THE SONNY OKOSUNS THAT I KNOW

BY GABRIEL OMONHINMIN
ON Sunday, May 25, 2008 at exactly 11.15 a.m. at the residence of the late music maestro turned an evangelist, 92-year old Pa Duke Akaire Okosuns, was his usual ebullient self.
From the cheerful excitement on the face of Pa Okosuns it was obvious that he had not yet been informed about the death of the breadwinner in the Okosuns’ family.
I observed with keen interest as Baba, as he is fondly called, bubbled vigorously around his room.
At 92, Pa Okosuns can still do so many things, which people in his age group con not do. For instance, he still reads almost all the Nigerian Newspapers without the aid of any medicated eye glasses. He is also an ardent listener to news on the electronic media.
On that particular day, he was sitting quietly in a chair placed by the side of his large bed, reading one of the day’s papers. After some minutes of silence, the following dialogue ensued between two of us.
He asked “Who this is” And I replied, “Baba, it’s me Gabriel”.
Ooh! Is it you, How is your family? I replied, “Baba, we are all fine”.
He continued, your brother and friend has just gone back to the U.S. Did you see him during his brief stay in Lagos? I replied again, “Yes Baba, we met”.
Have you been able to reach him on phone, since he returned back to the U.S.? I replied this time in a subdued tone, “Yes Baba, as a matter of fact I spoke with him on phone, on Friday, May 23 at about 2 P.M Nigerian time”.
Baba said, “I hope he is O.K?” I just managed to nod my head and reply inaudibly.
We both again went in a long silence, while he now concentrated on his newspapers.
At this juncture, I quietly sneaked out of his room, saying to myself “how cruel life could at times be”.
Sonny was not just a brother; he was my friend and a very close confidant.
Since his long and protracted battle to stay alive, especially since he made his first trip to the U.S. for medical treatment, I had made it a habit to call him on phone every other day to ask about the state of his health and general wellbeing.
At times, during and after his operations, if he could not personally answer my call, his lovely wife Omono, who was always by his bed side, would pick up the phone and say “You brother is well”. She would then give me the exact time to call Sonny so that he could speak with me.
You can trust the undying spirit of Sonny, as soon as I called at the appointed time, he would receive the call and say almost in a whisper, “De Gabby, I am O.K. It is well”.
Sometimes in early April, he called me at about 5.30 a.m. Nigerian time, to inform me about his plan to visit Nigeria for the Easter celebrations.
On Monday, April 7th 2008, Charles Okosuns, called me very early in the morning of that day, to inform me that Sonny had arrived in Nigeria, and that he wanted us to meet in a hotel very close to his residence at Aguda-Ogba where he was having his rest.
At exactly 10 a.m. I joined Sonny in the said hotel. He was so excited to see me. Omono his wife, Charles his brother, Osegahale and John his children, were with us. As usual, I asked about his state of health, I could see that he had undergone several operations, but his legs were still swollen. Sonny sprang up from his bed, and brought out two sets of wrist watches. He said this is for you and your wife. I thanked him for the gift, while I was still quietly observing him closely, as if to convince me that he was well, He told Osegahale to get prepared as he was to take him to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to regularise his papers.
While still in the hotel room, he complained about a newspaper, which had reported that he was restricted to a wheel chair and could not eat. He was particularly bitter over the rumour which he said was making the rounds in his village, Ibore, in Esan Central of Edo State, alleging that he was no longer in a position to pay his medical bills. A statement he said was wicked, untrue and malicious.
During the conversation, he told me that the Edo State Governor, Senator (Professor) Oserheimen Osunbor, sent him the sum of three million Naira, as part of the state government contribution toward his treatment. While the immediate past Governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion, also sent him the sum of ten thousand U.S. dollars.
Even though Sonny was now walking in measured steps, we resolved that he visit the Editor of the Newspaper which carried the false story, at least if not for anything, just to prove that he was not on wheel chair. He also insisted that he would visit Ibore his village, to pray at his mother’s grave side.
While Sonny undertook his trip home, I began a two-week course at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, (ASCON) in Topo Badagry. As it had become the habit, we spoke every other day.
Sunday, 27th April, 2008, was the last time I sat with Sonny for two hours in his bedroom at his home in Aguda-Ogba, Ikeja. On that day he looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “De Gabby, take this Bible; you need it for your spiritual guide. It was a Life Recovery Bible – New Living Translation. After the presentation he managed to nib at the plate of rice brought to him by his wife Omono. While he ate the food, he complained generally about the shoddy manner Nigeria treats her heroes. He asked from me, what is the essence of the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N.) bestowed on him, when the Nigerian government could not come to his assistance at his most trying period. He said several efforts to reach the Secretary to the Federal Government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who had always been a good friend, was frustrated by some of his personal aides. At this juncture, He said “I wish my country Nigeria well; I, Sonny Okosuns have played my part very well in uplifting the image of this country. He concluded, I am an “African Soldier” like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahamadu Bello just to mention a few”.
Justifying his target of being an African Soldier, he said, “I have had a command performance in my musical carrier that spanned thirty five years on stage for about twenty eight Heads of States and Government in Africa. I have performed with International Artistes such as Toots and the Matals, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Little Richard and Harry Belafonte just to mention a few”. He concluded by saying, “Music has been fair to me, as I have travelled the entire world, playing music”.
Yes indeed, Sonny made his mark in music, in those very eventful years of his musical career, he released three singles albums entitled “Ohomi/Sound of the Forest, God of Abraham/Rice and Beans and Help Don’t Cry.” These were the musical albums that kick-started his musical fame. Other multiple albums like O’Jesu, Riots, Ozidizm, Living Music, Ozzidi For Sale, Papa’s Land, Fire in Soweto, Holy Wars, Power to the People, and Give Peace A Chance, gave my brother and a friend, the international exposure.
Albums like Song of Praise 1 and 11, Great Change, Revival, Glory of God, Save our Soul, Great Story and The Crown, showed that the Fire of God was still burning in him.
Sonny produced great artistes like Onyeka Onwenu – Endless Life, Yvonne Maha’s – Child For Sale, Charly Akaa’s – Poor Charlie and Chuks Ejelonu’s – Let Make a Memory.
On Friday, May 23rd 2008, when I last had a telephone conversation with my brother and friend in the U.S., there was nothing in his voice to betray that he was matching home to meet the Lord. “De Gabby” he said on the other side of the phone, “have you forgotten me so soon?” I said no! And I asked why he asked such question? He said “you were very late in calling me”. Immediately I apologised for not calling him for some days.
On Sunday May 25th 2008 morning, at exactly 5.30 a.m. I put a call through to the U.S. the two lines of Sunny rang several time, no reply. I again tried, at the other end, Sonny’s wife Omono voice came across. I asked Omono “how is Sonny doing, is he well?” Omono calmly said “It is not well”. Then it dawned on me that he had finally lost the long and torturous battle to stay alive.
Sonny rest in perfect peace until we meet to part no more. You were truly an “African Soldier”.