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Okosuns reportedly passed on, in the United States in the early hours of yesterday. In a swift reaction, the president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Dele Abiodun, who was at the airport when the news broke, told The Guardian that "the country has lost a musical colossus. I thought he had recovered from his illness, when he came back from India where he went for treatment; I called him and we talked. I was even planning to pay him a courtesy call sometime soon. I never even knew he was in the United States. This is sad news on a Sunday morning."
Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), President and Nollywood star actor, Ejike Asiegbu, and his wife who were returning from the music awards at Owerri, were grief-stricken. He said the artistic community would miss Okosuns greatly. His words: "He was one of the old war horses still giving younger artistes inspiration. Nigerians will not forget the role he played in the emancipation of other African countries that were reeling from oppressive colonial rule. He was a fighter Culture worker, dancer and journalist, Mr. Shaibu Hussieni, in a short tribute, described Okosuns as a spirit. He said:"It's a big loss...That man (Okosuns) was more than a musician...He was a spirit. He would be greatly missed. I had a personal encounter with the man to know that he was a spirit... True, he is. My only problem with his death is that there is no fitting replacement for the Ozidi King (as Okosuns was popularly called). He is to me the last of the musical messengers. That is why he was called Ozidi. I recall him once telling me that it meant 'There is Message' in his songs...that is Ozi (message) and Di, if translated literarily in Ibo. "He was indeed the last after Fela Anikulapo. He should get a state burial... He deserves one. I am sure someone like the late MKO Abiola will be weeping wherever he is. The Ozidi King stood by him during the June 12 struggle, recall the Maradona album he did in the wake of the annulment of the election One of his popular songs, Fire in Soweto, done in solidarity with the oppressed people of South Africa was a big hit across the continent and worldwide. Okosuns' career, however, faded in the late 1980s, but the singer roared back in 1994 when he opted for gospel music and set up a church, House of Prayers Church in Ikeja, Lagos State. His debut album as a gospel artiste, Songs of Praise, won a number of awards including the Nigerian Music Awards
And as the 2007/2008 Globacom Premier League came to an end yesterday across the country, the news of the death of "Block buster" Alloysius Atuegbu almost took the shine off its usual celebration. Shortly before the matches, at the various stadia, players, officials and spectators received the news of the death of former Green Eagles midfielders and member of the 1980 African Nations Cup winning squad. Although details of his death were unavailable yesterday, Atuegbu, known for power-packed shots in his glorious days in the Green Eagles, was said to have suffered a stroke early yesterday in Keffi, Nasarawa State where he was a coach and died some hours later. At the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano yesterday, where host Kano Pillars played JUTH FC, a one-minute silence was observed in Atuegbu's honour. Some of the players and fans were seen weeping while others discussed in hush tones what could have happened to the star who played alongside skipper Christian Chukwu, Emma Okala, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesiemaka and others of victorious Green Eagles squad of the 1980s. When The Guardian contacted Emmanuel Okala yesterday, the former Green Eagles goalkeeper said he heard the news but could not confirm it. But he staid that Atuegbu was said to have suffered stroke in the early hours of yesterday. He later said that Atuegbu's sister confirmed that he had died. He also said that his elder brother was contacted but he was yet to confirm the death. Atuegbu was also a member of the Green Eagles squad to the 1978 African Nations Cup in Ghana and the All African Games in Algeria. The Rangers International of Enugu of the 1970s and 80s was his team. Named the assistant coach of the Under-17 national team in 2002, he was sacked alongside the head coach, Ganiyu Salami, in 2003 due to poor results. He got the national honour, Member of the Order of the Nigeria (MON) with other players such as Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, the late Muda Lawal for winning the 1980 Nations Cup. Nigerian Football Association (NFA) spokesman, Ademola Olajire, when contacted said he also heard the news but could not confirm where the deceased died. He was so inconsolable.
REST IN PEACE BOTH
Hail Biafra Posts: 1707 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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