanmi Ayinde Anifowoshe, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate has further demonstrated his loyalty to All Progressives Congress (APC), by donating some items, including public address systems. This, the successful musician cum politician did, to boost grassroots campaign ahead February general elections.
He spoke on this gesture and few other issues when he granted ENCOMIUM Weekly interview at APC Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos that same day.
What’s the motive behind supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) with these public address systems?
I am a party man, and in the last 16 years, I have been part and parcel of good governance in Lagos and Nigeria at large. I don’t think these are too much to be given back to the party that I believe so much in. I believe so much in APC. It’s the party of the people. I have also been a democrat for a very long time. That’s what I believe. Regardless of any other thing, I am a Nigerian and I have the right of freedom of affiliation.
Why the choice of public address system?
First, we’re talking about grassroots, we need to do something that will touch the grassroots. This public address system is meant for the wards. It’s a gadget that has capacity of about 48 to 72 hours of operation without light. It can be used effectively in the rural areas. So far it’s charged for like one hour, it can be on for three hours before it can be recharged. So, if there is no electricity supply for three days, they can still enjoy it. It has nothing to do with power failure. It’s a multipurpose public address system. It comes with microphones. Not only that, you can use it as a DVD if there is any information they want to get across to the people. It’s a gadget that can make information get to the people so fast. I want to try as much as possible to contribute my little quota to the party. This is not my first time of donating to the party and of course, to the cause of good governance. I have donated myself, made myself available to the party all the time. In the last elections, I know what I did. I know what I do at every election period like this. I try as much as possible to reach out to my people. I am co-beneficiary of good governance as well.
Who are the direct beneficiaries of this gesture?
They are all our party members from all the 377 wards in Lagos State. It will enable them reach out to one another clearly.
Apart from these gadgets, it’s also interesting to know that you donated yourself to the party in the cause of this campaign. How many of your colleagues have you been able to bring into it?
Number one, it’s a matter of choice and that’s me. I don’t want to speak to anybody, neither will I force anybody to be part of the train, not even my children. This is democracy which gives everybody the right to do whatever pleases him or her. I am saying mine, other people may be saying theirs as well. This is just me, Olasunkanmi Ayinde Marshal (K1 de Ultimate).
Can you tell us exactly how much you spent on these items because we learnt they set you back by millions of naira?
Unfortunately, I can’t just say specifically this is how much I spent. Sometimes, it doesn’t make meaning to me. But this is something you don’t just come by so easily but definitely someone can come back with something good.
Given the fact that this is to support General Buhari and Akinwunmi Ambode, what’s your word for the electorate in the February general elections?
First, every Nigerian should know that these elections coming up are very important. Very important in many ways. Without gainsaying or lying, Nigerians are not enjoying the benefits of good governance from the national level as expected. It’s only when people want to be economical with the truth that they will say Nigeria is good, we need to tell ourselves the truth. Nigeria is not good. Have they looked back at Nigeria of over 30 years? The rate at which people travel out of the country now to either work or stay abroad is worse than what obtained then. It wasn’t as crazy as it is now. Majority of Nigerians are not enjoying the dividends of democracy. We can’t continue to keep our mouths shut. We need to say it loud and clear. I don’t know of others. I will continue to say it. I am constantly on a global tour as a musician. I see many Nigerians abroad, when you ask them why they are there, they will tell you they prefer to remain there sweeping the street to being in Nigeria doing nothing. You can imagine it’s as bad as that. People are not enjoying anything. Education system is not working. Nothing works. Let them show us what works. I am speaking this time around as an individual, a Nigerian, who sees things clearly in the last 40 years. I have been a party person for a very long time, since my youth. I have been voting as an executive member of a party in Nigeria when I was 18. My being a politician is not just an overnight thing. I have worked at the secretariat of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), when Mr. Ebenezer Babatope was the Director of Organisation. I was working under him as an office boy. I don’t even know if he would still remember he had somebody like me.
A lot of people out there will believe K1 might have been paid for him to be this loyal to APC, composing campaign songs and all that. What’s your take on this?
Definitely, I am blessed with my job. How can anybody look at me, a 58 year-old man, and say I have been paid? If I don’t know what bites so hard in my society at 58, when will I be able to speak out? Those of you that know me will testify that I have not just been talking. I have been talking for over 40 years. Way back 1984, I released an album, Tala 84. I talked about epileptic supply of electricity. Definitely, the same problem is still not corrected. Even it is getting worse by the day. My question now is was I paid then to say what I said? If I wasn’t paid then, definitely nobody will pay me now. We’re not destabilizing the nation. We’re crying out to make a good nation. If you go to Republic of Benin, you will see that they are enjoying the benefits of good governance. People that live in Benin Republic don’t spend money crazily on generator sets and diesel as we spend here in Nigeria. And there, they don’t have. The only thing they do there is business and they have only one port. So, what are we saying?
So, that means K1 is not just an entertainer but a social crusader?
Call me anything so far it’s good and in the cause of a good nation.
We learnt you will soon be on a music tour with your daughter, Honey Bee. How true is this and what preparations have you put in place in respect of that?
Yes, you’re correct. I am going on a music tour with my daughter and I am fully prepared. I am still a functional musician. Immediately after the elections I will be on tour.
Why not carry other children who are also musicians along, why only Honey Bee?
Number one, they say one step after the other. We can’t put all our eggs in the same basket. As I am going with Honey Bee, other ones are there studying. I have six of my children doing music. So, we will be doing it one after the other.
How does it make you feel having six of your children as musicians?
It makes me happy. It makes me a good father.
We believe your greatest aspiration is that they surpass your record…
(Cuts in) We thank Almighty God as everything is going on now. It’s showing the pace. If Fela did it and very many musicians in Nigeria have been able to transform between them and their children successfully, why won’t I?
TADE ASIFAT
