₦airaland Forum

I read it all!

Many Nairalanders who quest for headline & breaking news will skip this by default as they search for the lastest news & trends.

History is rarely their strongest forte.

God knows the best why we never had MKO as our president

Took me over two hours to read this.

I used to think Abiola's HOPE would have been the kind of Buhari's CHANGE but DAMN IT! He is intelligent, has a good grasp of English, very articulate, his business Acumen is top notch.

That interview is an eye opener. One could tell this one will not be a sleeping president. He was too loaded but it's unfortunate his dream was cut short.

I will bookmark this forever.

Maybe Obasanjo comes close to having a man really be in charge of government (civilian) like this man might have been.

Never again shall we encounter Jonathan and buhari.
God forbid!

If there are no options to Atiku and Buhari come 2019, I would rather Aticulate than watch one almajeri vote topple mine to return Bubu

RIP Abiola... Now I know

Op you must be stupid, you failed to mentioned how he and American company swindle Nigeria government billions of Dollars when he failed to install telephone line in every home in Nigeria,
you fail to tell your ardent readers how he convince Islamic fanatic Buhari to sink missionary materials from Auckland that dock in Nigeria harbour that was meant for missionary work in ruler area... in fact IBB deserve noble peace prize for the role he play in 1993 election... Nigeria would have been in darker age by now

YungTemy:
According to the Pulse.ng "MKO Abiola is also alleged to have sponsored the 1985 coup that brought Babangida to power with ten million dollars ($10M)"

Pulse.ng was established in about 4 years ago before selling to Business Insider and they are telling you something that happened before many of us were born.

Cool story.

besides, the word "alleged" defeats what you are trying to propose and impose... which means it is a mere rumour gotten from somewhere with no substantial prove of evidence.

Good to update history..... Downside for me is why abiola family apologized to pmb or was it just a normal ass licking inherent in some ppl?

naptu2:
Do you want to read, in Fela's own words and from Fela's book, the origin of the dispute between Fela and Abiola? It's a bit long (I've noticed that quite a few young people have problems with reading).

bros I thoroughly enjoyed your write up. kudos. please you can paste whatever grudge fela had with MKO. thanks

ELKHALIFAISIS:
Op you must be stupid, you failed to mentioned how he and American company swindle Nigeria government billions of Dollars when he failed to install telephone line in every home in Nigeria,
you fail to tell your ardent readers how he convince Islamic fanatic Buhari to sink missionary materials from Auckland that dock in Nigeria harbour that was meant for missionary work in ruler area... in fact IBB deserve noble peace prize for the role he play in 1993 election... Nigeria would have been in darker age by now

Did you read all the posts or just commenting based on what you were told about him?
I think you need to read it again because youur answers lies therein but do the reading thoroughly and objectively when next you are doing that.
By the way, you can pass your message without insults.
The op is not in your league.

naptu2:
Do you want to read, in Fela's own words and from Fela's book, the origin of the dispute between Fela and Abiola? It's a bit long (I've noticed that quite a few young people have problems with reading).

Oga naptu2 can u pls research about the alleged sinking shipload of Bibles, if it's possible to get across to bible society of nigeria, CAN executives of those years to sheld more light on the allegations, if it's true or not.

OboOlora:
Op, something is wrong with u!
I actually started reading this until I got to the PRP bit and decided to scroll down and saw the long epistle all because of Abiola!
Same Abiola that Fela the great prophet sang about in ITT?
Please save the long epistle and let the man burn in peace in Hell!

naptu2:
Do you want to read, in Fela's own words and from Fela's book, the origin of the dispute between Fela and Abiola?
It's a bit long (I've noticed that quite a few young people have problems with reading).

The origin of the dispute between Fela and Abiola, was as a culmination of two joint cases from:
"He who pays the piper/drummer calls the tune"
and
"dancing to the tune of a different drummer"

Fela with his protest songs was anti-establishment, the military took exception to this and wish have him muzzled.
The military pays the piper, and so Abiola had to dance to the Obasanjo tune drummed by drummer asking to check Fela excesses.

