I had the pleasure of singing with my two daughters – Bongos
Big fish they say are to find let alone cashing them while fishing. In this short interview, Weekend Extravaganza (WE) was fortunate to catch up with one of Nigeria’s most celebrated musician who thrilled this nation with his hit track ‘cock roll at down.
The following are extracts from the interview with Bongos Ikwue
WE: Can we meet you Sir?
Bongo: My name is Bongos Ikwue from Benue State, Nigeria
WE: Sir, can you share Nigerians us your mission in Imo State?
Bongo: I like the state, I’ve head the great job the Governor Rochas Okorocha is doing here, I have seen so many changes that have taken place since he took over the mantle of leadership. I actually came for a courtesy call on the Governor, that’s why am here and am happy to be here.
WE: Sir, your music is loved every were, can you tell us what has become of it?
Bongo: I just released a brand new album about a month ago. I have released 14 songs out of the 45songs I’ve recorded and am happy with what am doing. The Album is titled Wulu Wulu, I had the pleasure of singing with two of my daughters and one of the song in the Album Mustapha and Christopher preaches peace. It is about unity and it’s time to play down Religion and play up God.
I think they is too much religioucity and the time has come for us to live in perfect peace and unity. We are all human and are created by just one God. I don’t see any need for fight or quarrel, I see all the need for unity.
I said it repeatedly that they are only two tribes in the world, ‘good people and bad people’.
WE: Sir how would you rate Nigeria today as a nation?
Bongo: first of all I’m thankful to God that am a Nigerian, I have come to terms with that reality, I can be no other nationality than a Nigerian. Haven come to terms with that, all of us owe it to this country to do our best to make this country a most pleasant place to live in.
People talk of corruption, I say the corruption rate of any country is directly proportional to the rate of that country. When you are saying a country is corrupt, all you are saying is that the country is inefficient.
We owe it to our self’s therefore to block all the loope holes, listen to this, if an American woman will kill his husband for three hundred thousand dollars insurance claim can you imagine what they are doing here, they just us pen to make two million dollars. It’s for us to understand what am talking about.
When Buhari and Idiagbon were propagating laws against indiscipline, I thought it was wrong.
It was a negative war against indiscipline which said that when somebody urinates on the road or high way, you flog him or her, when somebody throws a piece of paper on the road or ground, you flog him.
I will rather propagate war against indiscipline that is positive. It say’s build toilets and show the people the toilet to use and then when they are pressed they can go ease themselves, put garbage can’s all over the place and when they have dirt’s, show them were to throw it. The later is bound to succeed, the former is bound to fail.
WE: Sir can you tell Nigerian’s more about your family.
Bongo: well am very happily married to a wonderful woman I’ve been married for about 40 years, am only 70 right now, and I have five children, four girls and one boy. While I actually had my first son out of wedlock.
My family have always stood behind me, the two girls who sang with me, are not actually musicians but have the love for music, one has her master’s in public health, the other measured in Events and Facilities Management and they both have their degrees.
WE: it’s been a pleasure sir with you.
Bongo: thank you very much, am sorry it’s short, I have to run before I miss my flight.
