Fans instigate clashes among musicians —Sikiru Ayinde

Agboola Sikiru Ayinde, popularly known as SK Sensation, is a former PMAN chairman for Lagos State for three terms  and a fuji musician who plays a vital role in the FUMAN. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, the Fuji act revealed the development the association had recorded in recent times and his music career. Excerpts:

You are much active in political campaign of the Lagos State governor-elect, what really prompted your decision and why are entertainers identifying themselves with politicians?
Indeed, I am a politician, but we cannot run away from the fact that all human beings generally are political animals and having said that, I think I deserve the right to pitch my tent with any political party I feel is good for me. Taking a look at all the All Progressive Congress, (APC) ruling states and success it recorded at the last general election, it is clear that the states witnessed tremendous development. However, despite the fact that I follow politics, it has not for once affected my primary call, which is music.


Your name, SK Sensation sounds strange in the fuji industry. Are you a new comer?
New comer? Not at all. I am a professional musician and I have been in the Industry for decades and to avoid any form of doubt, my real name is Agboola Sikiru Ayinde, formerly known as Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Kolotiti, but presently known and addressed as SK Sensation. Anybody that has been following the trend of Fuji music in Nigeria will not tell you I am strange or fresh in the industry. I was PMAN chairman for Lagos State for three terms. At present, I am privileged to be a member of the board of Copyright Society of Nigeria, (COSON). I am also the incumbent National Project Committee chairman for FUMAN. And to my credit, I have ten records alongside other live performances. I have performed at various big concerts and I have also taken my music out of the shore of Nigeria to perform.

You played an active role in the emergence of the new national president of FUMAN. After one year, will you say FUMAN has lived up to expectation?
Let’s thank God for the success the body has achieved. The fact is that what had been spoilt in three decades cannot be easily reformed, especially in the areas of image and projects. But the truth is that government means continuity and nobody has the monopoly of wisdom. The last government tried its best. Right now, we have been working on numerous projects with the aim of changing the face of fuji music. Aside this, numerous programmes have been mapped out and all hands are on deck to implement them. We are working on FUMAN awards, which are designed to honour both past and present investors and contributors to the development of the Nigerian entertainment industry. The fact remains that there are some people in the industry that are yet to be celebrated fully over their impact and passion for the growth of the industry such as Chief Tony Okoriji, who gave his all to bring PMAN to limelight and after his exit, he became the chairman, Performing and Mechanical Right Society, (PMRS) which I was also a member. Honestly, it is clear that this man has done creditably well and deserves to be honoured in a special way. By His grace, we are looking up to a remarkable event and to achieve this, we have to prepare properly to set a trade mark.

What are the achievements in the last one year?
Aside the FUMAN awards, we have arranged periodical seminars and workshops; we have also been able to enlighten all practitioners in the association on their rights. Recently, we also celebrated both the living and the dead legends in this fold.

What are the plans of this present administration to put an end to rampant grievances, misunderstandings and confrontations among fuji musicians?
Grievances are natural; it can occur anywhere at any point in time and musicians are human beings, so it is natural. If you do what is not fair to me, I deserve the right to let you know and I don’t have to pretend. What we are discouraging among our members is the attitude of vilifying one another on the pages of newspaper or using an album to bring down your colleague. We have banned the use of foul languages. It is no more news that some of our members are having issues with each other, but we are resolving that now. It will interest you to know that despite the perceived animosity, Saheed Osupa featured in K1’s event late last year, which beat people’s imagination. Another event which was held in Ibadan also had the presence of K1 and Saheed Osupa. Both of them performed together. Honestly, we have worked on this challenge and I am glad that we are seeing positive results.

Are you saying these two musicians have finally settled the rift between them?
There might still be some misunderstandings, but there is nothing like a rift between them.

How are musicians whose candidates lost out at the elections taking it now? Obesere pitched tents with PDP, while you and K1 rooted for APC. Will it not further divide you people?
There is nothing new about that. Somebody is bound to win or lose an election. It’s not a do or die affair. Inasmuch as the incumbent president could congratulate the president-elect, even before the final result, how much more we musicians?  It is only a senseless person, not musicians alone, but people generally, that will take such a thing personal.

There is a bit of confusion in FUMAN’s positions, Obesere is the national chairman, while Moroof Shadow is the national president. What are the differences in their roles?
I am privileged to play key role in the preparation of the constitution of the association. The emergence of the office of the national chairman was premised on the fact that we needed somebody who had contributed immensely towards the development of the Fuji genre, and not just the association per say. Also, we needed somebody that had the charisma to mediate and resolve either inter and intra differences. We felt in our quest to take the association to the expected height, because the yearnings of the members of the association were also high; we thought it was important to have somebody highly connected , who could open wider doors for us. These were the reasons that led to the creation of the office of the national chairman. This office is appointed by the national executive committee of the association. However, it was formerly a life time office, but the last national executive committee adjusted that section of the constitution and it is no longer a life time tenure of office. It has been reviewed that all appointees and all serving committees would be relieved of their positions before the national convention and it is only the newly elected executives that hold its duty to reappoint anyone that suits for the position.

What other things were reviewed in the recently amended constitution?
The committee has been able to review the tenure of any elective office from two years to three years, while the state head representatives are no longer addressed as chairmen, but FUMAN governors, among other issues.

FUMAN is an association that places much emphasis on seniority. In ranking, where are you placed among the other Fuji acts?
The truth is that we know ourselves. May the soul of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister continue to rest in peace and may God grant Alhaji Kollington Ayinla sound health. These are our notable elders, K1 who is my mentor, also deserves his due respect. We have numerous elders in this industry and we know ourselves. We cannot hide from the fact of hierarchy. I know my juniors as well as that of the elders and I give everyone the deserved respect. The truth is that life is in stages and most of this clashes that arise are instigated by fans which I see as deceit.