March 6, 2015 – The Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji has described Okuoimose Emmanuel Okuoimose, the late General Secretary of the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), as a dogged fighter for the rights of musicians across Nigeria.
He said that Okuoimose Okuoimose who died in Benin City on January 19 was the crankshaft that powered the establishment of PMAN in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and gave the association great respect within and outside the country.
Okoroji who spoke to members of the Okuoimose family at their First East Circular Road residence in Benin City, said that he was in Benin City to commiserate with the family and to honour an exceptional Nigerian.
According to the former President of PMAN, the late Okuoimose who served under him was a unique kind of person – passionate, intelligent, hardworking, committed and totally dedicated to the progress of the Nigerian music industry.
In the words of Okoroji, “Okuoimose E. Okuoimose belonged to that disappearing group of Nigerians who did not care at all about personal wealth or privilege but rather the well-being of the people they serve and the progress of the cause they believe in. Okuoimose who was at home in every local government in Nigeria, was a very proud son of the Benin Kingdom and a committed nationalist”
Chief Okoroji who said emphatically that there will never be another Okuoimose E. Okuoimose, asked musicians, wherever they may be, to head for Benin – City on April 16 to give their fallen hero a burial worthy of such a great man.
Welcoming the COSON Chairman to Benin-City, Adesuwa Okuoimose, sister to the late PMAN General Secretary, said ‘On behalf of our family, We want to thank Chief Tony Okoroji for the great honour he has done our family to come all the way from Lagos to spend time with us at this difficult period. Many years after he worked with our brother, he has not forgotten the bond that existed.
That goes to confirm that he is not one to abandon you in your time of need. Our brother was neither a governor nor a minister but Chief Okoroji has honoured us like he was a Head of State. We are indeed grateful”
