My Career Is At Grammy Stage-Seun Kuti Speaks

Seun Kuti, one of the sons of late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has said that his musical career is at Grammy stage. He revealed this and many shocking things about his 30 years musical career to the team of City People Magazine Led by its publisher Seye Kehinde.

Seun is doing well musically. He has been with the Egypt 80 band for 28 years. It was his father that founded the band decades ago and he has sustained the tradition and heritage of the band.

As you read this, Seun has embarked on a world tour that will see him performing in many states in the US.

Over the years, Seun has managed his musical career so well that he has achieved global recognition. He and his elder brother, Femi Kuti have flourishing careers, playing Afrobeatmusic.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

Lets start by having you talk about your forthcoming show abroad. What is it all about?

We are on tour. We are going to have a few shows abroad. We are playing in America. We are doing a show with the Roots, at the annual roots pre-Grammy Awards party. Its like the busiest pre-Grammy Award Party. We are also playing at the Grammys on Sunday. My own shows starts on Monday in San Francisco, then Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Colorado, so many states in the US. We are going to be away for a month before we come back.

Seun is always on tour abroad and you do get so many shows that keep you busy. How do you balance this out with your commitments?

Actually, most of the tours come from the offers we got in advance and we plan it ahead. We have a good network of professionals who are making bookings for you here and there. I have a good team of administrators running my band.

My band is quite big. That is also an issue for me as well. When I am on tour we are 15 and that is a lot of people to log around the world with. Everything has to be precise. Back home, the band is not big any more. Back home we are about 17 or 18. It is no longer as big as it used to be back in the day.

Seun Kuti has evolved over time. At what stage are you musically?

I really don’t know. Maybe I can say, I am the Grammy nomination stage (laughs). This is our first nomination. For me its not bad. Its only my 4th album. Its the band that I am laughing at.

Its their 5th album. And this is their 1st nomination. I have done 4 records – Many Things, Africa With Fury, Long Way To The Beginning, and now, Black Times. Those are my 4 studio records. In terms of the albums that I have actually released, maybe I am on No 7 or 8.

When you look back at your track record, how does it make you feel, in terms of what you have been able to achieve?

I can’t complain. I don’t really set goals for myself in terms of individual goals. I always like to set collective goals to be able to meet and match those goals. In terms of those, I think I have actually excelled in my own original plans which I had acticipated. This is my 28th year in the band.

In two years, I will be a 30 years veteran in music. So, you can see I have played music all my life. It will be 30 years that I have been on stage and I will 38.

Will you say you are where you have always wanted to be or you are still far away?

I think I am where I should be. I don’t want to be anywhere and I don’t see myself going any where. I am not driven by those kind of personal ambitious in my own life. I am able to get anything I want. That should be okay. You shouldn’t ask for more than that in life. My family is happy. At least, to my knowledge.

-Citypeopleonline.com

Ladoja's Vindication A triumph Over Falsehood- PDP Deputy Guber Candidate, Raufu Olaniyan

The Deputy governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state Engr. Raufu Aderemi Olaniyan has described the High court Jugedment vindicating the former governor of Oyo state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja on  allegation of fraud as the triumph of truth over falsehood.

This was contained in a statement signed by his media officer  Omolere Omoetan and made available to newsmen in Ibadan today.

Olaniyan noted further that the judgement did not only exonerate Senator Ladoja, but all those who worked with him in the glorious years of the state between between 2003-2007.

Olaniyan who was the Pioneer G.M of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) when Senator Ladoja was governor of  the state noted that he had no doubt whatsoever that the Ibadan high chief will come out unscathed from the charges proffered against him, stressing that he has related with him closely and found him to be of impeccable character, and this attribute the high court judgement  attested to.

Olaniyan therefore congratulated Senator Ladoja for the verdict which he said  further cemented his place in history has a  true elder statesman not only in Oyo state, but Nigeria.

The Igboho born politician hoped that Senator Ladoja will work closely  with  the PDP governorship candidate Engr. Seyi Makinde, who is poised to consolidate on his achievement as a former  PDP governor.

I Will Make Workers' Salaries A Top Priority- Seyi Makinde

The Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has said that the welfare of the state’s civil servants will take precedence over that of the political office holders when he becomes the state governor.

In a release from his campaign organisation, signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, Makinde said that it is morally and constitutionally wrong for a government to pamper politicians at the detriment of toiling workers.

‘I will first of all take care of workers’ salaries before considering those of politicians and there will be enough to go round’ the PDP candidate said.

Engr Makinde said that the Ajimobi administration has a record of mistreating workers in the past seven and a half years as he recalled a 2016 incident when seven union leaders were detained, refused bail and remained in detention for five days. This he said can only happen in a military regime.

This among others show clearly that this government cannot impose anyone on the workers to continue the regime of workers’ intimidation.

Makinde warned that any plans to rig the election will meet with a brickwall as the attempt to practise what happened in Osun State will fail woefully because the circumstances are sharply different.

