Lovers of classical music had a good dose of their favourite tunes in Lagos at the weekend as the Warri Choral Society (WCS) performed selections of pieces of three great music masters, G.F. Handel, W.A. Mozart and Joseph Hayden.

The Warri Choral Society, founded in 1992 by Mr Joe Ayonmike as a non-profit organisation registered with the Delta State Ministry of Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture and which has grown over the years to be one of the finest choral ensembles in the country, performed the Ayonmike Concerts No 57 in honour of Chief Odigie Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which also featured an Award of Excellence to him.

Delta State Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who was personally invited by Chief Oyegun, was represented at the Concert by the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Hon. Patrick Ukah.

The Concert, a combination of choruses and solos in two parts directed by Mrs C.S. Ayonmike, Ph.D, a lecturer in Technology at the Delta State University, Abraka, include Handel’s “Caesar! Caesar!”, “As When The Dove Laments Her Lover”, “From Mighty Kings”, “Virtue My Soul Shall Still Embrace”, “Blessed Be God”, “The Lord Shall Reign”, “The Lord Our Enemy Has Slain”, “Descend Kind Pity” and “Gird On Thy Sword”.

Also, the WCS performed Mozart’s “We Are All Contented” and “From Now On”. And there was Hayden’s “Sing The Lord Ye Voices All”.

Speaking during an interlude session, chairman of the occasion, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki commended the Warri Choral Society, saying it is of international standard and promised to set up processes that would lead to the formation of a Benin Choral Society.

On his part, Oyegun thanked the WCS for treating him and others present to such a nerve soothing and mind relaxing classical tunes.

Giving an insight into why he dedicated the Ayonmike Concert No 57 to honouring Oyegun, Ayonmike said it was to appreciate him for the good he did to him in 1983 as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance without asking for a dime when those he had to deal with before getting to Oyegun’s table made sundry demands in cash and kind from him as bribe. He emphasised that the gathering was not political and had no political undertone whatsoever as he belongs to no single party.

“Today’s gathering is not political; I don’t belong to any party, APC or PDP or anything.

The Award and Concert is just to appreciate and honour a man who in 1983, when I took an offshore loan of 200 Million Naira to build the first Five Star Hotel in Abuja, then a new and undeveloped place and John Oyegun was the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, he did his best for me. Before getting to his table, I had about five layers to deal with and each of them made demands in cash and kind as bribe before signing my papers. But when I got to him, the story was different. He gladly approved it without asking for a dime. So, I decided to do this for him,” Ayonmike said.

•Photo shows Warri Choral Society.

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