Broadcasters under the umbrella of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), on Friday, reproached a fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly referred to as KWAM 1, for allegedly brutalizing an Ogun-based broadcaster, Wole Sorunke, popularly known as MC Murphy.
MC Murphy was allegedly beaten black and blue by KWAM 1 and his boys on Thursday night at the 60th birthday party of the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, in the Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State.
It was gathered that both Ayinde and Murphy were invited to the party to perform as musicians and compere respectively.
K1 allegedly disrupted the party, where some prominent persons were in attendance.
While addressing journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, FIBAN President, Desmond Nwachukwu, described the incident as unbecoming of K1 and holder of the ‘Mayegun of Yorubaland’ title.
The FIBAN President alleged that K1 brutalized, harassed and humiliated the FIBAN member over what he described as a minor issue and appealed to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamide Adeyemi, to immediately strip the Fuji musician of the title bestowed on him.
Nwachukwu described K1’s conduct as a mockery of Yoruba race and the title bestowed on him by the Alaafin, while declaring him as unfit for the title. He added that the leadership of broadcasters’ association had reported the matter to the security agencies and vow to take legal action to ensure justice was served.
Nwachukwu said, “We would like to tell His Majesty that we are all humans and we can make mistakes. This is a grave mistake he has made because, as far as we are concerned, the holder of the ‘Mayegun of Yorubaland’ title must be a man that commands respect and carries himself pretty well, understanding that the image of His Majesty and the entire Yoruba race is what he goes about with.
“We would like to tell His Majesty that it is not too late to strip him of that title. We have to understand that this is Yorubaland and this is where culture and tradition are held with a lot of candor.
“And I say without any reservation that the conduct of Wasiu Ayinde Marshal at the 60th birthday of the Olu Itori is the least expected. He does not merit the title by that conduct. It is not just a slap in the face to broadcasters in Nigeria and across the world; it is indeed a slap in the face to the Yoruba.”
Narrating his ordeal, Murphy said he was attacked shortly he had taken his client to the stage to be eulogized by Ayinde.
But Ayinde snubbed him and his client while on stage. His client is the Chief Executive Officer of Olageospatial Global Investment Company, Fasina Olajide.
Sorunke said the attitude of K1 shocked him and his client and they both left the stage.
He alleged that the fuji musician and some of his boys simply identified as KC and Gaji got off the stage and “descended on” him where he was sitting.
The broadcaster disclosed that it took the intervention of some of his supporters and other members of the gathering to rescue him from the irate musician and his boys.
MC Murphy then showed journalists his swollen cheeks and lips, noting that Ayinde had later apologized to him.
He said he decided to make the matter public and seek justice in order to serve as a deterrent to the musician, who according to him, had often been alleged of beating up people at the slightest provocation.
When contacted, K1’s media manager, Kunle Rasheed, denied the involvement of his boss in the violent at the party.
Rasheed, who spoke briefly and sent a text message saying, “Nothing of such happened. Anything that happened to him (Sorunke) has nothing to do with Alhaji (Ayinde).”
