Let the music play on, Tinubu tells Obey at 75

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described Chief Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, nicknamed Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, as an astute entertainer whose songs would remain evergreen.

 Tinubu, in a statement in Lagos to congratulate Obey on his 75th birthday on Monday, wished him many more years on earth, urging him to “let the music play on”.

 I congratulate Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey on his 75th birthday. It’s a great accomplishment to so be blessed by God as he has been.

 Ebenezer Obey, whose professional career began in the mid-1950s when he moved to Lagos, has contributed a lot to the development of music in Nigeria and  Africa.

 As a musician with a deep Christian spiritual bend, Obey’s music is unique in the way and manner he turns Yoruba axioms bearing rich religious messages into dance-hall compositions.

 His popular tracks like ‘What God Has Joined Together’, ‘Aimasiko’, ‘Eyin Pegan Pegan’, ‘Anjade Loni Eledumare’,  ‘Jesu Olore’, ‘Africa is My Home’, ‘Ambe o’, ‘I am a Winner’, etc, remain masterpieces any day.

 When in early 1990s, he retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry, I knew it could only be short-lived, because when you have a passion for a profession, like Chief Obey’s zeal for music, whether secular or gospel, there is no room for retirement.

 I saw him in action in December last year at an event held at the Lagos State House, Alausa, Ikeja, tagged ‘Evening with Governor Ambode’ to end 2016 and usher in 2017; he was the cynosure of all eyes.

 He remained his true self, the true entertainer that we have always known, churning out one rich number after another.

 At 75, I wish and pray that God grants Obey more years and the strength and energy to continue with his music. So to Chief Commander, I say let the music play on, Tinubu said.