Similar to what Abiola did in going behind the back of the editor and ensuring that his paper National Concord published the apology President Babangida requested for publishing the article that was critical of the Babangida Government and sending heavily armed soldiers, SSS operatives and policemen to Concord Newspapers headquarters and Concord Press to arrest people and chase others away and seal off the premises,
Abiola as the major shareholder of Decca informed Fela he cant be going around making politically charged lyrics touchng on the government.
Fela wont have any of that, and similarly and just like those editors that resigned from Abiola's newspaper, he immediately told Abiola to go to hell.

MKO Abiola had acquired Decca West Africa Limited, and so used it to settle personal score and conflict of interest with Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and gave threats to Fela, to the effect that, he, MKO Abiola will finish Fela musically etcetera.

The battle lines between them, were drawn, from then on, so the origin of the dispute between Fela and Abiola and the rest is history

To be honest, MKO Abiola's story would not be complete without any mention of MKO Abiola's treachery to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the president Nigeria deserved but never got

MKO Abiola used, Concord Press, to fight everything Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood for (e.g. publishing stories about Maroko land grab etcetera), similar way, MKO Abiola acquired Decca West Africa Limited, to settle personal score and conflict of interest with Fela Anikulapo Kuti, threatening Fela that he, MKO Abiola will finish Fela musically etc.

Not many know that, MKO Abiola and the military junta "paddy paddy" goes way back before the military and ITT days.
Take for instance this, whilst at secondary school, MKO Abiola was the editor of "The Trumpeter" their school magazine and Obasanjo was the deputy editor.
Fela's "Like Obasanjo and Abiola, International Thief Thief" masterpiece is an act of genius

Using Concord Press and his wealth, MKO Abiola did everything within his power to scupper Chief Obafemi Awolowo's chance of becoming the President Nigeria needed and deserved.

loveth360:
so why did yorubas betrayed him.

According to his daughter
"yorubas killed her father and share his meat"

3rdavefarms:
God knows the best why we never had MKO as our president

Karma has no menu.
What goes around, comes around
It's no surprise, MKO Abiola got served what he deserved

cc otokx madridguy lifenajeje janellemonae Paentera Flintstone06

BabaRamota1980:
Aah ah, oga naptu, kilode....

Nnamdi Kanu nko? ...popularity is all over the world.

Hold on....my fault. You said alive...

I saw what you did there. Lol... You no well

Yar’Adua deployed his political machine to work for Chief Abiola’s victory.

What will the coward Yourbas do with out the help of their masters?

Your masters also kill mko cause he wants to break free

What's a shame o

Political science students can have some lessons to grasp here... the whole writeup was concise and meaningful...
we all know those who want the best for the country and those who want the worst... RiP MKO... Omo egba Ake....

OboOlora MuttleyLaff OluchiDelly

This, in Fela’s own words, is how his dispute with Abiola began. This was just after his house was burnt down and he said that he had not even heard of Abiola before this series of incidents.

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

Fantastic writeup, Oga Naptu.

Abiola's Toyin Street residence was in his time a Mecca for Nigeria's high and mighty, but also for the poor and downtrodden, who were drawn there round the clock, by MKO Abiola's legendary generosity. Somewhere along the spectrum making up that macrocosm of society, this writer was privileged to make that mandatory pilgrimage, and listen whilst taking mental notes, as Abiola held court, in that upstairs living room overlooking the front garden where MKO lies in eternal repose today.

Here are some of the memorable parables that I personally heard from the man himself, as he regaled guests in his Ikeja mansion.

"You cannot continue milking the cow, when the man holding the horns is not present."

"You cannot shave my head, in my absence."

"The bigger the head, the bigger the headache."

"After bowing to a midget, I will regain my height by standing upright, whilst the midget will forever remain short."

"The hand that gives, is always positioned ABOVE the hand that receives."


In joking reference to the flocks of nubile young women that daily lined up outside the mansion to meet MKO for 'auditions", he once quipped that his workload with those women was truly a great and humbling challenge, since he had "but one instrument to apply".

Yes sir, MKO was a financial genius blessed with prodigious intelligence and a photographic memory, who regularly kept his guests rolling with laughter, as he reeled off one joke after another, interspersed with copious verbatim quotations from both the Koran, AND the Holy Bible.

