 |
| Ibikunle Amosun |
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has said the state
government will build a museum in honour of the juju and gospel music maestro,
Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, where all his works will be kept for posterity.
Amosun announced this on Monday at the interdenominational
church service held at the Chapel of Christ The Glorious King, inside the
Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta marking the 75th birthday of
the music icon.
The governor noted that Obey-Fabiyi’s music taught totality
of life and it had moved beyond Nigeria to the entire global community.
He said when he travelled to the United States of America,
he saw the works of the Ogun State-born musician displayed in a shop in New
York.
Amosun said he never failed to listen to Obey-Fabiyi’s music
every morning before setting out for the office because there was always a
prayer or a philosophy, which could serve as a driving force for the day.
“All I see in him at 75 is the awesomeness of God in his
life.
“There is always something to learn from your music. I play
Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi’s music every morning,” Amosun said as he sang some songs
by the musician.
He added, “Your music teaches the totality of life; it
teaches the essence of life and living. Your music has moved beyond Nigeria to
the global community.
“We will establish a museum where all your works will be
kept for generations yet unborn to know about you and other legends from the
state.”
The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God
worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said he had followed the musical career of
Obey-Fabiyi right from his “miliki days.”
Adeboye explained that both Obey-Fabiyi and himself became
born again Christians at about same period.
The cleric said he was happy
that Obey-Fabiyi had been winning souls for God through his gospel
music.
The Deputy National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke, who delivered the sermon at the ceremony, described
the celebrator as an epitome of humility whose music “is philosophical and
preaching morals encouraging people to do good.”
Speaking at the reception also held inside the marquee
located a few metres from the church, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
described Obey-Fabiyi as “a musician of international repute, a revered
evangelist and businessman of note.”
Obasanjo said the music legend had maintained decorum and
decency in his conduct and content as an artiste.
Responding, Obey-Fabiyi said God had endowed him with
musical talent and sent him on a mission as a musician with message of love,
peace, hope and progress.
He said to fulfill this mandate, he formed his first band,
the Royal Mambo Orchestra, in Idogo in 1957.
The musician, who gave all glory to God for what he
described as ‘unending success’ in his life, also paid tribute to his late
wife, Olaide, and late Pa Oye Ande of Melican Publicity “who when nobody
believed in me gave me money to buy the
latest guitar at the UTC then.”
Another musical legend, Sunday Adegeye, popularly known as
King Sunny Ade, entertained guests at the reception with his brand of juju
music.
Meanwhile, a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, also described Obey-Fabiyi, nicknamed Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, as
an astute entertainer whose songs will always remain evergreen.
Tinubu, in a statement on Monday by his Media Office, wished
the music icon many more years on earth.
0 Comments