Veteran juju musician, Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, talks to OLUSOLA FABIYI about his family, the late Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, and other sundry issues

In the next few months, you will be 82 years old.

Yes, by the grace of God.

How has life treated you?

When I look back from the first day that God brought me here on earth, and as I continue to climb the ladder of life, I begin to see that God has been good to me in the last 82 years. I have great experiences that one can always look back to like a book or a film. In everything that happened to me, I can see the goodness of God. God is a very good God and I can see that the love of God is the most important thing that has driven my life. I swim in the ocean of the love of God because God is good to me. He is a very kind and merciful God. There are stages in life in which a young person will behave like a young man just as Paul said, ‘When I was young, I behaved like a young man, but as I increased in age, I lost all the attitudes of the youthful age’.

There are certain things that God has done that man must express. The Bible says in John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life’. You cannot compare the love of God, so I thank God. During my early days when I knew that I had the gift of music and that I was going to be great in life, the confidence and assurance were there.

Did you know that you were going to be a great man?

I saw that I would be a great man through music. So, my love and everything was associated with music. Some parents may need to learn from my life experience, especially from what my mother told me.

What did she tell you?

What my mother wanted for me was to be successful in life, just like what every mother would wish for their children. My mother wanted me to be a lawyer or a medical doctor. Those two professions were what she wanted for me, but my interest was in music. Funnily enough, my talent was discovered in school. My mother said to me in Yoruba language that I should face my education and forget about music. She also asked me if I wanted to go to London. I answered in the affirmative and she told me that education would guarantee that.

Did she tell you why?

She said that those who were beating drums all around were beggars and they smoked cigarettes, marijuana, and drank alcohol, but she would not want her son to be involved in smoking and alcoholism. People who excel in their profession are in line with what God has destined for them. God called me into His ministry at the prime of my youth. I was ordained as an evangelist by Archbishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory. I have spent 30 years in ministry. All I can say is to thank God for His mercies!

You spoke about the fact that life is like a movie. Are there things that happened in the past that you think you might have handled differently now?

There’s no way a person can live without making mistakes, especially in the younger days. As a young man, things are seen differently. But God has been with me; God allows mistakes so that we can learn. God will give us a reasoning mind so we can compare. When a mistake is made and the individual feels bad, God is in it. Once a bad thing is done and the individual feels bad, two things happen: God comes in and the devil does so too. But we must allow the will of God to surpass or overcome that of the devil and the Holy Spirit helps us to differentiate between the good and the bad. ‘Jesus is the way, the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). Whatever sin you committed in the past is forgiven when you give your life to Christ; you become a new creature. And once Jesus is in, the direction is set. But this doesn’t mean that the devil will back down. But God will give us the power to overcome the devil.

I must also share this experience. In my struggling days, I worked very hard as a labourer and newspaper vendor and was also involved in selling ice cream just to obey my mother, but my mind was on music. Music was all I wanted to do in life and thank God I finally settled down for music, I became a celebrity musician and everything my mother wanted me to achieve as a lawyer or a doctor is fully accomplished through music even more than my mother’s expectations! My advice to all parents is to allow their children to follow their hearts’ desires. For example, I watched a programme on the TV, the story of a lady. Her father wanted her to study Law, but her interest was not in it. She obeyed her father and studied Law; she graduated and took the certificate home to her father and stated, ‘Thank you, dad. This is for you. I am going back to my fashion designing, which I have had a passion for’. Today, she is doing well.

You spoke about schooling and how you managed to work as a vendor while learning. Are there special lessons you learnt during that time?

It’s good for one to try in life. Don’t be a lazy person. The present generation wants money just as some parents also focus on money rather than the child and spoil most of them.

Could that probably be because of the present economic condition and how difficult it is to get a good job?

No. It’s because of the mistakes of their parents. They say things like, ‘I don’t want my children to experience the suffering that I experienced’. Let them experience what you passed through but show them the way. It wouldn’t be the exact one you faced, but guide and show them the difference. In Britain for instance, a child has responsibilities such as co-payment for rent and groceries once they clock 21. This prepares them for the future when they have a family to cater for. Even when one is providing for the children, one must teach them to prepare for the future and their families. I discuss with my grandchildren, always telling them to prepare for their future. We sit down, they ask a lot of questions and they’re very bold. They are also into music, so we do music together.

