It is exactly six years that we lost the finest fuji icon, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Barry Wonder’s good music made him to have millions of fans both home and abroad.
He warned Nigerian politicians in one of his albums not to disturb the peace of this nation with their political ambitions. Barry sang: “Ko di gba ta ba n para ni Nigeria, ko ju wa o to mo, ko to di no victor, ko to di no vanquish, bi to’jo si ri, eko gbigbona loro to wa ni ile yi o suuru lon fe” meaning “It is not until we kill ourselves in Nigeria that we can face reality, chant ‘No victor, no vanquished,’ and come together to talk. The situation on ground now is hot pap and patience is required to tackle it.”
I want to use this medium to call on those in positions of authority now to listen to the music of Alhaji Agba and let peace rain in Nigeria. Those who are sponsoring gunmen and Boko Haram should have a rethink and take to the music of Barry Wonder.
There is no gain in killing one another. It is evil to kill. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was a great fuji musician. He used his fuji music to contribute his own quota to the development of this nation. Despite the fact that Barry is no more, his music lives on in Nigeria and across the globe. Today, we are remembering him simply because of what he had achieved through his fuji music. Fuji musicians in Nigeria should emulate the good virtues of Ayinde Barrister. Nigerians will continue to remember the late fuji icon, Barry wounder. He was aged 62.
I want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Abiola Ajimobi to immortalize Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, considering what he had done with his fuji music.
- Jimoh Mumin
jimohmumin@yahoo.com
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