Popular Ibadan-based Fuji musician, Taye Adebisi, popularly known as Taye Currency, has recounted how the late former governor of Oyo state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, gave him a financial freedom in 2011 by crediting him with a whopping sum of N99 million for his governorship campaign.
Revealing this, Taye Currency disclosed while performing at the annual Oshodi Day event on December 27, 2023.
In 2015, during his campaign for governorship under the Labour Party, Akala’s campaign Director-General, Kola Balogun, mentioned that Akala was referred to as “ATM” by locals due to his generous nature.
Balogun added that Akala’s governance style ensured that his people always had money in their pockets.
Meanwhile, Taye Currency recalled how he challenged Akala about the delayed funds meant for him by those expected to pay them for the campaign rallies done on his behalf.
He said: “I want to share a story of how my life was turned around for good and how I became what I am today. In 2010, I was invited, along with many others, to join the campaign train for the late Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala. The show promoter in charge of paying me for singing during the campaign wouldn’t pay me on time. He would often delay my payment, sometimes by up to three days.
“One fortunate day, I was in the late Governor’s residence when he stepped out. I started screaming and shouting that I hadn’t been paid for my show at the campaign and that I wouldn’t be returning to perform on stage anymore.
“Akala asked me to approach him and demanded an explanation for my outburst. I told him I was owed N500,000 and had not been paid yet.
“He was surprised and then called on his First Lady, Mrs. Kemi Alao Akala, instructing her to be in charge of paying me whenever I performed on stage for the rest of the campaign.
“Akala then instructed that N99 million be paid to me straight away for campaigns in the 33 Local Government Areas of the state. That was how I made it. Just like that, I was shocked. After I settled everyone, I still had N60 million left.”
Taye Currency was appointed the Culture Ambassador in the first term of Governor Seyi Makinde because of the active role he played during the governor’s campaign.
His son, Yusuf Adebisi, also won a seat in the Oyo state House of Assembly representing Ibadan South-West Constituency 1.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
