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 Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 2:37am On Jun 14, 2018 |
RoyalPriesthuud:
So Fela lied, just to tarnish another man's image? Meaning Fela is not the man he has been turned into today? I see this pattern repeating over and over again now. The past leaders are about as corrupt, tribalist, nepotistic and inept as current ones, Zik, Awo, MKO, Fela, etc. have their personality polished by those seeking to capitalise on it.
Anyway, I've stopped giving a damn, they were not great, no need looking at some 'glorious past', it's a distraction  . I'm looking for those brave enough to dream of a great tomorrow; it's proving difficult... Here's the truth. I lived during the era of most of these people that you mentioned and I saw details of their lives that are not really published in the media today. The truth is that none of them is a saint and none of them is a devil. They are people like you and they have their good points and their flaws. Some people might like to highlight their good points and some people might like to highlight their flaws, but they have both flaws and good points. I remember a letter I wrote to a Nairalander before the 2015 election. I said that most of the bad things that were being written about Buhari were untrue and I took the time to debunk them (I could do that easily because I remember his first administration very well), yet I told her that I didn't want Buhari to be president and I outlined the reasons (again, I could do that because I remember his administration very well). The truth is that Buhari has both his good and bad sides. Once again, I'm a huge fan of both Fela and Abiola, but the truth is that both of them would most likely be in jail if they lived in this era (or if I was president). |
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| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 1:51am On Jun 14, 2018 |
RoyalPriesthuud:
The excerpts you posted still does not explain Fela's criticisms of ITT and Abiola corrupt dealings in the song. Or should one take Fela's words with a grain of salt? I'm stupidly confused. I don't know why we don't write objective histories in this part of the world. Those quotes are from Fela's own book and they are his words. From that point onwards both men became enemies and were ready to do anything to discredit each other. Remember that Fela said that he had not even heard of Abiola before then. That was the reason that they became sworn enemies. |
| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 1:28am On Jun 14, 2018 |
RoyalPriesthuud:
Sir Naptu2, I am young and do not want to believe hyped stories again after believing in such about Buhari in 2015 and sorely disappointed. If this man was that great as you've painted him, why was Fela not fond of him? I really want to know. I Nearly Beat Up Abiola (MKO) For Sam Amuka Office. He Begin Dey Beg – Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (ITT Story) Part One
“Whaaaaaaaaam! Here I was, in one blow, out in the streets with all my people: about eighty of us! My case in court? It was thrown out, man. They didn’t even hear it. They withdrew all of the bullshit charges against me.
Eventually the courts also threw out my multi-million naira compensation claim. Oh, the corruption of those courts! Those people are such bastards, man. Where to seek justice? Jobless. Homeless. Still in a cast, my body all bandaged. So I told everybody, “OK, motherfuckers, we must all get back to work!” We had to try to get the Shrine moving again ‘cause we didn’t have shit.
All of my equipment, my belongings, they’d all gone up in flames with the house. Not a fuckin’ thing was left. Me, my girls, and the rest of my people slept in my brother Beko’s garage for a while. We still kept our dignity, though, man. We started the Shrine back. I began playing again, with one arm and a leg in a cast. That’s when I composed “Sorrow, Tears and Blood”. We were penniless, man. Then I thought to myself: “Don’t I have money coming to me from Decca or EMI?” We’re now in June-July. … Now, what was this whole thing with Decca? It’s a long story, man.
You see, Decca is a motherfucker, man. Wow! Decca signed with me when I was popular. When they burned my house, Chief MKO Abiola of ITT took over Decca and drove out Mr Booth, the white man who was managing Decca. The white man wanted me, so they drove him away to London. Then Decca started giving me horrors.
First I must tell you that, before my house was burnt down, Mr Booth had told me I was popular and that Decca wanted to sign me. But that he was afraid ‘cause people were saying I was a hooligan and things like that. They were telling him that I wouldn’t deliver. So he was afraid. When he talked to me though he said he liked me and that he wasn’t afraid of me. But really, underneath he was afraid. So in the contract he put a clause that whoever –Decca, me, or anyone –bleeped the contract up, they would have to pay 250,000 naira. That was what he put in the contract. You see what I mean?”
