The “Nigeria Jagajaga” singer, Eedris Abdulkareem in an interview with New Telegraph said, he is not “scared of human beings; I am scared of only God. Because whether you like it or not we are all are living dead, we will all die one day, so what would you be remembered for.”

On whether the song directed at the government of Olusegun Obasanjo ruined his career, he said, “ruined my career? That is your own opinion. You don’t speak for people. Because I am very fine. I don’t know why you say that.”

Excerpts:

• As a social crusader, I have been busy basically adding value to the lives of the people. What I do basically is through my talent and my agricultural project, cultivation of fruits, for instance, strawberry in Jos, to create employment and at the same time use my music to add value to the lives of the people. I am a voice for the voiceless, that is what I do and these are things that give me joy.
• In fact, that song made me more popular. If the president of a country could basically talk about it, saying: “Na him papa and mama be Jagajaga, it made me more popular. I am doing very well. And I am still one of the musicians in Nigeria that is very responsible, married to one woman, not many women. And I am teaching those so-called politicians how to do things that they have the responsibility to do but never do.
• Anybody that speaks the truth, you should expect that he will have a lot of enemies, people will not like him, and some people may not invite him for events. But there are like minds, who are also successful people, who love him, who appreciate him, who will invite you to events. So you can never lack.
• On reconciling with Obasanjo he said, To reconcile with who? With Obasanjo? I don’t have a problem with him. The road to his house, you will be shocked up till now, nothing has been done about it. That is not fair. I see it as just wickedness if he has love for this country that could add value to the lives of the people living around there.
• President Muhammadu Buhari has a good heart but has a wrong set of people around him, though not all. 
• …for me music is a tool that adds value to the lives of the people, the money will come after. My parents used to tell me something, that relationship brings money, money does not bring relationship. Your relationship with individuals that you know will determine your success in your life. So, when I got into music I knew exactly what I was going to do. For me, it is a call.
• My music is social consciousness, just to speak the mind of the people.
• Advising the younger generation, he said, education is important. Make a decision about what you want to do in life, but remember stay truthful, be prayerful. What goes around, comes around.

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram