There are two things that make a musician. A recording company and a promoter. Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, known all over the whole world had both.

He had a major part of his lyrics fashioned against corruption and the 'khaki' boys of Nigeria those days.

Sony Okuson remained the only Nigerian singer who had the strength to steal dozens of songs

from other musicians and made over six million from it. Did anybody raise dust over it. Sony Okuson did

Praise-singing those days he was trying to stabilize until he became a ‘born again Christian’ with songs of praise!

Show me one African artist who at one time has not engage in praise-singing and I will give you

a hundred reason why it is so. Music is a business. A piper does not blow a different tune from what he

Was paid to play. Some people who want to promote their business would pay a well known African

Musician to include them in their lyrics for a fee. Artist from Central Africa are also into this same pattern.

Those who understand French will testify to this. All the gbam-gbam- dim - dim by majority of our French speaking stars promotes sex and corruption. You need to see our people

Doing their jumpe-jumpe each time those rhythm hits them.

Shina Peters, who made 777 Ijo Shina which became a national anthem even in Igbo land Is a praise-singer.

Chief Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey when he was praising the 'Ekerele’s' in the 70’s made his biggest break

through them. Salif Keita is from Guinea. The super star also praise sings. I can go on and on to mention

names of our African artist who through the years, survived by praise singing due to lack

Of reputable recording labels and sponsors. The recording companies in Nigeria are only interested

In making profits.

Having said all these the irony of it is that, these men who condemn everything have proven in the past

to be the very people who turned out to become the greatest disappointment in

history. Check the names of the pen robbers we have in our land today,

Most of these men started like true activist, as soon as they smell power, truth

became old while stealing the people’s money became new.

All this hullabaloo over an Igbo Star Oliver de Coque by these men who never knew the pains, the travails of this man should be condemned in its entirety by NdiIgbo. This much ado about nothing

from men who ignorantly does not know what it takes to promote an artist, is the only reason

art is dying fast in Igboland. Take a look at Igboland and her musicians. See who is making waves

at home. Where are the Igbo musicians? In Ariaria, Onyigbo, Alaba markets selling electronics or shoes instead of pursing and developing their God’s given talents.

When you lament about what has become of the Igbo artist lately, somebody will take his pen to tell you nobody is begging anybody for handouts.

What will push a man to start writing rubbish on reading that an Igbo star who goes on tour will receive

a star treatment if not envy.

These men who have not contributed anything positively to the development of Igbo culture

Oliver de Coque's songs have brought joy to millions of people. You can not condemn him perpetually because he started singing for 419ers. What about those beautiful songs he made before the 419 business started. Must you throw the baby out with the bath water? Giving a dog a bad name to hang it has become our bane.

I have written extensively about this man, If he made a mistake in the past, we should give him another

chance. We should not condemn this man forever.

Stars are given a star treatment wherever they go to play. If you are getting mad that Oliver is given

a royal treatment he truly deserves, the Ocean is wide open to receive you.

How many Igbo artist have you put your dime down to buy their music or sponsor. When I released my music, most of you who bought it online never paid me till date.

I am also sure what you play 24/7 in your homes are

foreign music. I can also beat my chest to say when you organize your parties, you

also invite foreign deejays to play for you.

Oliver de Coque does not owe you and your ilk any apology. If you were so rich and intelligent,

with your resources, you could change Oliver de Coque’s pattern of music. You could have put some

Money down and tell him what to do.

Some of you have over and over shown your resentment, disdain and Contempt of the Igbo

artist. Stop using Oliver de Coque to score a cheap point. We all know you. You are Mr. right who

forever lives in fool s paradise. One would have thought that with your education you should write and reason like modern men. Shamelessly, the reverse has become the case!

Let me remind you for the last time (if you care to read this and if you don’t, I shall post it on the internet

For the world to see it and tell you) in the early 80’s -90’s Igbo musicians were on top of their game in Nigeria. Today the story is completely different.

Oliver de Coque would have ended up in his village like Dan Ian, the former vocalist of Wrinkers Experience

Who sang fuel for love. These people making noise now should be told what has become of

Dan who now taps palm wine in his village. Dr Sir Warrior died just like that. Prince Nico Mbarga

If you don’t know was an Igbo man. The guy died on top of motor bike popularly called Okada. When Zeal Onyia

died, the best trumpeter Africa had, died like a church rat. Best Agorha from Mbaise died out of frustration. Papa Becks one of the best Saxophonist in Africa,an Igboman died out of hunger.

Recently Rowland Onwuama died. Pretty, of the popular junior and Pretty died because the poor boy could not raise five hundred thousand for a hospital deposit.

Alex O ran away to Singapore. Today Igbo nations can not boast of a female musician..

Onyeka Onwenu right from time has been married to a Yoruba man. Papa Tijani.

On July the 8,2000 when I started the Musicians of the Niger at Onyeka Onyenu’s African hall,

Oliver De Coque was the only Igbo prominent artist who never attended our meetings. The first time

I saw him being on the night of late Zeal Onyia’s funeral. I had gone there with Onyeka and on seeing

Oliver I asked him why he distanced himself from the Igbo musicians. Oliver de Coque stated he can not do

anything against the King Sunny Ade’s led PMAN because Sunny Ade was the only man who gave him the connection that took him to America. I met him once more during Sunny Ade’s election. Oliver had campaigned for him. This is how much I know this Igbo mega-Star. Once again, I have to tell you that I am not his publicist. I don’t even have his phone number.

This is the 6^th time I am writing to defend him. I will continue to do so until these negative people

let the man be. Some body somewhere who I don’t know from Adams is putting his money down to

Promote a show on Oliver De Coque's behalf.Something those stingy and conservative men wouldn‘t do. These negative forces don’t even realize for once the harm they are doing to

the effort of this man. If the show flops, tomorrow, another kind hearted promoter would not put his money down to promoter a show.

Please for once, use your intelligence, your grammar to write positive things. Presently, you are still grappling with fries.