Why I’m quitting music – 9ice

He needs no introduction because his name rings a bell. But for those who don’t know him, he is Alexandra Aboloore Adegbola Adigun popularly known as 9ice. The 34-years-old Ogbomosho, Oyo State indigene started his musical career singing fuji, a genre laced with Yoruba idioms and parables. Now, as an Afropop musician, 9ice is definitely pulling his weight. Not many will forget his run away hit, Gongo Aso, which was a sort of national anthem a few years ago. In this interview with TS Weekend, he opens up on his career and why he is dumping music for politics.

How did you start your musical career?
I started like every other person; when you don’t have any work to do, you would roam the streets searching for one thing or the other to do. When boys and girls have nothing to do, they begin doing things together looking for talents in themselves. That was how I discovered my talent in singing and I pursued it as a dream, and today, I have been able to achieve that dream.

Why do you always lace your music with Yoruba proverbs?
I grew up with my stepmother and I count myself lucky, because whenever her friends came around for a
visit, I usually listened to their conversations. They used to speak in parables a lot, so I must have picked one or two things from them. When I started singing, I inculcated some of the proverbs into my music, and they were widely accepted by my fans.

What are the challenges you’ve encountered in your career?
When I first started my musical career, it was so tough and rough because no parent wanted to see his or her child take music as a career. Then, I stayed with my stepmother and I hid my career from my parents and siblings, because they believed that music was for touts and never-do-well in the society. But now, things have changed, parents now want their children to go into music. When my parents saw my first album, they called my attention to it and said they will support me henceforth. Though, it has not been easy financially, I bless the name of God for seeing me through.

What are your achievements so far as a musician?
My achievement has been so wonderful, at least I have seven albums to my credit, which my fans love, and I have also won seven awards. I give credit to my friends and fans because they are the ones buying my albums. They are the ones that make me get some money from my shows, and I bless the name of God for it.

Your poster is everywhere indicating your interest in politics, why are you quitting music for politics?
Yes, I want to leave music for politics. Next year January, I will be 35-years-old and I’m not praying to still be in music at that age. I am serious about politics now. If you listen to my music, you would notice that politics has been part of me; it’s in my blood. When I started initially, I talked about being your brother’s keeper, and that’s why I studied Law at Lagos State University before I dropped out to concentrate on my music career. I hate when things go wrong. When two or three people are having issues, I love to get there to settle their differences. I have passion for politics and it has always been in my blood.

You and your producer, I D Cabassa are reported to be at loggerheads, what’s your relationship with him now? 
There is a confusion going on that I had a quarrel with my producer, I D Cabassa. I’ve had a good relationship with him since I met him. In life, there are things that people don’t seem to understand, any artiste can have so many producers that he or she wants, and when the album comes out, you can put any of the names you like as your producer. It’s not a crime if the producer has done well or not but it’s a matter of choice. I never had any fight with I D Cabassa; I don’t know where people get their information. Presently, I am working with ID Cabassa and Puffy T on a project and they have been so wonderful.

If you go fully into politics, most of your friends and fans will miss you?
I will say they will love me more by the time they see the plans that I have for them. I have so many plans on my mind. Imagine if the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a politician, he will not just criticize the mistakes of our leaders but also correct them. Imagine if Wole Soyinka was to be the president of this nation, people like him are only preaching the truth and criticising the government but they are not ready to get into politics to make corrections. I am tired of preaching, I want to contribute my own quota for the sake of my people. We have graduates riding commercial motorcycles (okada), selling meat etc, their certificates are not being used but they are shouting that the government is not doing well. There can’t be any change if the youths don’t stand-up now to do something to help the country.

Who is Tony Payne to you?
She’s nothing more than we have kid for each other.

Recently, Tony Payne says every political aspirant is looking for what to eat, are you sure she’s not referring to you?
Hmmm, if it is because of what I want to eat, so be it. Thank God I can drink my garri in the afternoon and eat beans at night without any stress. I can even drive my car to wherever I want to go. I can go to my friends’ houses to watch DStv, even if I don’t have it in my house, glory be to God. 1 Kings 19:7 says: ‘and the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee’. I don’t allow anything or anybody that might want to distract me in my journey, because the journey is too far. It’s not about what I want to eat but what I want to contribute to the development of my people.

What are your plans when you eventually become a legislator?
I come from Ogbomosho North Local Government Area, which is my constituency; we have other local government areas populated by farmers. They have maize farms but they don’t have good roads and water. 80 per cent of the farmers still use cutlasses and hoes. If they are given tractors and they are introduced to modern farming techniques, they will not only cater for themselves but they will also cater for people in other parts of the country. Even if it is only onions that they plant, so many states will benefit. Aside from Ekiti and Ondo States, I have never seen any other western state that is more educated than Ogbomosho. But after their education, the people still go back to ride commercial motorcycles, engage in farming, transportation etc. For youth empowerment and employment, I am going to organise workshops where people can learn many things like how to make soaps, toiletries, threads, candles, fashion designing, hairdressing, catering, electronics, carpentry etc. Immediately, they complete their training, we are going to give them some money to start up their businesses. We are going to make provisions for LAUTECH students because they don’t have hostels; we are going to provide accommodation at a cheaper rate. We will also provide transportation for them. There would be scholarships for primary and secondary school students including free transportation. In my constituency, WAEC fees will be paid for students. I will donate my salary for four years to widows and people who cannot work again, I will give them stipends every month.

You are coming out under the umbrella of APC, have you been nominated as their candidate?
No, but every member of the party is eligible to aspire for any position; it is now left for the party to choose or to go by election. Six of us are going for the same position under APC. The party will decide on how the candidate will emerge.

Let’s pray that you win, but assuming you didn’t win, how would you feel? Would you go back to your music?
My own politics is not a do-or-die; if my party refuses to pick me, life goes on. I will still support the person that won. I’m not doing what I cannot afford to do. Thank God, I am not owing any bank or anybody money, I can’t do something that I cannot afford, so I have no problem. But it will be recorded that Aboloore Akande vied for this post but didn’t win. People will know that I am not a spectator but a participant. For what I will do if the primary didn’t favour me, hum, I will go into business or any other thing that will give me money. Or better still, I will get back to my music career or talk to one of my friends to employ me in his company. Nothing do me, I am a Nigerian that knows how to struggle.