Penniless as I was, I decided to go to Decca. That first day I took along all my women and our mattresses to the Director’s office. I didn’t take over Decca office right away. http://www.maziabeidris.com/i-nearly-beat-up-abiola-mko-for-sam-amuka-office-he-begin-beg-fela-anikulapo-kuti-itt-story-part-one/The (ITT Story) Part Two : “Abiola (MKO) Ke? I Didn’t Even Know The Motherfucker Existed!”- Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
In the first part of the series, Abami narrates in his own carefree way, the situation that led up to his rather humorous encounter with the equally legendary, Chief MKO Abiola, who was then Chairman of Decca Records, Fela’s recording company at the time.
The story continues from the Alhaji, Pastor, St. Augustine’s mouth………
“Remember, I didn’t have a house ‘cause they’d burnt my house down, right, so I don’t have a place to stay. So we went prepared.
Now MKO Abiola had just put this guy there as Director of Decca. His name is Mr Ogeus, a Dutchman, from Holland. So I meet this Mr Ogeus to tell him to give me my 250,000 Naira for breach of contract, man! “Mr Ogeus,” I said, “if you don’t pay me, I will stay here with you until you do. We don’t have a place to stay, so I brought my mattresses. I’m not going to court. Just give me my money.”
Ogeus went to the police. You see that! I come peacefully and he goes to get the police! The police came. They asked him: “You want to force them out?” “No,” he said. “But I think I should discuss things with Fela.” “OK,” I said. “I agree, we should discuss it.” So we agreed to meet at the police office the following morning. I said, “I agree.” So I left with my wives and mattresses.
We met at the police station the next day and we discussed. The police agreed that their lawyer should investigate the contract, and that they would give their opinion after the investigation. You understand? The police kept the contract for two weeks and the lawyer gave his opinion: breach of contract. So the police promised to bring MKO Abiola to the police station to discuss it.
The first time, he didn’t come. Second time, he came. That was the first day I ever met MKO Abiola. I didn’t even know the man existed. So he comes to the police station and swears on his mother’s life, that he never did anything to me wrongly and that he promises to settle the matter. So we left. One week … two weeks … one month … nothing! OK. Good. So me and my women, we took our mattresses and went to Decca again, for a second time. “Now, where is my money?” I asked Ogeus. “OK, if that is what you want, I’m leaving the office for you,” he answered.
Now, he had a very big sitting-room and thick carpets everywhere, so we laid our mattresses down. Ogeus, the white man, left the office and went to the police station. When he got to the police though, they wouldn’t move ‘cause they’d already been to investigate the matter. So I was”there in Decca office with my women for seven weeks.
It was the Inspector-General of Police himself who got me out. You know how Yusufu got me out? Here I am one night, sleeping at Decca, when police come. Not to arrest me-o! But to take me to see the Inspector General. Yusufu had sent for me in the middle of the night to’ go to his house, man. When I got there, he said: “Fela, you have to leave now.” “Why?” I asked. “Sir, they have to pay me-o. Or else you send your police to batter me if you like.” “Fela, you know I can’t do that.” “Fine. Then, they’ll have to pay.” That’s when he said to me: “Fela, you know they’ve taken me to court now.” I understood then what was happening.
You see, while I was living at Decca office, those motherfuckers had taken me to court. The lawyers, they lie. And the magistrate issued a bench order on me for … “illegal occupation”. Of course, the court didn’t hear my side of the case at all. But the police who knew my side of the story and everything about the matter refused to execute the bench warrant. In court, they said that every time they would go to the premises of Decca to get me out, they couldn’t find me! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! So Decca sued the police in court for not executing the bench warrant. That’s why M.D. Yusufu said to me: “If I go to court, they’ll embarrass me.” “Yes,” I said. “I know that.” After a moment of silence, I said: “OK. Fine. Give me one more week. Let me enjoy one more week, Sir, ‘cause you know I don’t have house any more. At Decca they have big sitting-room and offices with carpet everywhere.”