I recall fondly the account Abiola gave, of the first time he took his father for a ride aboard the first private jet he acquired at the age of 30. The elder Abiola, deep into the winter years of his life by then, sat silently gazing out the window for much of the short sight-seeing flight, and then, after touchdown, asked MKO why they did not encounter any other "balloons" flying along with them in the sky.

MKO replied that all aircraft are assigned specific paths to travel whilst airborne, so as to maintain a safe separation distance. After a long pause, MKO's father observed philosophically that God not only provided his son with a "balloon" for personal travel, but also assigned a special private road upon which that balloon could fly across the heavens, to the exclusion of all others.

Larger than life is the best way to describe late MKO, for he was indeed, a giant among men.

Rest in peace, Baba Kola, Baba Deji, Baba Agboola. Your legacy is forever.

There are glossed over elements prior to the June 12 elections which expose the absurdity of elevating the elections to an exemplar of free and fair elections. A fundamental principle of democracy is freedom of association. In the 1993 elections, the only 2 eligible parties of NRC and SDP were effectively created by military fiat/decree. Coupled with the bans/restrictions on unfavoured politicians, the process was flawed ab initio.

Fixating on whether the election held on June 12 1993 was free and fair misses the more salient point: this was the culmination of a flawed and autocratic process that fundamentally fell short of democratic standards. Most of us ought to know this and I suspect we would have had the process produced Othman Tofa as the winner.

4Play:
There are glossed over elements prior to the June 12 elections which expose the absurdity of elevating the elections to an exemplar of free and fair elections. A fundamental principle of democracy is freedom of association. In the 1993 elections, the only 2 eligible parties of NRC and SDP were effectively created by military fiat/decree. Coupled with the bans/restrictions on unfavoured politicians, the process was flawed ab initio.

Fixating on whether the election held on June 12 1993 was free and fair misses the more salient point: this was the culmination of a flawed and autocratic process that fundamentally fell short of democratic standards. Most of us ought to know this and I suspect we would have had the process produced Othman Tofa as the winner.

June 12th was the best approximation of a free and fair electoral process that was possible at that critical time when military rule appeared on course for an orderly transition to civilian rule, after decades of dictatorship. The landslide victory recorded for Abiola was attained under peaceful and orderly conditions, with negligible procedural flaws reported.

Nice one naptu, am always getting more accurate information from you than our normal usual Nigerian press, God bless you effort, nice read for a Good Sunday.

I read everything patiently and am so glad I did.

It's kind of piecing together some of the events and actors behind the story of Nigeria especially during Military reign. You can see some of these actors are still recycling themselves today without grooming replacements. Anyway you cannot give what you don't have.

Like Rotimi Amechi (Transport Minister) recently said, greater percentage of wealthy Nigerians made money through government. I am not sure who he is referring to but this Abiola article kind of justifies it. Of course the Dangotes, Otedolas, Rabius, Folawiyos, etc all hit their fortune via government support in one way or the other.

Abiola is so wealthy, intelligent and popular, but I could see imprints of government hand also.

What a powerful narrative. Well done ops. You refreshed my memory and I learnt a lot on Abiola Story. How I wish he became Nigeria president, his life would have been a book to study in school.

yokiti:
Did you read all the posts or just commenting based on what you were told about him?
I think you need to read it again because youur answers lies therein but do the reading thoroughly and objectively when next you are doing that.
By the way, you can pass your message without insults.
The op is not in your league.

gerrout of here... we have wrote thousands of positive epistle about this man... lets discus about his negatives side

Jakumo:
June 12th was the best approximation of a free and fair electoral process that was possible at that critical time when military rule appeared on course for an orderly transition to civilian rule, after decades of dictatorship. The landslide victory recorded for Abiola was attained under peaceful and orderly conditions, with negligible procedural flaws reported.

You make an assertion lacking in evidence. There are numerous examples around the world of transitions from lengthy military rule/dictatorship to civilian rule which did not entail political parties created by the incumbent government's diktats. Even in Nigeria, we have the example of 1979 after 13 years of military rule (June 12 was after 10 years of military rule).