How many grandchildren do you have?

I’m so blessed. I’m blessed with a lot of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

How many of them are into music?

Let me see. Ten of my grandchildren and two great-grandchildren have shown interest in music even at their tender ages.

Can we expect a record from you and other members of the Obey family?

Oh, yes. We’re doing that already.

Has that happened before?

Yes. On my 80^th birthday, they all came together to play at the (birthday) event.

When Iyalode Alaba Lawson died, you spoke about Ore, the son she had for you, but many Nigerians are not aware. What is the connection?

Yes, that’s true. Many did not know about Oreoluwa Obey-Fabiyi. That’s why I’m telling you about my life. Oreoluwa is my son from Iyalode Alaba Lawson. He’s now 40 years old and he has a son, Olagoke Mololuwa Obey-Fabiyi. What I told people was that women cannot be separated from music and musicians. When I had Oreoluwa Obey-Fabiyi 40 years ago, my late wife knew everything because I didn’t hide anything from her. She accommodated and became the mother of all my children as she took care of all of them so we could both focus on the ministry. It’s very rare to find a woman like my late wife. As a responsible man myself, I always took care of everything concerning my children, including their education. The elders-in-council of my church knew about my past because when you’re in Christ, you become a new creature. Behold, old things have passed away!

What happened after the passage of your wife, Lady Evangelist Julianah Obey-Fabiyi?

After the passage of my wife, l remained a widower for many years. And afterward, Mama Oreoluwa, (the late) Iyalode Alaba Lawson, was taking care of me. Even though she was a woman of many activities and we didn’t live together. Oreoluwa is a very nice son. He’s fond of me like all my children. Iyalode had been a wonderful woman by my side. She was an educationist and an entrepreneur and was the first female president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture. She gave scholarships in her school. She was a very hardworking person, a no-nonsense and highly disciplined woman who combined a lot of things. She disciplined her children who were all boys – six of them.

Is Oreoluwa your last child?

Yes, he is. He is also lyalode’s last child.

You must be missing Iyalode now. How does it feel losing Chief Alaba Lawson?

Yes, I am missing her. It’s not a good experience. In Iyalode’s case, I’m a famous person and she was a famous woman as well. We didn’t live together as she was an independent person and ran a lot of things. I used to tell her to take it easy but in reply, she would always say, ‘Papa Ore, I’m doing what God has called me to do on earth’. And I would tell her to take a bit of rest. In my position, l am a counsellor as l counsel a lot of people on matters affecting their lives and God has always helped me a lot in this aspect.

Was there anything she told you before she passed away?

Of course, there are. When she was in the hospital, I was always visiting her. But towards the end, she let me know that she couldn’t make it. She also told me to take care of myself, the children, and Oreoluwa.

Did she know the end was near?

First, she believed that she would survive the ailment and always told me that God would save her as she had faith in God concerning her healing. When she knew the end had come, she said it. She also mentioned all the details concerning her burial such as where she would like to be buried.

What was the nature of her sickness?

Let’s leave that to God. Anyone about to go and meet their creator will have one type of sickness or the other.

Was she happy when she realised that she was almost at the finish line?

Yes, she was happy when she found out.

Is the preparation for the burial in line with her wish?

Of course, yes. It’s in line with her wishes and she wrote everything down. They are on how to keep her legacy projects and have a solemn and befitting burial arrangement devoid of alcohol and musical entertainment.

But she was a socialite. Why would she want a simple burial?

She was a considerate person. She knew that her name was big and that she would be given a befitting burial. If not for her last wishes, the burial would have been a very elaborate ceremony. Let’s see how it turns out as people have decided to celebrate her even in death.

How did you receive the commiseration of the President and other prominent Nigerians?

His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was among the first to send condolence messages. The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his deputy, the Secretary to the State Government, the First Lady, and other prominent dignitaries too numerous to mention have paid condolence visits to the family as well. Even during her sickness, l recall that Prince Dapo Abiodun visited her and made arrangements for a special hospital in Lagos to take care of her treatment. When she got to the hospital, she called me and told me to personally thank the governor for what he had done for her, which I did. (Saturday PUNCH)

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