Posted by By Olatunji Saliu & Mary Enejo on
A fresh crisis is brewing among two factions of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), as both have disagreed over the burial of African Kennery king, Stephen Oladipupo Owomoyela, a.k.a Dr. Orlando Owoh, who was laid to rest today.
A fresh crisis is brewing among two factions of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), as both have disagreed over the burial of African Kennery king, Stephen Oladipupo Owomoyela, a.k.a Dr. Orlando Owoh, who was laid to rest today.
In different interviews with P.M.News during the lying-in-state of the deceased yesterday, the factional presidents of the musicians' body disagreed over the ceremony organised for the highlife music legend.
At the lying-in-state on Thursday morning, only Admiral Dele Abiodun, whose faction led the procession; Teemac Itse of the other faction and Prince Babajide Kosoko, President of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), were the big stars that came to pay tribute to the late Owoh.
Other artistes, including Juju music star, Queen Ayo Balogun and Sir Shina Peters, did not attend the lying-in-state, but were present at the musical jamboree organised for the deceased on Wednesday, until 6 a.m., on Thursday.
Reacting to the low turnout of music stars at the lying-in-state, Teemac described the situation as unbefitting of the legend. 'I am not satisfied with the way Dr. Orlando Owoh is being buried. I was hoping that well-wishers, friends and government representatives would be here to honour him today, but the ceremony was not well advertised. It was rushed a little bit.
'Only a few stars were invited here today. We (referring to his faction) only got information about his burial at 2 p.m., yesterday (Wednesday) and it was impossible for us to reach out to the other artistes.
'This is not how somebody like Orlando Owoh should be buried because he was a generous, friendly and great human being, a fine composer. 'His family has not kept in touch with us since he fell sick two years ago. Perhaps, they were too proud, but I know that's why everything is on a low level.
'The family has no money and it is not easy to raise such money in the first week of January. I suggested that he should be buried in February, but they turned it down,' Teemac stated.
But in a swift reaction to Teemac's statement, Admiral Dele Abiodun stated that Orlando Owoh was given a befitting burial by his family and colleagues.
According to him, the musical jamboree organised in honour of the late highlife legend was well-attended by over 200 music stars who performed from 5 p.m., on Wednesday till 6 a.m., on Thursday.
'Teemac lied that they were not carried along in the burial of Orlando Owoh. PMAN has no faction and all the stars have shown due love and respect to the deceased through Wednesday's gathering,' he argued, adding that artistes were unavoidably absent at the lying-in-state because of the show that was held the previous night.