This is not a criticism of June 12 based on a search for perfection. It is absolutely fundamental to a democratic process that there be freedom of association. That is a bare minimum requirement. It is immaterial that elections are held if the process leading to the elections is flawed and inconsistent with the democratic process.

4Play:
You make an assertion lacking in evidence. There are numerous examples around the world of transitions from lengthy military rule/dictatorship to civilian rule which did not entail political parties created by the incumbent government's diktats. Even in Nigeria, we have the example of 1979 after 13 years of military rule (June 12 was after 10 years of military rule).

This is not a criticism of June 12 based on a search for perfection. It is absolutely fundamental to a democratic process that there be freedom of association. That is a bare minimum requirement. It is immaterial that elections are held if the process leading to the elections is flawed and inconsistent with the democratic process.

It is rare to encounter prose as polished as yours, sir, especially in this deplorable age of text-message abbreviation junkies.

Donning my thinking cap to ponder, I will hazard a guess that your profession is either that of a legal practitioner, or a college professor.

Feel free to send me a twenty-naira money order reward, if my speculation is accurate.

naptu2:
OboOlora MuttleyLaff OluchiDelly

This, in Fela’s own words, is how his dispute with Abiola began.
This was just after his house was burnt down and he said that he had not even heard of Abiola before this series of incidents.


Culled from ‘Fela : This Bitch Of A Life'
By Carlos Moore (1982).

http://www.maziabeidris.com/?p=1218

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
- Fela excerpt from "This Bitch Of A Life"

Thank you my dear friend naptu2
We are saying the same thing,

You see according to the above excerpt, unbeknowst to Fela, Abiola had bought shares in Decca to become the major shareholder in Decca West Africa Limited,
This put Abiola in the position to not only own and control Decca but to also call the shots
Fela made some anti-government protest songs, the military approached Abiola, being now owner of Decca, to tame his stable

Fela didnt know Abiola had taken over Decca West Africa Limited, and in effect, had become the Chairman of Decca Records
and when Abiola came to him to pipe down with his anti-establishment lyrics,
Fela went like or something like that:
"Who are you, I am a conscious musician, you cant tell me what to sing or not sing, you can't dictate to me..."

This was before the contract fiasco, where Fela had said:
"That was the first day I ever met MKO Abiola. I didn’t even know the man existed."

Emotions flared over trying to censor and suppress Fela,
Fela told Abiola to go to hell.
Abiola told Fela, he Abiola will deal with Fela and musically make him a destitute

That's how the battle line between Fela and Abiola got drawn

Naptu2 you know too well that,
the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Late Alao Aka-Bashorun SAN was the lawyer for both Fela and Abiola.
He was the legal representative for both of them.

It was during when his son, Segun Aka Basorun, was going through his dad's library archives after his death,
that he came across transpired letters between Abiola and Fela
In was in these letters that the feud between Abiola and Fela was unveiled.

Segun said he had since given those letters to the Anikulapo family after stumbling on them

cc otokx madridguy lifenajeje janellemonae Paentera Flintstone06, 3rdavefarms

MuttleyLaff:
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
- Fela excerpt from "This Bitch Of A Life"

Thank you my dear friend naptu2
We are saying the same thing,

You see according to the above excerpt, unbeknowst to Fela, Abiola had bought shares in Decca to become the major shareholder in Decca West Africa Limited,
This put Abiola in the position to not only own and control Decca but to also call the shots
Fela made some anti-government protest songs, the military approached Abiola, being now owner of Decca, to tame his stable

Fela didnt know Abiola had taken over Decca West Africa Limited, and in effect, had become the Chairman of Decca Records
and when Abiola came to him to pipe down with his anti-establishment lyrics,
Fela went like or something like that:
"Who are you, I am a conscious musician, you cant tell me what to sing or not sing, you can dictate to me..."

This was before the contract fiasco, where Fela had said:
"That was the first day I ever met MKO Abiola. I didn’t even know the man existed."

Emotions flared over trying to censor and suppress Fela,
Fela told Abiola to go to hell.
Abiola told Fela, he Abiola will deal with Fela and musically make him a destitute

That's how the battle line between Fela and Abiola got drawn

Naptu2 you know too well that,
the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Late Alao Aka-Bashorun SAN was the lawyer for both Fela and Abiola.
He was the legal representative for both of them.