If truly the outgoing administration is popular, the governor will not need to be distributing branded garri and kulikuli for those he has governed for almost eight years.

FG Launches BESDA In Oyo, Commends World Bank For The $611 Investment In Basic Education

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  The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in Oyo State as the state became the second out of the seventeen beneficiary states of the program to formally start the implementation. 

  
  

  The Federal Government also commended the World Bank for initiating BESDA and the provision of a total sum of $611million to support the Nigerian Government in strengthening Universal Basic Education as well as addressing the first pillar of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) 2016 - 2019 on out-of-school children. 

  
  

  The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu at the launch of BESDA Ibadan disclosed that Nigeria has the highest number of the out-of-school children in sub-Saharan African with an estimation of 13.2m, noting that the government is strengthening the quality of basic education in Nigeria to confront factors that deny the children access to Basic Education. 

  
  

  Malam Adamu represented by the Director, Basic Secondary Education in the Minstry, Dr Lami Amodu said that BESDA focuses on 17 states in the country which includes the entire 13 states of the North West and North East geo-political zones, Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers, saying, “It is gratifying that Oyo State is the second among the 17 states that have successfully commenced the implementation process. 

  
  

  “I am indeed very delighted over the bold step taken by Governor Ajimobi for being the second out of 17 states covered by BESDA to formally launch the program. This is a clear demonstration on Governor Ajimobi’s quality leadership and his personal commitment to education as well as the passion to revatilise our education sector in order to develop the abundant human capital of the state,” the minister said.

  
  

  Malam Adamu explained that BESDA is a program that will result in better life of all our children as the cardinal objective is to increase equitable access. For out of school children, improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results at the basic education level in the focus states. Adding that ensuring the out-of-school children are back to school and learning will not be only a moral and legal obligation, but also a productive investment that will guarantee the future of our children and ensure that their rights are protected as enshrined in the Childs Right Act 2003.

  
  

  In his address, the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi said that the present administration in the state has done a credible directional road-map to guide the operation of all stakeholders in the education sector, noting that the State Government has also spent huge amount of resources with a view to ensure quantitative and qualitative education service delivery in the state.

  
  

  Senator Ajimobi said “It is worthy to note that our government has not defaulted in the provision of matching grants for the provision of infrastructural facilities to enhance basic education delivery in the state. We commend the FG and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for ensuring the quality education at all levels. We cherish and consider a great privilege and wish to assure the Federal government of Nigeria that the state will put in place all necessary mechanism to ensure the successful implementation of BESDA.

  
  

  The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi said that the commission will continue to evolve revolutionary strategies towards a total overhaul of the Basic Education delivery system by focusing on the paradigm shift from mere inputs-based to result based, stressing that the Commission is currently investing very hugely on data generation, analyses and reporting by repackaging some of the statutory mandates for better results.

  
  

  In her welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola stated that neglecting Out-Of-School Children (OOSC) would deny them their fundamental rights and jeopardise the country’s pursuit of her home-grown technological development and economic transformation, urging that all hands must therefore be on deck to bring the OOSC back to school.

  
  

  In his goodwill message, the representative ofAssociation of National Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Babajide Emmanuel said that BESDA was a welcome and laudable development, stating that the programme will take the OOSC children back to school.

  
  

  Speaking the State Chairman of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Comrade Toki Abayomi said that the PTA in the state has set up a task force to deal with students roaming about, warning that parents and teachers of students found wanting will also be dealt with. 

South West PDP Chairmen Condemn Hate Speeches By El-Rufai, Omisore and Co

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Forum of Chairmen across the South-West has condemned in its entirety, the vulgar languages and hate speeches coming out of the mouths of some leaders of the ruling party in recent times. 

The Forum at an emergency meeting held in Ibadan recently expressed dismay at the inciting statements credited to some chieftains of the ruling party,  the APC, notably, Otunba Christopher Iyiola Omisore, who was alleged to have instructed his followers in Ile-Ife to "cut off the hands of anybody who votes for any other political party other than the APC." 

The Forum Chairman, Hon. Clement Olasoji Adagunodo said the Forum was perturbed again at another statement credited to the incumbent governor of Kaduna State,  Mallam Nasri El-Rufai who was also alleged to have threatened foreign observers that "any foreign observer who interferes in the internal matters of Nigeria will be sent back home in body back home in body bags. 

The forum recalled that the incumbent President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari also threatened in 2009 that "if power was not given to him dogs and baboons would soak in their blood,  that threat has been traced to the confidence of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents and their endless killings of innocent Nigerians today. 

The Forum however,  warned the APC agents of destabilization to stop the undue harrassments and intimidating utterances as nobody has monopoly of violence. It warned that every human being is capable of fermenting trouble but for the consequences thereafter. 

"It is important that President Muhammadu Buhari calls his agents provocateur to order before they scuttle the nation's nascent democracy, a legacy which the Forum said is synonymous with the way the president was exited out of power in 1985 due to high handedness and hatred for democratic norms."