Thisday newspapers reporter Azuka Ogujiuba , in a
lengthy column titled ‘The Dbanj Brand: Dead or
Alive?’, shared details of how she met D’banj and Don
Jazzy, her brief friendship with the crew, and fallout
with D’banj, and why she thinks his 10 Anniversary
celebration was a failure.
Here are top 8 shocking revealing excerpts from the
article...
D’banj keeps grudges:
"Finally, we fell out when l did a critic on Koko
Mansion which l felt was a debasement to
womanhood. And D’banj was billed to perform at
Genevive Pink ball but did not. l was there and wrote
about it. When it was published, understandably, hell
was let loose. Immediately, Dbanj and Don
Jazzy stopped taking my calls…I am naturally not a
bitter person. So l moved on until l met Dbanj again at
an event in Kenya. We were all supposed to stay in
the same hotel, but immediately he sighted me, he
told the promoters of the event that he would not
perform unless I was sent back to Nigeria and that l
was his number one enemy. In fact, his former
P.A. Chuchu and manager, Bankulli , kept threatening
me. I ignored them and for the first time, l insulted
D’banj. l was tired of his petty and childish
behaviours, so l gave it to him fire for fire, while the D
Prince, Jazzy’s younger brother and Ramsey
Noahwhere on that trip watched the drama closely .
And I dared them to advance with their threats. The
promoters of the show tried to intervene and they
ended up taking me to another location where I
passed the night.”
D’banj 10 Anniversary party was a failure:
“If you ask me, I’d say that D’banj’s 10th anniversary
could have been more glorious if he’d invited people
who supported his career through the years when
nobody knew him, especially Don Jazzy… Anyway, l
think Dbanj should have celebrated his 10th
anniversary on stage by giving back to the music
community and to the country whose fans made him.
He should have had a black tie event. Where family,
close friends and not ass lickers (that is if he still has
close friends),the big wigs in their Nigeria
entertainment industry, his contemporaries, young
and old will come on stage and tell the world how he
has inspired their career, sing any of his hit songs or
sing a tribute song specially composed for him."
D’banj is obsessed with America:
"D’banj loves everything America, so by now he
should have seen how BET organizes such events for
their big stars or legends and not spend hard earned
money bringing Amber Rose, who is no nowhere near
a role model but a glorified stripper who felt too big to
twerk but ordered her ‘assistant’ like Dominic to twerk
for sponsors like Diamond Bank and made his guests
look stupid because everybody who came wanted to
see Amber Rose twerk…"
Diamond Bank were wrong to sponsor D’banj’s event:
“What is wrong with some of our financial corporate
institutions? Why would Diamond Bank be involved in
the sponsorship of bringing Amber Rose to Nigeria or
did they just pay for a cabana for their executive staff?
If an upcoming act approaches them for just hundred
thousand naira loan to pay for his studio session in
order to release his single, will they assist him? Why
did a supposedly conservative bank like Diamond
Bank in the first place want to be associated with
anything that has to do with binging Amber Rose to
Nigeria, to even do what in the first place? What good
has Amber Rose visit done to the Nigerian
entertainment industry or morals conveyed to the
teeming Nigerian youths? Does Diamond not have a
proper PR department? Didn’t they do a research of
what Amber Rose does or represents?"
D’banj owes more money than reported:
“As things stand, D’banj may be dragged to court by
a top oil and gas industry player, Henry Ojogho, Vice
Chairman of Broron Group. Ojogho, who is also the
Vice Chairman of MindHub Technologies, an
integrated rice farming and milling production
company, alleges that D’banj, through his company,
DKM Media Limited, obtained a loan of over N60m
from him in January 2013 and has not paid back the
said sum despite signing an undertaking to do so.
WALTER WAGBATSOMA (200,000Pounds)
Mr Walter is a billionaire with investments in major
areas, ranging from oil and gas to real estate,
banking, equities and even insurance. He is the
founder and executive Vice Chairman of Ontario Oil
and he’s one of the first men who were said to have
handed money to D’banj, with a whopping sum of
200,000 Pounds said to be involved.
PRINCE D. OKONKWO ($200,000)
He’s the chairman, Board of Directors of Tetrazini
Group of Companies and he is said to have given
about $200,000 to D’banj in the name of investing in
entertainment. When the issue with Prince Okonkwo
got out of hand, D’banj was said to have sought help
from Dapo Abiodun, boss of Heyden Oil and Gas, who
helped him take care of the debt through a repayment
plan.”
D’banj’s 2012 Koko Concert was the start of debt
crisis:
“There is no doubt that Dbanj is yet to recover from
the 2012 Koko concert though, which is believed to
have led him not just into debts but made him part
ways with several of his closest allies. He also had
been alleged to be owing his ever first financier,
Dumebi Kachukwu and other wealthy friends that he
met through him. But if Dbanj was in such messy
financial state, why would he spend one kobo bringing
Amber Rose here?”
D’banj is quick to make enemies:
“Another puzzle which l don’t quite understand about
Dbanj’s personality is how he is quick to make
enemies and forget those who genuinely supported
his career. Later, l found out that Dumebi Kachikwu,
one of Dbanj’s biggest financiers, was in Lagos that
day for his elder brother, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, the
publisher of Complete Fashion’s daughter’s wedding
after the wedding. He could have still popped in if all
was well.
"Don Jazzy his former business partner and bossom
friend was absent. Gbenga Adeyinka the first. Dele
Momodu of Ovation magazine was not invited, his
first show in Ghana was arranged by him. Seye
Keyinde of City People. Kunle Bakare of Encomium.
Abisoye Fagade of Sodium Solution, Adekunle Ayeni
of Black House Media. Ayo Animashaun of Headies
Award/Hip TV, although his presenters were on the
red carpet. Cecil Hammond (Dbanj was the bestman
at his wedding, later they started Koko lounge) Kelvin
Orifa of MTN. Mayor Akinpelu of Global Execllence.
Afolabi Oyekoya, Biodun Kupoluyi of E247, Justin
Esade-Akpovi, entertainment editors like Victor
Akande, Nsebong of Thisday newspapers who pushed
Dbanj’s career to where it is today were deliberately
not invited.
"Where are all the bigwigs in the Nigerian
Entertainment industry, from Nollywood, comedy and
the fashion industry like Okunoren twins and Alvince, I
remember these guys have kitted him with their
designs when he started, why didn’t he invite them or
was his 10th anniversary event a money making
venture?”
Amber Rose did not host D’banj’s party:
“Two lies D’banj told was that Amber will host his
show, she never did, for the host of the show was
Jimmie of Beats FM, and she also did not twerk like
the impression D’banj gave.”
