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APRIL 23, 2007 VOL. 21. NO 2 |
‘My Aim is Peace’
– Omatshola Iseli, a.k.a T-Mac, new president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) By Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan YOU were appointed penultimate week as the …. (cuts in) Let me make a correction here, I was nominated by the National Working Committee (NWC) of PMAN about three weeks ago. Actually, I had delegations asking me since the resignation of Rosiji to step in, but I first hesitated because of my time schedule. But then, I realised that I guess, I should step in to see if I can bring in the needed change and peace into PMAN. Next week, there will be a National Executive Council (NEC) to get a confirmation as the PMAN president. I just want the people to get it clear that I was nominated, not appointed. Who were the people that nominated you? The NWC. Our constitution states that if the president, vice or treasurer dies or resigns, the NWC can appoint a replacement, to be rectified by the NEC. Last year in Kaduna where the elections that produced Rosiji was conducted, you walked out of the hall when the results were called because you were obviously not happy with the result. Suddenly, a year later, these same people are back offering you the same job they denied you. What crossed your mind the first day they came with the offer? Well, when they approached me, I said I was honoured, but that my time schedule may not allow me because last year, I was ready for it but now I have so much additional work. For one, my mining company is there and I have accepted a lot of international jobs. Well-meaning top musicians in the industry came to me and said, “T-Mac, we will support you. Let PMAN be a success. During Charly Boy’s reign, it went to a certain height, help to take it higher than that”. I accepted and said my programme and aim is peace. Factions have to come together. Secondly, we have to work to improve the situation Nigerian musicians are. We have to work towards raising a better income for Nigerian musicians and in my manifesto, I stated that there is so much poverty and we must fight it. Charly Boy has been described as PMAN’s kingmaker. He appoints and removes. Most people are of the opinion that he initiated your being nominated. What would you say about this especially now that the seat of the president of PMAN is now described as a revolving chair? You are asking about three questions in one. So, let me answer it like this. Every former PMAN president is in the advisory committee and every former president is a goodwill ambassador of PMAN. So, Charly Boy is not doing anything else in any form. He is the last PMAN president and so it is in his own interest to make sure that it continues successfully. Charly Boy came to me and apologised for what happened in Kaduna and I accepted his apology because I knew that something would happen in the next one or two years after that election, because if you want to be the chairman or president of the moi-moi sellers association, you better know how to make moi-moi. Charly Boy will be in the advisory committee, but he will not partake in the daily running of PMAN. But I want this to be a team work, with every well-meaning Nigerian musician on board. I hope Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and all others would come back into the fold, so that we can work together as a team. Music is our first aim and the success of the industry is our second aim. I am a professional musician and a co-founder of PMAN with Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Okosun, etc. And I am the only one who hasn’t accepted the PMAN’s presidency because I have no time. People are saying now that Charly Boy is a kingmaker, but I just think he’s making sure it doesn’t die. We didn’t ask Bolaji to resign but he did. So somebody had to take over. I will make sure that I groom one or two people to take over from me when my time is up, we can’t be here like that. Charly Boy is making sure that the best possible person takes over and he said may-be that’s me (T-Mac). How would you describe the short tenure Bolaji Rosiji had as PMAN president? Bolaji is my friend. He is a fine gentleman. I am sure he did his best based on the information and knowledge he had. During his one-year reign, I was not very much in PMAN because I was a lot more abroad and was very busy with my mining company. There were no big music events that I was invited to perform, so I cannot criticise or say anything because I was not around. But after I lost the election to him last year, I gave a warning because the constitution says the PMAN president must be a performing musician who knows the problems of music and has the experience which will lead him in his leadership. So do you see your being on this seat now as destined by fate? I don’t see it like that. I look at it as one of the ways I can pay back for the luck and good things that has happened in my life and what the industry has done for me. What was the outcome of the peace meeting you and a few others had with Dele Abiodun penultimate week? I can’t give you the details yet, but I can assure you that we had a good meeting. We are now trying to find solution to all that has happened. Dele Abiodun in one of my oldest friends. We have never had an argument. I was not around when he was suspended and when all those troubles happened. All I am advising is that we should all come together and make things work. Dele is a very patient human being and I know he will work with me. We are now discussing with lawyers to arrange for peace. So, we will solve the problem. Would you be continuing with Rosiji’s agenda for the association? I have no idea if he had an agenda. I never read one. I have my own plans and would implement them. Welfare of the musicians will come first and I’ll make sure that this union becomes the richest in Africa. I will bring in every artiste. We will do a couple of AIDS awareness concerts, patrons’ night and go for a talent hunt. We are also going to have adult and music appreciation classes and seminars. Do you have a good rapport with Nigerian artists? I have never had a problem with any musician. I have worked with the best. My motto in life is respect everyone beside you. I respect everyone, even animals, that’s why, am a vegetarian. When you respect everyone around you, you’ll be respected also. Let’s talk about your music? I have composed two concerts and a symphony called Rule your world. For the Glo Network? Well, I haven’t signed a deal yet. But it’s a 48-minute piece recorded with 120 instruments. Glo hasn’t heard it yet. I just discussed it with them, I haven’t had the time. I write constantly and produce songs. I have a finished album called Just like a Dream. I have no time to release it but I will. I spent 60 months producing it and it cost N10 million. It seems as if you are always busy. Would you then have time for PMAN at all? Yes, of course. That’s very important. |
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