Society Gists

Broadcasters under the aegis of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, on Friday, berated a popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly called KWAM 1, for allegedly brutalising an Ogun State-based broadcaster, Wole Sorunke.

• Sorunke aka MC Murphy, a popular radio presenter and event anchor, was allegedly beaten black and blue by KWAM 1 and his boys on Thursday night at the 60th birthday party of the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Our correspondent gathered that both Ayinde and Murphy were invited to the party to perform as musician and compere, respectively.

The musician allegedly disrupted the party, which had some prominent persons in attendance.

Addressing journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Friday, FIBAN President, Desmond Nwachukwu, described the incident as unbecoming of the artiste and holder of the ‘Mayegun of Yorubaland’ title.

Nwachukwu alleged that Ayinde, aka K1 De Ultimate, brutalised, harassed and humiliated the FIBAN member over what he called a minor issue and appealed to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to immediately strip the Fuji star of the title bestowed on him.

The FIBAN president described Ayinde’s conduct as a mockery of Yoruba race, while declaring him as unfit for the title, adding that the leadership of broadcasters association had reported the matter to security agencies and vowed to take legal means to ensure justice was served.

He alleged that the Fuji star and some of his boys simply identified as KC and Gaji got off stage and “descended on” him where he was sitting.

The broadcaster said it took the intervention of some of his supporters and other members of the gathering to rescue him from the irate artiste and his boys.

Sorunke, who showed journalists his swollen cheeks and lips, noted that Ayinde had later expressed regret over the assault and apologised to him.

He said he decided to make the matter public and seek justice in order to serve as a deterrent to the musician, who, according to him, has an alleged penchant for beating up people at the slightest provocation.

When contacted, Ayinde’s media manager, Kunle Rasheed, denied the involvement of his boss in the violence at the party.

Rasheed, who also spoke briefly with our correspondent, later sent a text message, saying, “Nothing of such happened. Anything that happened to him (Sorunke) has nothing to do with Alhaji (Ayinde).”