It was during when his son, Segun Aka Basorun, was going through his dad's library archives after his death,
that he came across transpired letters between Abiola and Fela
In was in these letters that the feud between Abiola and Fela was unveiled.

Segun said he had since given those letters to the Anikulapo family after stumbling on them

cc otokx madridguy lifenajeje janellemonae Paentera Flintstone06

Muttley ONLY laughs when Dick Dastardly loses yet another Wacky Race, and exclaims that immortal phrase "Drat, and Double Drat !"

This learned literary reference implied in your nom-de-plume, is much appreciated by the Nairaland Wacky Races Fraternity International.

Back to the subject at hand, namely The Aare Onakakanfo.

Thanks Naptu. I learnt so much not only about MKO but also about Nigeria.

Thank you sir

MuttleyLaff:
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
- Fela excerpt from "This Bitch Of A Life"

Thank you my dear friend naptu2
We are saying the same thing,

You see according to the above excerpt, unbeknowst to Fela, Abiola had bought shares in Decca to become the major shareholder in Decca West Africa Limited,
This put Abiola in the position to not only own and control Decca but to also call the shots
Fela made some anti-government protest songs, the military approached Abiola, being now owner of Decca, to tame his stable

Fela didnt know Abiola had taken over Decca West Africa Limited, and in effect, had become the Chairman of Decca Records
and when Abiola came to him to pipe down with his anti-establishment lyrics,
Fela went like or something like that:
"Who are you, I am a conscious musician, you cant tell me what to sing or not sing, you can dictate to me..."

This was before the contract fiasco, where Fela had said:
"That was the first day I ever met MKO Abiola. I didn’t even know the man existed."

Emotions flared over trying to censor and suppress Fela,
Fela told Abiola to go to hell.
Abiola told Fela, he Abiola will deal with Fela and musically make him a destitute

That's how the battle line between Fela and Abiola got drawn

Naptu2 you know too well that,
the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Late Alao Aka-Bashorun SAN was the lawyer for both Fela and Abiola.
He was the legal representative for both of them.

It was during when his son, Segun Aka Basorun, was going through his dad's library archives after his death,
that he came across transpired letters between Abiola and Fela
In was in these letters that the feud between Abiola and Fela was unveiled.

Segun said he had since given those letters to the Anikulapo family after stumbling on them

cc otokx madridguy lifenajeje janellemonae Paentera Flintstone06

On one hand Fela said that [b[he had not even heard of Abiola before the contract dispute[/b], but on the other hand you are saying that Abiola approached Fela to tone down his music before the contract dispute.

Note. My issue is not about whether Abiola asked Fela to tone down his music, because I remember that Fela had said, in an interview in the 1980s, that Abiola wanted him to tone down his music. My issue is, which came first?

Remember that Fela said that he had not even heard of Abiola before the contract dispute.

Involvement in the 1964 coup in Brazil: It is alleged that ITT assisted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to overthrow the government of João Goulart in Brazil in 1964. Goulart had resumed relations with Cuba, nationalised a subsidiary of ITT and his administration had passed a law that limited the amount of profit that multinationals could take out of the country. The US government branded Goulart a communist (even though he was not) and the CIA performed psychological operations (psyops) against him, sponsored anti-Goulart propaganda, enlisted the help of American trade unions and the USAID to work against Goulart and pumped money into military units that were willing to overthrow him. ITT helped the CIA to carry out some of these activities, including the psyops campaign against the government. ITT's president, Harold Geneen, was friends with the Director of Central Intelligence, John McCone and McCone went to work for ITT when he left the CIA.

Involvement in 1973 Pinochet coup in Chile: In 1970, ITT owned 70% of CTC (the Chilean Telephone Company, now Movistar Chile) and funded El Mercurio, a Chilean right-wing newspaper. Declassified documents released by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in 2000 reveal that the company financially helped opponents of Salvador Allende's government prepare a military coup. On September 28, 1973, an ITT building in New York City, was bombed by the Weather Underground for involvement in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, which overthrew the government in Chile.