Yusufu shook his head, with a bit of a smile in his eyes. “OK, stay there one more week.” That’s how I finally left Decca, you know. But people don’t know that Fela had done his underground work legally, and everything. They think I’m a hooligan who just went into Decca and sat down. But, man, I was the winner, you see. Let me tell you the reason why I always get victorious over people. People think I’m mad, but I don’t do things rashly. People think I do things rashly because at the point when I’m gonna do action, those who do not know what’s been happening will think I am being rash…….” Culled from ‘Fela : This Bitch Of A Life' By Carlos Moore (1982). http://www.maziabeidris.com/?p=1218
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| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 1:25am On Jun 14, 2018 |
RoyalPriesthuud:
Sir Naptu2, I am young and do not want to believe hyped stories again after believing in such about Buhari in 2015 and sorely disappointed. If this man was that great as you've painted him, why was Fela not fond of him? I really want to know. Fela and Abiola had issues because of Decca. Decca was one of the biggest record companies in Nigeria in the 1970s and '80s. Fela was signed to the Decca label. Abiola bought over the company and Fela believed that Abiola was cheating him (not paying him what he was due). That's how their quarrel began. |
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| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 12:58am On Jun 14, 2018 |
ChiefSweetus:
I was reading this thread
I got to this point He gave an example of a time when Abiola Babes had to represent Nigeria in either Zaire or Equatorial Guinea (I can’t remember which)
I paused
I smiled
I went to confirm OP
I smiled again
Your biggest fan remains loyal, Don naptu. I love you fiercely! HistoryLegend Thank you. |
| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 12:57am On Jun 14, 2018 |
PassingShot:
When upon his return from the brief exile following June 12 annulment, he was asked how he managed to escape without alerting anyone. His reply was:
A bird does not tell a fellow bird that stone is on its way. seunayantokun:
A tree that cannot support you if you lean on it cannot kill if it falls on you.
MKO 1993. IamaNigerianGuy:
"You do not tell a blind man the rain is falling."
It is notable that the 5th proverb on your list : "you cannot shave my head in my absence" was directed at Tony Anenih (SDP Chairman) and other elements of the SDP leadership who surrendered Abiolas mandate in 1993 and opened talks to the military junta while he was away from Nigeria.
I watched an interview Tony Anenih granted around that time where he stammered out an unconvincing explanation for his actions.
Just wanted to put this out there.
Abiolas great mistake was his unwillingness to use maximum force against the military. YarAdua and Soyika said as much on different occasions
Great post as usual Naptu2. Keep up the good work! Toosure70:
The hand of giver is always on top - MKO Trexnemesis:
MKO on the need for privatisation to stop looting:
WHAT BELONGS TO EVERYBODY, BELONGS TO NOBODY. JoBabs:
No matter how big the pregnancy of a rat, it can't give birth to an elephant... |
| Politics › Re: 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 5:19pm On Jun 13, 2018 |
Do you remember any of Chief M.K.O Abiola's other proverbs? Please post them here. |
| Politics › 13 Famous Proverbs Of MKO Abiola by naptu2(op): 5:19pm On Jun 13, 2018 |
Chief M.K.O Abiola was a very charismatic speaker. His speeches and interviews were always entertaining and informative. I remember watching an event on LTV in which he spoke and performed for almost an hour. He pointed out someone in the audience and said that the person was his classmate in school. He said that he couldn’t afford a textbook, so he usually borrowed the man’s textbooks for the weekend. He said that he would memorise everything in the textbooks and that he often had higher grades than the man. He said that he had to form a music band, in order to fund his expenses in school and his band usually performed at events around Abeokuta. He later performed on stage with Sir Shina Peters (the event was televised on LTV c1991). There was another interview that he granted LTV in which he spoke for almost 30 minutes, explaining why he disbanded Abiola Babes Football Club. He said that the club did not receive the required support from the NFA. He gave an example of a time when Abiola Babes had to represent Nigeria in either Zaire or Equatorial Guinea (I can’t remember which) in the African Cup Winners Cup and yet the NFA insisted that the club must play its league match the next day. He described how he travelled to the country with the team. The match was not played in the capital and the host team did not make arrangements for Abiola Babes to travel to the town where the match was played, so he had to hire a bus to take the team to the town. They were attacked by armed robbers on the highway and he had to give the robbers dollars before they left. Then he had to drive the bus because the driver was in shock and couldn’t drive. They had a torrid time in that country and yet when they returned the NFA insisted that they had to play their domestic game or forfeit it. He then wondered why he was putting himself through all that trouble. Anyway, one of the most entertaining things about Chief Abiola’s speeches and interviews are the proverbs that he often used to spice his statements. Chief Abiola had so many proverbs in his head and he was able to create so many proverbs on the spot that a book of his proverbs was published after his death. Here are some of his proverbs that I can remember (I saved the best for last). 