The in-fighting within the nation’s music sub-sector is far from settling down, no thanks to the recent N11,000 COVID-19 palliative for Nigerian musicians.

Maggie’s Blog, the entertainment section of News Express, had on Tuesday reported the decision of Tony Okoroji-led Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) to share N50 million to the 4,500 musicians registered with it. That gives each musician N11,000.

In the report, we highlighted how some established musicians and other stakeholders had criticised this initiative which Okoroji tagged “Anti-Coronavirus Emergency Relief (ACER) General Distribution” and how Okoroji’s die-hard loyalists had descended heavily on anyone who dared to criticise the initiative.

A major stakeholder in the industry has also come up to add his voice to the “Palliative War”.

This time, it is none other than a former national president of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and currently a director on the Board of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), Dr Omatsola Iseli, popularly known as Tee Mac.

The light-skinned musician cum businessman who is well known for his trademark flute instrument is also Chairman, Entertainment Foundation of Nigeria and Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).

Read Tee Mac’s reaction during the week to our earlier report on the matter:

“Dear Sunny, MCSN is not against musicians getting financial help, it’s the rules and regulations which must be followed. COSON was closed down by NCC (Nigeria Copyright Commission – a federal government agency) and a court canceled the name (COSON) because it was fraudulently obtained.

“Bank accounts are frozen. Any reserves COSON has must be given to the rightful owners who earned them.

“Please, I have nothing against Chief Tony Okoroji, we have been friends for 30 or more years, but musicians want to know the origin of the 50 million Naira and see if it was actually distributed and if the board of the defunct COSON approved this expenditure. Thank you. Dr. Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli (MFR).”

If you are a stakeholder in Nigeria’s music sub-sector in particular and the entertainment industry in general, please feel free to send your own personal opinion to us about this “Palliative War” that is shaking the very foundation of the nation’s House of Music.

All opinions received will be published here on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

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