'If you hustle the way you fit oh, them say you no try oh, my brother take am jeje, this life e no dey easy. Amem ? Owo ndi nam Mkpo nno owo? '
(Meaning, Is it easy for one to help another? a line culled from the hit song Amem )
It is not easy for a sitting Governor to pull out a whooping 5 Million Naira as cash support to a group of musicians in the state. May be it has happened before in Akwa Ibom State, but this is the first time I have heard of it.
For UNIK Brodaz, it was a thing of joy and a worthy investment by Governor Udom Emmanuel, the duo quickly put the money to use by shooting a standard video for their trending song and promoted it on international cable channels.
When news broke out of the romance between the music group, UNIK Brodaz and Obong Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commissioning (NDDC) who is a aerious contender for the seat Governor Udom Emmanuel is occupying, many greeted it with mixed reactions.
To make it more interesting, the donor and Governorship flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is an Ikot Abasi man, where the UNIK Brodaz hail from.
Those for and against buttressed their arguements with succinct points. Is Obong Nsima Ekere just realising that the Ikot Abasi boys have talents? Why now ? while others say Why not?
Anyone who knows the brothers so well can confess to their years of investment in their talent and musical career. I personally met them in 2010 and served as their media manager. It took aggressive marketing and support from well meaning Nigerians who believed in their uniqueness, the likes of Gadana Ventures, Ambassador Sam Akpan and Blessing Johnson who surrendered their vehicles, houses and resources to push the UNIK Brodaz brand.
Their talent, content and the fact that four (4) biological brothers could team up to pursue a career in entertainement remains novel in Nigeria, similar to the twin brothers P Square. Their name UNIK being an acronym for Ubon, Nkereuwem, Idongesit and Kufre,Kufre, the oldest of them is a Barrister, while Idongesit later retired from active music with the trio to take up management of the group, now leaving just Ubon and Nkereuwem as the duo - performers.
A lot of waters had passed under the bridge, from meeting the former PDP Governor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio who blessed them good enough to afford a video shoot in South Africa and acquire their first Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) a Toyota Sienna in 2012. Simply put, many politicians from the PDP have supported them with cash, after they had relegated themselves to be seen as political musicians considering the terrain and the huge investment entertainement requires, at a time when things went rough.
Gist about town had it that the brothers became nuisance to politicians, as they were seen around seeking financial support at the abode of every Tom, Dick and Harry in the PDP.
The world seems to forget that beneath the paparazzi of the super star brother musicians, 3 out of the 4 brothers have a direct responsibility of a wife and kids to take care of, not forgetting their aged parent. Going back to playing live band for peanuts at local occasions was not an option for them.
'Amem' came to the rescue, it sparked a fire, and boom, it is on the lips of everyone, especially in this part of the Niger area, a hit song which took over the airwaves and made them the most sought after artiste in this clime.
Fast forward to 2018 when they were presented a car gift by Obong Nsima Ekere and 10 Million Naira Cash which caused an uproar, the whole state went beserk, why would the musicians who recently received a N5 Million Naira Cash gift from Governor Udom Emmanuel for their video shoot turn around to betray him by going to his opponent to receive another gift? Precisely double of what the sitting Governor gave them.
Could it be that their loyalty does not remain with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) which they have supported over the years ?
Those questions inpired this article, the problem actually is the mindset of the artistes, which is rubbing off on the people. It is only a brand endorsement that requires such loyalty from an artiste. There is nothing wrong with accepting gifts from well meaning Akwa Ibom people who believe in your craft, there is nothing wrong with taking a political stand, just like Pasto Goody Goody has declared ' I Stand with Udom'.
However, I reserve my personal opinion of an everlasting loyalty to the PDP by the UNIK Brodaz for supporting the brothers as long as I have known them, both with car/cash gifts and patronage at events.
The answer lies in the line of their monster hit single 'Amem' , which says 'The way I see, some people wanna hammer by force" , UNIK Brodaz are definately not one of those, they have continued to do just what they know how to do best, music, now consistency has paid off.
Me thinks, whereever their cash and car gifts are coming from, it is well deserved, because, for everything one gets in life, both good and bad, 'Abasi Anye do the source', not ONE human being nor political party, but #OnlyGod , and to him give all the glory.
Upcoming artistes should learn from this, how long will the Akwa Ibom entertainement industry continue to rely solely on government patronage or cash gifts from politicians ?
What happens to 'the rest of us' ?
Source: Nelson Nseabasi, Serial Media & Entertainement Entrepreneur
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