31st March, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Veteran talent manager and music executive Obi Asika has claimed that controversial singer Eedris Abdulkareem took a bullet for other Nigerian artists by challenging the poor treatment of local artists during American rapper, 50 Cent’s concert in Nigeria in 2004.
The newly appointed the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture spoke in a recent episode of Hip TV programme, Trending.
Asika said, “The basic situation was this, Nigerian brands did not respect Nigerian artistes. They made Nigerian talents feel like they have to beg to get on stage. They diminished them. Now, they are complaining that Nigerian artists are costing too much. It is because the brands didn’t respect the first set.
“Eedris was one of the first set. He was one of the biggest artists in the country. He told the organisers of the show that he wanted the same rights as 50 Cent. They did a show in Lagos, they were supposed to go to Benin or Port Harcourt, so they got into the plane… 50 Cent wasn’t even there at that time.
“Eedris went to sit in the business class properly to discuss collaboration with 50 Cent but he was bounced out and an altercation ensued.
“What he did, he took a bullet for other artists coming behind him. Because they ended his career. After that whole thing happened, you didn’t see him [popping] again. They painted him like he is a trouble maker but he is not a trouble maker.”
Obi Asika is the founder and CEO of Storm 360. Storm 360 has influenced the careers of various Nigerian entertainers, including Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix.
He has been influencing the intersection of art, technology, and entrepreneurship for three years as a co-convener of the Africa Soft Power Project since June 2020. Since January 2016, he has been committed to community-driven innovation in Onitsha, as evidenced by his founding role at the Iba Ajie Asika Resource Centre.
Asika holds a notable position in the entertainment and music industry with participation in television shows and events like MTN Project Fame, the Nigerian World Cup Village for FIFA 99, Big Brother, the Calabar Music Festival, and more.
Obi’s corporate contributions are seen in roles such as Non-Executive Director at PPC Nigeria Ltd for 14 years and as Founder and Chairman of Dragon Africa. His involvement also reaches the political sphere, where he serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President for social media.