My people, can you all see now how Amerika has been wreaking havoc & overthrowing foreign governments in every continent?

The is a cursed Nation that prides herself as the God's Own Country while promoting homosexuality, bestiality & all other abominable vices that can only be imagined.

I don't give a fvck about MKO Abiola. He was an extremely generous man but never a good man. You can be a stingy man (prudent) and still be good - vice versa. This Y Fela Anikulapo Kuti hated him with passion.

There was no Military Coup in the history of Nigeria that MKO Abiola was never part of. He was a major financier to all the coup plotters - (in conjunction with the Amerikan CIA) that have thrown our beautiful Country into endless chaos & anarchy.

The long & short of my epistle is - Amerika Must Fall & pay dearly for all her grievous crimes against humanity in Blood & Gold!

naptu2:
On one hand Fela said that [b[he had not even heard of Abiola before the contract dispute[/b], but on the other hand you are saying that Abiola approached Fela to tone down his music before the contract dispute.

Note. My issue is not about whether Abiola asked Fela to tone down his music, because I remember that Fela had said, in an interview in the 1980s, that Abiola wanted him to tone down his music. My issue is, which came first?

Remember that Fela said that he had not even heard of Abiola before the contract dispute.

According to Abiola and Fela's legal representative, who happened to be Alao Aka Bashorun,
according to the contents of the letters found in his legal library archive,
according to what his son Segun Aka Bashorun, found,
the origin of the feud between Abiola and Fela stemmed from Abiola sent on errand by the military then
to convey their displeasure to Fela's then latest anti-government song
and to let him know they arent OK with such songs

The evidences are in the Abiola and Fela letters going back and forth found by Segun
It was the "Army Arrangement" masterpiece according to Segun that the army was trying to get Abiola to stop that made Abiola and Fela arch enemies

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MuttleyLaff:
According to Abiola and Fela's legal representative, who happened to be Alao Aka Bashorun,
according to the contents of the letters found in his legal library archive,
according to what his son Segun Aka Bashorun, found,
the origin of the feud between Abiola and Fela stemmed from Abiola sent on errand by the military then
to convey their displeasure to Fela's then latest anti-government song
and to let him know they arent OK with such songs

The evidences are in the Abiola and Fela letters going back and forth found by Segun

But according to Fela himself, the origin was in the contract dispute.

There were a lot of disputes between Fela and Abiola. There was the issue of the murder charge, the issue of feaces that was dumped at Abiola's home, the issue of Abiola asking Fela not to sing certain songs (Fela always talked about that at Shrine), all the songs that Fela composed against Abiola, but according to Fela, it all began with the contract dispute.

And Fela should know better than anyone else.

Very long but I read it through. I thank the OP for this well presented article. I learnt a lot.

janellemonae:
Wow!

I read it all. **standing ovation**. Well done @naptu. God bless you for this. This needsto be documented. Go further and write a book if possible. The life of MKO. Posterity will thank you for it. The Yoruba nation will thank you for it.

We don't acknowledge our true heroes because we don't even know them. A lot of us didn't know all this about MKO. Education about past heroes, is important. This is the reason countries honor their heroes with statues. Philanthropists, geniuses, veterans, activists. It's not just a honor but an avenue to educate future generations on the ideals the society should value, in that person.

How is Abiola a true hero?

naptu2:
But according to Fela himself, the origin was in the contract dispute.

There were a lot of disputes between Fela and Abiola.
There was the issue of the murder charge, the issue of feaces that was dumped at Abiola's home, the issue of Abiola asking Fela not to sing certain songs (Fela always talked about that at Shrine), all the songs that Fela composed against Abiola, but according to Fela, it all began with the contract dispute.

And Fela should know better than anyone else.

Sorry I meant to type after and not before earlier
It festered after the contract dispute

naptu2, we are talking of handwritten letters that went back and forth between Abiola and Fela
that Segun found in a file, titled, "Fela", in his late father's chambers

It all began when, Abiola threatened Fela, that he will deal with Fela, by finishing Fela musically
That is, make Fela extremely poor and lacking the financial means, musically, to provide for himself and his dependents
That was a threat Fela didnt like nor took too lightly to
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