By Taiwo Alimi,The Nation

Copyright thenationonlineng

Adeyinka Akinwande, Singer ,dramatist and social activist, spoke on president Bola Tinubu’s recent honours for heroes of June 12, 1993 Election, which is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. Writes TAIWO ALIMI.

I totally agree with the honour. But many other people who fought are not honoured. Many of them are gone, many still living. The honour should not be only those in politics or people who are loyal to a party. Gbenga Adewusi got his place of business destroyed because of June 12. His office at Idumota was set Ablaze. I was among those who worked with him during the production of ” Babanginda must go

Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister should also be honoured, dead, or alive, just as Abiola was honoured. He was fearless. Dr Orlando Owoh was fearless. I was working with Dr. Sikiru during the June 12 struggle. Not as his staff but as one of the production crews. At that period. The songs he made were straight and direct. During one of the studio sessions, his set drummer,Mufu Lanihun, was beginning to roll drums and play the kick drum in dancing style. Barrister warned him to stop! He said his music was not for that at the time Nigeria was going through that though time. We were working on “Prophecy.” I asked him if he wasn’t troubled. He said the state security invited him but later let him go. After that, he made another and another. He didn’t stop. We know many people who were two-faced at the time. Orlando Owoh sang “Na democracy we want” during the deadly Abacha reign. Such people should be honoured for their contributions to the well-being of the country and to entertainment in general.

For example, Paul McCartney is a Knight. Anthony Joshua is MBE, to mention just a few. If Victor Osimhen could be honoured twice even because he won the scuddeto for Napoli FC and those other under 17 boys could be honoured, why not look into the entertainment industry and give kudos.

The same Babangida who turned Nigeria upside down at the time is being highly praised as national treasure now. We didn’t fight for Abiola, we fought for Nigeria, our right because in all honesty, Abiola was not clean.

Barrister was already a sick man, Orlando himself was sick. Even then, they did not compromise. They worked days and nights to produce those songs. I witnessed when Alhaji Sikiru busted into tears during a studio session because he was having a lot of pain. His feet were swollen, his voice was unstable. Orlando just survived partial stroke, he was lean and coughing. He often cleared his throat, even then he didn’t stop producing protest songs against the wicked men in uniform

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After we produced ‘Babangida must go.’ We did ‘Ologini tajode’, those were Ewi by Gbenga Adewusi produced by Julie king and Julius Olagoroye. Gbenga Adewusi mentioned the names of those who worked in the poem. Then we heard that we were being looked for. I also worked in the production of the protest poems released by Kunle Ologundudu. Those were risky periods for anyone to be involved in activities against those wicked guys in power. We raised our voices, put our talents together to cry out against injustices and oppression.

I know many musicians who were visiting aso rock to perform every weekend or those who were lobbying for contracts. Felix Lebarty converted to Islam, and he changed his name.

Generally, people in the entertainment industry are not honoured in our country. Another example is Laolu Akins. Alade Aromire who made the first indigenous home video drama,”Aje’niyami”

We later heard that the state security was looking for us, and we were informed that they visited Afrodisia studios where the ewi was recorded and made enquiries. Gbenga Adewusi fled. Some people said he was in Benin Republic. Those of us who were too young, we were just living under the grace of God just like most Nigerians were. Later, Gbenga Adewusi appeared with some kind of long beard that covered almost his entire face because he was disguising.

For Abiola, we exercise our rights. We were denied we protested, but many were killed. In fact, those who died in their homes were many due to strayed bullets. June 12 should be a reminder to what happened to the soul that were lost. Innocent souls. Students who were killed during protests at school. Now the country has forgotten about them since they have moved on. A young girl was killed inside her home by strayed bullet. People in uniform found opportunities to beat up citizens anyhow because they were in position to do so, yet they are part of the oppressed. Their families were at home as civilians suffering the same suffering other citizens were going through. But when they send them to riot places they will shoot live bullet, use buttons to beat, used their boots to match on people, they forget they are only civilians in uniforms, their families are nit uniform people.

I see myself as a Nigerian to the core and my duty as a citizen to contribute to the development and unity of Nigeria. I have always been working with the youths to develop their talents in religious and non religious areas. I did ‘A Day of Unity in the UK bringing the different tribes together for dinner. I organised a prayer service with the Church of England to pray for Nigeria and its people at the time Nigeria was at edge. I arranged tge youths to make song and pray for Nigeria. It is titled, “Nigeria by Adeyinka Akinwande and the Youth Fellowship. Now I am preparing to work with some Muslim Youths to encourage them to record a song.”