The long-running feud between Fuji musicians, K1 de Ultimate and Abass Akande Obesere, got messier on Monday over Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.
Obesere had last week called K1an ingrate for publicly abusing Ambode at an event in Lagos.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Obesere said: “I want to state clearly that I have nothing personal against Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, but looking back to some of his conducts and attitude over the years, I think I have been proven right to stay away from dealing with him. I don’t like to deal with an ingrate who doesn’t care to bite the fingers that once fed him.
“As musicians, we are people’s property and I am free to support anybody that I like but I won’t come out in the open to smear the character of anybody, not to talk of someone I have benefited from in one way or the other. What is happening in Lagos State is pure political issue and should be left to the politicians to resolve. For Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde to suddenly change gears because of the travails of Governor Ambode is not only ungodly, slanderous and disrespectful, but it shows that he is a real traitor.
“You will recall that the same man betrayed our legend in the Fuji music industry, late Alhaji Ayinde Barrister, some years back. He came out in the open to deny the man who was his benefactor and called him all sorts of names. He once rubbished another amongst our highly respected seniors in the business, Alhaji Ayinla Kollington, and I can go on and on to relay some of his past ignoble actions that portrayed him as someone who cannot be trusted.
“And that exactly has been the crux of our disagreements overtimes. The latest one against Governor Ambode is quite unfortunate and as a stakeholder and someone who doesn’t love to hide his feelings, I think we should all let him know that what comes around, goes around and what is not good is not good. As public figures and role models, we should not be seen as people of questionable character who are always running to where our pockets will be served.”
Responding through a statement by his media aide, Kunle Rasheed, K1 accused Obesere of using his name for cheap publicity and to shore up his career.
“Ordinarily, we would not bother ourselves with the usual rantings of Fuji act Abass Omorapala Obesere because K1 will never entertain such idea. But as a concerned party, we need to set the records straight hence this timely advice to Obesere,” the statement began.
It labelled Obesere as an opportunist who waits for K1 to either err or take an action before raising his voice.
“One good thing which life has taught is that the truest mark of being born with great qualities is being born without envy. This has prompted our belief that Obesere’s issue with K1 borders on envy and nothing else. Obesere should know that K1 remains a prominent APC party member in the state and as such is a bonafide stakeholder in the affairs of his party. Instead of Obesere dabbling into a matter that doesn’t concern him, he should as a matter of urgency concentrate more on re-jigging his dwindling musical career. K1 has done well both as a musician and a politician.
“The Czar of Fuji music has done so many hits after hits and has always remained relevant in the Nigerian music scene. Of late, Obesere’s voice and face become only visible when the issue of K1 issue arises. Why is this If not envy?
“While the same K1 was busy campaigning for Governor Akin Ambode in 2015, Obesere did a song that “Eyin magbale, awa ma gbadun” (meaning APC members should continue sweeping, his own people (PDP) will continue to enjoy).
“Now that PDP failed in both the state and at the federal level, Obesere now solicits patronage from the same party he had derided in the past. We have observed that Obesere is like a sinking man who will desperately hang on anything to go down with him. We have also observed that the hatred he harbours for K1 has not ceased despite K1 offering olive branches to him several times,” the statement added.
