narrated how he fell sick many times, and how he is trying to
survive after his illness. He also explains why part of his
Alagbado mansion has been put on sale.
A couple of months back, it was reported that you're
seriously ill. They even said it was a strange ailment and
that you're hospitalized in a private hospital and all that.
What's the truth about the whole thing?
What happened was that most of your people don't do their
investigations very well before writing their stories. I felt
hospital a long time before they reported that I was sick. They
even said a governor's wife visited me at the hospital and
when she was leaving her car killed somebody along Lagos
Abeokuta Expressway and many other things that are not true.
I had left the hospital for about two months back. Even the
day the story was not, I was in Osogbo, Osun State performing at an event alongside Musiliu Haruna Ishola. The
effect of this, is that if anybody wanted to invite such an
artiste for a show, they would consider meticulously because
they may also believe the person was truly sick. That's unfair.
But were you not truly sick then?
Nobody is above sickness. And the body also needs rest.
Anybody can fall sick at anytime, including the doctors taking
care of the sick. So, what are we saying? I was sick but I was
already out of the hospital, going about my normal duties as a
musician before they reported that I was not feeling fine. Do I
look sick? Definitely, no.
What was the nature of the sickness?
I had ulcer and typhoid.
How many days did you spend in the hospital?
I spent up to two weeks
Which hospital was that?
That's Hamkad Hospital, Abule Egba, Lagos.
Who were the people that came to your aid?
A lot of people. I am using this medium to say a big thank
you to them all. But I must specially thank Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola for his support. He was the first
person Wasiu Ayinde (K1 de Ultimate) rushed to and
informed him of my health situation. And immediately, the
governor responded very well. K1 also called on Governor
Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State. Immediately the governor was
told about my condition, he quickly sent money to me. I really
appreciate what Governor Fashola and his counterpart in
Osun, Aregbesola did for me. May God continue to be with
them. And equally, K1 de Ultimate really tried for me. If not
for his effort, these two governors wouldn't have known
anything. He called and told them I must die. They should do
everything within their means to rescue me, and they
surprised me. I pray God will be with Wasiu Ayinde as well
in all his endeavour.
But we learnt it was a strange ailment and not all that
medical…
(Cuts in )Yes, it's a strange ailment. It's spiritual. That's the
best way of describing it. But I thank God I am still alive. My
health condition then was worsened by the poor economic
situation of Nigeria, nothing is working. Everything is paralysed. I kept thinking to the extent that I wanted to sell
my property. If the government had not turned everything
upside down, people like myself are not supposed to be
suffering likes this. And the irony is that most of these people
in government were not that bad before coming to power. It's
only after getting there that they turned otherwise. We pray
that they change and remember the day of accountability. At
times, I wonder if this wasn't the same Nigeria. Even when
Babangida was there, things were very much better. I released
a lot of albums to inform Nigerians about the happenings in
the country and even beyond. In an ideal society, the government owes people like us a great responsibility.
It was reported days back that you have put this mansion
for sale, how true is it?
It's true. When you don't have money, you use whatever you
have to get what you want. I don't have money, and I need
money. I can't just be looking at the building, I can't eat it. I
need to convert it to money. But not the whole property that I
want to sell. It's just this uncompleted structure directly
opposite us (show reporter the building). I need to make that
clarification so that people out there won't be misinformed. I
am only selling part and not all the property here. This is
where I live.
How long have you been working on the house before you
decided to sell it?
I have been building if for about 14years. Had it been I am
financially okay, I should have finished it. I am tired of falling
sick all the time. Let me sell my property and have money to
do other things. I also want government to assist me, I don't
want to be suffering in silence.
So, you're still interested in selling it?
It's worth N80 million now
What do you intend to do with the money?
I will use part of the money to build another small bungalow
within this compound. I will demarcate the place. Also, I will
invest the rest of the money in a business that will be generating more money for me. If you can recall, in 1984, I
established Kollington Fish Depot, at Adura Bus Stop, Lagos
Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos. Everything was okay then but
later I took ill. It was so bad that I had to sell the depot to take
care of health then. May God save us from domestic
antagonism.
Let's agree that your sickness has been spiritual all this
while, what have you been doing to address it?
I put everything in the Hands of God. Also, I don't relent
because if you're being chased by a masquerade, you keep
running. That's why I am crying out loud and clear so that
whoever God has sent to me can help me. I can't continue to
be hiding my broken hand.
Did you inform your children of the decision to sell the
property?
Yes, they are aware of my decision but there is nothing they
can do about it. Most of them are in United States of America.
They are all in school. It's after their education that they can
start working. They all supported that I should sell it and
spend money on whatever I like. There is problem all over.
It's because I voiced out, that's why you have the privilege of
knowing all these. A lot of people face tougher times than I
do but they don't want their situation known to the public. As
for me, I can't be suffering and smiling at the same time.
Whatever people like, let them say.
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