1) Anyone afraid of death cannot claim his father's title and once you have claimed your father's title, you have become the object of envy of all the members of the family, many of who will pray for your early demise to provide a vacancy for them. 2) He who allows the coconut to be broken on his head, will not live to eat part of it - MKO to Shonekan 3) You cannot clap with one hand. 4) The bigger the head, the bigger the headache. 5) You cannot shave a head in the absence of its owner and any such attempt is an exercise in futility 6) You do not have two sun rises in one day 7) Even if you change the name of honey, it will still be sweet. 8 ) Power is like a tiger, if you ride a tiger, you must be very careful when you get down, otherwise you find yourself inside the tiger's belly. 9) It should not take the extreme measure of killing a new born child just because the midwife is a bad woman. 10) Accept what God has given you and make the best use of it 11) If you go borrowing, you will go a sorrowing 12) No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! 13) Former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, on Saturday night in Abuja dedicated his Pan African Broadcast Heritage Award (PABHA) to the memory of the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election Chief M.K.O. Abiola, whom he described as a great Nigerian.
Mandela, who was represented by the South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, currently on a visit to Nigeria, described how he first came into contact with the Abiola.
He said President Ibrahim Babangida sent Abiola to mediate and talk to Mandela to reconcile with a sworn enemy of the African National Congress (ANC), who then was working against the interest of the party's success at the poll.
Mbeki did not name the "sworn enemy" of the ANC, but said the late politician had since become their friend. He said when Abiola arrived, he (Mbeki) tried to get the message from Babangida, but refused, insisting that he must deliver the message to Mandela personally. Mbeki said he then took Abiola to Mandela to personally deliver Babangida's message.
Mbeki said Abiola later told a story of the black ant to describe how dangerous the "sworn enemy" was to the ANC.
He said though the black ant was small, it could wreak much havoc if it had access to one's clothing. He quoted Abiola as saying that it was easier to take care of the black ant than to allow it to wreak havoc.
The South African President explained that the message from Abiola made the ANC reconcile with the "sworn enemy". I strongly suspect that the “sworn enemy” that Mandela was referring to was Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Chief Buthelezi is the president of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and a major chief of the Zulu Nation. Nelson Mandela was (at that time) the vice president of the ANC (he later became the president) and a member of the Xhosa Nation. There was serious violence between supporters of the IFP and supporters of the ANC and between Zulus and Xhosas in the early 1990s (c1990-1993) after the collapse of Apartheid. Lots of people died in the clashes. Nigeria, which had invested a lot into the anti-Apartheid struggle, was very concerned about these black on black clashes and President Babangida sent Professor Wole Soyinka and later Chief M.K.O Abiola to make peace between both parties. Chief Buthelezi’s IFP later joined the ANC in a Government of National Unity and Chief Buthelezi was made a minister in Mandela’s government. I strongly suspect that this is one of the reasons that Mandela invited Abiola to his inauguration (Abiola’s presence angered Abacha). 
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| Politics › Re: Segun Mayegun: Kingibe Betrayed Abiola. Remove His Name From The Honor's List by naptu2: 10:09am On Jun 13, 2018 |
Red Drum!!!Wow! Memories  I wonder how many people here will be old enough to know Red Drum (Olusegun Maiyegun). |
| Foreign Affairs › Re: Kim Jong-Un's Sister Swapped Pen Provided For Signing The Agreement(Photos) by naptu2: 9:19am On Jun 13, 2018 |
Ishilove:
Paranoia much Yasser Arafat, Alexander Litvinenko , etc. |
| Celebrities › Re: Denrele Edun Is 'Jack Sparrow' In New Photos As He Celebrates 37th Birthday by naptu2: 8:42am On Jun 13, 2018 |
Ishilove:
37?? Now THIS is a surprise What's surprising about it? |
