‘Why we’re honouring Alaafin, Arisekola, others in Ibadan’

The secretary of the planning committee for the 10th anniversary of Olu Makinde (deceased), Barrister Gbenga Makinde, has revealed exclusively to Saturday Tribune why the committee will honour the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (III), late Arisekola Alao-Azeez, late Adeseun Ogundoyin and late Akanni Aluko, on February 16, 2025, when a book titled “Olu Makinde: Master of His Game”, will be launched at the Trenchard Hall University of Ibadan.

In a phone conversation, the senior lawyer at the Olujimi & Akeredolu Law Hub, told Saturday Tribune that three of the four individuals played vital roles in funding the crowning ceremony of Sunny Ade in Ibadan in 1977, while Alaafin ratified the choice of Sunny Ade as the King of Music by the people.

“If not for the different roles that these people played, we won’t have had a KSA today. Sunny would still have become the legend that he is, but without the financial support of the Three Musketeers, and the traditional ruler, the brand would have been just Sunny Ade,” he said.

Details of how the musical competition changed everything for Sunny is revealed in the 174-page book written by his son, Tade Makinde (II); also a journalist, entitled “Olu Makinde: Master of His Game”, which will be launched next month at 1:30 pm in Ibadan.

The planning committee, led by Ambassador Yemi Farounbi will also unveil a foundation in honour of the journalist, as well as give awards to a few others.

Dr Farounbi was the manager of NTA when the competition took place and he ensured that the TV station broadcast the event live in 19’77.

Makinde worked with Morning Post, Sketch newspapers, published his own entertainment magazine, Variety Entertainer, and was famous for his punchy views in Odessa File column in Saturday Tribune.

He died in 2015 in Ado Ekiti after achieving success in Ibadan.

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