Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, January 14, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – Fearless Nigerian musician, Abdulkareem Eedris, known for the popular lyric “Nigeria Jagajaga” is still crossed with the former President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Charles Oputa, better known as Charlie Boy over his brawl with the American singer, 50Cent.
The Afrobeat crooner said the former President of PMAN does not deserve any accolade for what the Nigerian musicians have achieved over the years for betraying him at the prime of his music.
Abdulkareem Eedris said Charlie Boy collected N70 million from then Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Chief Festus Odumegwu(Eze Gburugbru) to cover up what transpired between him and the American rock star, 50Cent during his visit to Nigeria in 2004 on invitation of Nigerian Breweries.
In a video message, Abdulkareem Eedris gave graphic details of what occurred in the plane at the MMIA recorded by DJ T, who also shot one of the videos for Olamide.
Abdulkareem Eedris, who was one of the hottest star at that time said in the video that he had signed a deal with Nigerian Breweries that he would be paid whatever the multinational would pay 50Cent, even when they refused to append their signature on the deal. “I signed my side they didn’t sign, they were looking for trouble, so I was ready”. Watch the video HERE
“So, when I entered the plane, I went straight to the Business Class and sat down. 50Cents came with his team and asked me to get up for him and his crew to sit. I refused, I sold 4.5 million copies of my music in a pirated country and I asked how they make it in their country”, he said.
He related that 50Cent and his team about 30 of them pounced on him, attacking him, while his colleagues in the Economy Class stood aloof merely watching the drama. “I fought myself out of the situation”, he said, and decided to trap the plane that nobody will go anywhere.
“I called Asare Dokubu, but he was on his way to Mecca. I called Charlie Boy, who was then President of PMAN. He came and met with Chief Festus Odumegwu”, he said, alleging that Charlie Boy collected N70 million from the multinational to cover up the saga when he should have stood up for his musicians as President of PMAN.
“I fought for my right, I fought for Nigerian music and that is why the likes of Whizkid and Burna Boy are what they are today, making money. You sold out, you are a bad leader, don’t collect glory for what you did not do. I fought that revolution with my career”, he said, adding that Charlie Boy will not do anything without money. “You are a fake activist”, he added.
According to him, DJ T who documented the incident with his camera was arrested by the Nigerian Police to shut him up and had to relocate to the United States. Abdulkareem Eedris who also blamed journalists on the plane, for covering up the incident however gave credit to MD Abubakar, then Inspector General of Police. “He called me and asked, they said you kidnapped 50Cent and I explained everything to him”, he related.
Before the plane incident, this time at TBS, he said Nigerian artiste , the likes of PSquare, KC Presh, Emoney were chased out of the backstage with horsewhip(Koboko) by the same organizers that he alleged Charlie Boy conspired with. “You are a betrayer and fake activist”, he said.
