My major aim is to be the governor of Oyo State — 9ICE

9ice,the famous singer ecently contested for the Federal House of
Representatives, Ogbomosho North/Ogbomosho South/Orire Federal
Constituency on the platform of his party, APC but lost out at the
primaries.
However, in this interview, the lanky singer revealed that he has not
given up on his political ambition, and says he even aspires to become
the governor of Oyo State. He also speaks on his relationship with his
estranged wife, Toni Payne. Excerpts:
Your voice has changed over the years, what's the real cause of this?
As at the time I recorded my first album, I was 24 years old, and if
you compare that to when someone is 35 years old, you can see the
changes in the physical body and every other aspect. Age has a lot to
do with that. Another factor is that most times when we go for
concerts, the microphones and other sound equipment are not right.
I end up shouting at the top of my voice. Imagine someone doing that
consistently for five years. After the release of 'Gongo Aso' I was
doing shows all over back and forth for almost five years. Sometimes,
you rehearse your songs on a particular key, and when you get there
for performance, they play a different key. So with all these, there
is the tendency to lose your voice, and even get the voice cracking.
What's the inspiration behind your latest singles?
Well, the inspiration behind 'Familete' is that we have a lot of
people that are rich out there who think they have arrived. But you
can be as rich as King Solomon, if you don't keep working, your money
will eventually be exhausted. I was also trying to express the way
some rich people live their lives, and also the notion many young
people have about riches.
They believe once they have money, the money won't finish. It has to
do with how you spend your money, and also how you relate to people
when you have that money, so that when you don't have, people who you
helped will also help you. On the other hand, "Sugar" is about
couples, and talking about the reason why they are in love. It also
talks about the challenges and hurdles people face when in love.
What's the greatest lesson you've learnt from your experience in politics?
I've learnt that Nigeria lacks leadership. It's 'moneyticians' that
they see, and they have no choice but to follow whoever they see.
During the course of my campaign, I learnt a lot, and I got closer to
the people. I listened to their yearnings, and realized that they want
a lot of things, but are not getting what they want.
I will also implore people who have the passion to lead their people
to offer themselves up for service. The people that we have there now
are not leaders; they're just there for whatever they'll gain.
This is your first shot at politics, but what would you say is your
ultimate ambition?
My ultimate ambition in politics is to become the governor of Oyo
State. However, I'll still run for the Federal House of
Representatives to serve my constituency in the next election. I
believe I can serve in that position very well, and I also know that I
stand the chance to become the governor of Oyo State.
As the Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Youths, what are
your plans for the people of the state?
My plans are to spring up so many ideas that I already have at the
back of my mind. Initiatives like the Governor's Cup in terms of
Sports, and also by organizing debates. The era of debates has died,
and I think we need to encourage the brilliant students who have the
capacity for that in Oyo State. I intend to present such students to
the governor so they can be supported academically, and if the powers
that be support the idea, then I think we're good to go.
You once said that fans sometime miss-interprete the meaning of your
songs, what have you learnt from that?
I've learnt that songs are spiritual, and we as artistes, should watch
the kind of songs we sing. Like the song "Once bitten, twice shy;" it
was a quality song, but it was released at the wrong time when other
things were happening. People just added one and two together, and
concluded that the song was talking about my own separation. I still
repeat that it's a good song, and it's only unfortunate that people
read wrong meanings to it.
What's your relationship with Toni Payne now?
We don't have any relationship outside my son, Zion. She's doing fine,
and I'm doing fine as well. We both take care of our son.
How do you intend to combine your role as a public official and an artiste?
I don't think one disturbs the other. My political office is during
the day as Abolore Akande, and music is performed at night by 9ice. I
think I have already differentiated the two.
Would you need to be cautious of your kind of lyrics considering the
public office you hold?
It doesn't limit the things I say in my music. The office I hold is
about youths, and I'm a youth as well.
Music wise, what next should we be expecting from you?
Watch out for the songs I'll be releasing soon.
You once said that bloggers should not upload your songs again, what's
your problem with them?
I'm still saying that. How could they be offering my songs for free
when same songs are available at iTunes for certain price? My problem
with them is that they should not put up my songs for free when same
songs are being sold somewhere else. There will be a time I'll also
release some songs for free. It's not charity; it's business. I have
to make money.
You're into politics now, do you have any plans to work towards
regulating the industry in your own way?
Definitely! That's one of the reasons why I'm in politics. People in
this industry complain every day, but there will be no change if we
don't participate. The more we are in government, the better it will
be for us.
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