Thisday newspapers reporter Azuka Ogujiuba, in a lengthy
column titled ‘The Dbanj Brand: Dead or
Alive?’, shared
details of how she met D’banj and Don Jazzy, her brief friendship with the
crew, and fallout with D’banj, and why she thinks his 10 Anniversary
celebration was a failure.
Here are top 8 shocking
revealing excerpts from the article...
D’banj keeps grudges:
"Finally,
we fell out when l did a critic on Koko Mansion which l felt was a debasement
to womanhood. And D’banj was billed to perform at Genevive Pink ball but did
not. l was there and wrote about it. When it was published, understandably,
hell was let loose. Immediately, Dbanj and Don Jazzy stopped taking my calls…I am naturally not a bitter person. So l
moved on until l met Dbanj again at an event in Kenya. We were all supposed to
stay in the same hotel, but immediately he sighted me, he told the promoters of
the event that he would not perform unless I was sent back to Nigeria and that
l was his number one enemy. In fact, his former P.A.Chuchu and manager, Bankulli, kept threatening me. I
ignored them and for the first time, l insulted D’banj. l was tired of his
petty and childish behaviours, so l gave it to him fire for fire, while the D Prince, Jazzy’s younger brother and Ramsey Noahwhere on that trip watched the
drama closely . And I dared them to advance with their threats. The promoters
of the show tried to intervene and they ended up taking me to another location
where I passed the night.”
D’banj
10 Anniversary party was a failure:
“If
you ask me, I’d say that D’banj’s 10th anniversary could have been more
glorious if he’d invited people who supported his career through the years when
nobody knew him, especially Don Jazzy… Anyway, l think Dbanj should have
celebrated his 10th anniversary on stage by giving back to the music community
and to the country whose fans made him. He should have had a black tie event.
Where family, close friends and not ass lickers (that is if he still has close
friends),the big wigs in their Nigeria entertainment industry, his
contemporaries, young and old will come on stage and tell the world how he has
inspired their career, sing any of his hit songs or sing a tribute song
specially composed for him."
D’banj
is obsessed with America:
"D’banj
loves everything America, so by now he should have seen how BET organizes such
events for their big stars or legends and not spend hard earned money bringing
Amber Rose, who is no nowhere near a role model but a glorified stripper who
felt too big to twerk but ordered her ‘assistant’ like Dominic to twerk for
sponsors like Diamond Bank and made his guests look stupid because everybody
who came wanted to see Amber Rose twerk…"
Diamond
Bank were wrong to sponsor D’banj’s event:
“What
is wrong with some of our financial corporate institutions? Why would Diamond
Bank be involved in the sponsorship of bringing Amber Rose to Nigeria or did
they just pay for a cabana for their executive staff? If an upcoming act
approaches them for just hundred thousand naira loan to pay for his studio
session in order to release his single, will they assist him? Why did a
supposedly conservative bank like Diamond Bank in the first place want to be
associated with anything that has to do with binging Amber Rose to Nigeria, to
even do what in the first place? What good has Amber Rose visit done to the
Nigerian entertainment industry or morals conveyed to the teeming Nigerian
youths? Does Diamond not have a proper PR department? Didn’t they do a research
of what Amber Rose does or represents?"
D’banj owes more money than reported:
“As
things stand, D’banj may be dragged to court by a top oil and gas industry
player, Henry Ojogho, Vice Chairman of Broron Group. Ojogho, who is also the
Vice Chairman of MindHub Technologies, an integrated rice farming and milling
production company, alleges that D’banj, through his company, DKM Media
Limited, obtained a loan of over N60m from him in January 2013 and has not paid
back the said sum despite signing an undertaking to do so.
WALTER WAGBATSOMA (200,000Pounds)
Mr Walter is a billionaire with investments in major areas, ranging from oil and gas to real estate, banking, equities and even insurance. He is the founder and executive Vice Chairman of Ontario Oil and he’s one of the first men who were said to have handed money to D’banj, with a whopping sum of 200,000 Pounds said to be involved.
Mr Walter is a billionaire with investments in major areas, ranging from oil and gas to real estate, banking, equities and even insurance. He is the founder and executive Vice Chairman of Ontario Oil and he’s one of the first men who were said to have handed money to D’banj, with a whopping sum of 200,000 Pounds said to be involved.
PRINCE D. OKONKWO ($200,000)
He’s the chairman, Board of Directors of Tetrazini Group of Companies and he is said to have given about $200,000 to D’banj in the name of investing in entertainment. When the issue with Prince Okonkwo got out of hand, D’banj was said to have sought help from Dapo Abiodun, boss of Heyden Oil and Gas, who helped him take care of the debt through a repayment plan.”
He’s the chairman, Board of Directors of Tetrazini Group of Companies and he is said to have given about $200,000 to D’banj in the name of investing in entertainment. When the issue with Prince Okonkwo got out of hand, D’banj was said to have sought help from Dapo Abiodun, boss of Heyden Oil and Gas, who helped him take care of the debt through a repayment plan.”
D’banj’s 2012 Koko Concert was the start of debt crisis:
“There
is no doubt that Dbanj is yet to recover from the 2012 Koko concert though,
which is believed to have led him not just into debts but made him part ways
with several of his closest allies. He also had been alleged to be owing his
ever first financier, Dumebi Kachukwu and other wealthy friends that he met
through him. But if Dbanj was in such messy financial state, why would he spend
one kobo bringing Amber Rose here?”
D’banj
is quick to make enemies:
“Another
puzzle which l don’t quite understand about Dbanj’s personality is how he is
quick to make enemies and forget those who genuinely supported his career.
Later, l found out that Dumebi Kachikwu, one of Dbanj’s biggest
financiers, was in Lagos that day for his elder brother, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, the
publisher of Complete Fashion’s daughter’s wedding after the wedding. He could
have still popped in if all was well.
"Don
Jazzy his former business partner and bossom friend was absent. Gbenga Adeyinka
the first. Dele Momodu of Ovation magazine was not invited, his first show in
Ghana was arranged by him. Seye Keyinde of City People. Kunle Bakare of
Encomium. Abisoye Fagade of Sodium Solution, Adekunle Ayeni of Black House
Media. Ayo Animashaun of Headies Award/Hip TV, although his presenters were on
the red carpet. Cecil Hammond (Dbanj was the bestman at his wedding, later they
started Koko lounge) Kelvin Orifa of MTN. Mayor Akinpelu of Global Execllence.
Afolabi Oyekoya, Biodun Kupoluyi of E247, Justin Esade-Akpovi, entertainment
editors like Victor Akande, Nsebong of Thisday newspapers who pushed Dbanj’s
career to where it is today were deliberately not invited.
"Where
are all the bigwigs in the Nigerian Entertainment industry, from Nollywood,
comedy and the fashion industry like Okunoren twins and Alvince, I remember
these guys have kitted him with their designs when he started, why didn’t he
invite them or was his 10th anniversary event a money making venture?”
Amber Rose did not host D’banj’s party:
“Two
lies D’banj told was that Amber will host his show, she never did, for the host
of the show was Jimmie of Beats FM, and she also did not twerk like the
impression D’banj gave.”
Yes Dbanj is wrong and has made mistakes, but why are Nigerians so quick to pull each other down even through allegations and character assassination.
ReplyDeleteIf you say Dbanj keeps grudges, how better is the writer of this article, obviously meant to discredit him?