No Ghanaian political influence to my absence at President Buhari’s inauguration

Ghanaian political musician, Barima Sidney has disproved claims that there are political influences by some Ghanaian political gurus to his absence at the inauguration ceremony held for the just-sworn in president of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari at Abuja last Friday, May 29, 2015.

The issue about some Ghanaian political gurus influencing the musician’s absence at the inauguration was suggested by the host of Nhyira 104.5 FM’s Entertainment Power, (a subsidiary station of Multimedia Group of Companies based in Kumasi), Okukuseku during an interview with Barima Sidney on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

According to Barima Sidney, “some people are reading political meanings to my inability to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new president of Nigeria and his administration last Friday as previously reported, but there is absolute nothing political to it.”

Instead, he explained, “the intermediate between my management and the All Progressive Congress (APC) communication team, Igwe Divine had an emergency trip to embark on to the United States 3 days to the inauguration day and put in-charge his rep to conclude with the travelling processing, and accommodation among other necessary things to be done.”

“But as at the day before and on the day of inauguration, nothing about the travelling had been communicated to us (my management) or an update on any new developments and we neither could pressure them for the travelling documents because we needed to ensure our comfortability,” he told AmaLarbieAfrica.com.

However, Barima Sidney disclosed, “the entire travelling for General Buhari’s inauguration ceremony came up when news broke that the now ruling government in Nigeria had used my ‘Africa Money’ song as one of their campaign theme songs and I got in touch with the intermediate, Igwe Divine through a friend called Ernest.”

“And that was when I was first billed to perform at the party’s last rally ahead of the election day which could not be reality because there was less intensive communication and I as well had been billed to perform on an independence day show in the UK with Stonebwoy and Yaa Pono on March 7,” he added.

Igwe Divine, according to Barima Sidney, “contacted me to record a unity song titled, ‘Arise Nigeria’ using the country’s National Anthem and add-up lyrics as well as stating the agendas of the President on Lionel Peterson’s ‘Peace’ song cover, which was approved after a couple of reviews and corrections were made.”

Adding, “there was suppose to be a video shoot for the song but unfortunately, the timing wasn’t favourable hence, the intermediate (Igwe) and his team put together rushes of incidents that has happened in the country, the President’s agendas for the country, among other instances which is currently being aired in Nigeria.”

On whether there was a contractual agreement between the party and the Ghanaian musician, Barima Sidney said, “indeed there was a contract, but that was for recording the ‘Arise Nigeria’ song which of course my services were paid for likewise payment for the studio session.”

“But for my invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony and performance at the after-inauguration concert; nothing monetary was been discussed and aside that accommodation and travelling documentations were as well not concluded,” he said.

Meanwhile, Barima Sidney has indicated that he has been informed by the intermediate to be on the standby for performances at other concerts to be staged by the party in Nigeria, as it is a stretched celebration and he is looking forward to hearing from them.”

"It will be an opportunity for me to reach the Nigerian music market should I finally get to perform on any of the concerts to be staged by the party as Igwe Divine has indicated," he added.

The inauguration ceremony of President Buhari into office was conducted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria; Mahmoud Mohammed on the Democracy Day Celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Friday, May 29, 2015.

By: Ama Larbie