Yes, it is him- Olamide Baddo.
The 'holy' ones among us should pardon me for this. At least, we've been taught while growing up that some songs are of the 'world' and we should steer clear as sons and daughters of God. We wanted to listen back then, but somehow, we were able to sieve situation and identify positivity where the bandwagon thinks that none can ever exist. After all, they never thought that something good could come from Nazareth, but the rest is history. Praise the Lord somebody.

In my lucid period, Olamide's songs don't come in handy. When he sang 'Illegal', 'Falila ketan' and the host of other lyrical noises packaged by wicked producers like young John, Olamide himself didn't expect it to be an option for a man in his right senses. To boogie to such or reflect on it, you must have been motivated by shots upon shots of Orijin, Magic moment, Bullet or whatever is the alcoholic rave of the moment. For teetotalers who dig those songs, it could only have been induced by social craziness. On this, I am guilty as charged too. So, let us move on.

Last night, I was at a joint where Olamide's track titled '1999' was played. Somehow, I gave Mr. Baddo the benefit of doubt by listening to the lyrics carefully, and interestingly, this time, Maximiliano's dad did say novel things. In the track, he recounted a tragic event in 1999- robbers stormed his house and in the process of the operation, young Olamide witnessed his dad shot by the robbers. Guess what? That was all! According to Olamide, that point birthed his determination to excel in life through legal hustle.

After that track, I picked my phone and started digging for news item. Incidentally, the first news item I saw was a man arrested for fraud. In the suspect's words, he was frustrated because he lost his job, and then, he took to impersonating people to dupe unsuspecting individuals of their hard-earned resources.

Readers, whatever opinion we hold of Olamide does not matter here. What matters is the decision he took following the robbery. That should be a model for all of us, regardless of our belief in 'worldly' or 'heavenly' songs. Here, Pastors should learn from Baddo, Imams should learn from Olamide, Political leaders should take a hint from the brain behind Shakiti bobo. Our fathers and mothers should too, all of us! Everyday, news fly about in print and online media of suicide, sexual offences, robbery, ritual and other vices. In recent times, youths between age 18 to 36 have been caught in the web of varying criminal acts. One thing is common, they have excuses that sound a lot like: my parents couldn't cater for me, my business crumbled and I was frustrated, my parents are late, I came from a poor home, it is the devil, he committed suicide because he failed an exam, I don't have a job and my friends introduced me to robbery etc, etc.

To my consternation, Olamide was just 10 in 1999! What is your excuse if a boy of 10 years could take a positive hint from such tragic event? In his word 'armed robbers shot my dad, and then I realized it is time to organise myself.' Men are not created to be at the mercy of circumstances, we have all it takes to control circumstances. One's thought and determination are two key elements that must be watched. A robber does not need half of the energy he would exert in robbery to thrive in a legal business, let alone the risk rate.

You have an extra year? Don't give in! Don't become a part of an illegal syndicate because you feel the right route is long. You're not an animal, do not rape and put the blame on the devil that is only our imaginary creation. If you have a boss who doesn't treat you right, don't contract killers to take him out or cart his properties away, his wrong attitudes shouldn't take away the fact that you can control situations positively. Mothers and fathers, do not cheat because your partners do- using the excuse of your partner's infidelity to cheat is disgraceful.

Certain principles expected to be held by everyman should not be limited by challenges. Our determination to be what every ideal man should be irrespective of challenges should be skin deep, no external influence should be toxic enough to change who we are as humans. We would not only be dangerous to the world, but ourselves. Your positive mindset should not be fleeting- be positive because you should be and not because a favourable situation is before you. Your fidelity, humility, kindness and other virtues shouldn't be dependent on anyone's virtues. You must be whatever you are because that is what makes you You. And yes, like Baddo, you must not be broken by negative events. Rather, pick yourself and follow a legal path with the lesson.

Olamide hit this, and I'll tell him when we see.

Draws curtain with Olamide's 1999 track.
*... Let me take you back in time- wetin really ginger the strife, omo na 1999, tamuroba (armed robbers) fe pa daddy mio*