•Analysts predict strain in work relationship
Concerns over the absence of P-Square’s elder brother and manager Jude Okoye at the wedding of Peter, the other half of the group, has left many wondering what the future of the group will be.
Peter, the one-half of the twin singers got married to his baby’s mama, Lola Omotayo on Sunday, November 17, and although many, including The Nation, had predicted that Mike Adenuga, who was used to advertise the wedding, may not attend, no one imagined that their elder brother would also missed out.
Adenuga, The Nation said may not attend the wedding, let alone chair the occasion because the Globacom boss had, in the last 10 years, not been seen at public functions except for his mother’s funeral in Ijebu-Igbo in 2007 and the wedding of his daughter, Bella, to Jameel Disu in 2010.
“P-Square is about the highest paid brand ambassadors on the Globacom list, but the chairman does not mix business with pleasure,” a source told The Nation.
The source recalled that besides the pertinent family engagements, another event which Adenuga had attended in 10 years, was one of Globacom’s events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in December last year.
It did not come as a surprise to many, when the Globacom man was represented at Okoye’s wedding by the COO of the company, Mohamed Jameel.
Perhaps the absence of Jude, P-Square’s ubiquitous manager, could still not have been easily noticed. Curiosity started when he began to post casual photos of him and Wizkid on Instagram while the wedding was in progress. The picture was believed to have been taken a night before, at the Mavin Records studio where he had been working with Don Jazzy, Dr. SID, Phyno and others.
Publicist to the singers Bayo Adetu was reported to have told NET that “Jude was missing at the wedding because he was stuck in Ghana.” P-Square had performed in Accra, Ghana at the ‘Glo and Bounce Slide ‘tour the night before. Adetu reportedly said Jude missed his flight and couldn’t get back to Lagos in time for the wedding.
No one seems to buy Adetu’s cover-up, as there have been insinuations that the Okoye family was never in support of their son marrying the bride. Reports also say that contrary to Adetu’s claim, Jude was not in Ghana for the Glo concert. “What would an artiste’s manager be doing at a concert when his clients are not there; sing on their behalf?” a source said to The Nation.
Some members of the Okoye family, including Jude, have been fingered as opposed to the relationship between the couple, irrespective of their love kids; Cameron and Aliona. It was also rumoured that their late mother was not in support of the relationship, and that Jude may just be carrying out the wish of the deceased.
Our source said Paul too, is not at home with the marriage, but needed to be diplomatic as the groom’s twin.
With the development, fans think there may be a strain in the relationship of the brothers, who have been living together and are building their new home somewhere not too far from Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, where the bride resides.
Speaking to The Nation in Malawi, Peter, in response to whether the group could split someday, said: “Peter and Paul are not perfect, we quarrel as normal siblings do, but we don’t let it affect our business. Even with Jude, our brother, in business, he is our manager and he respects us as the artistes he manages, but when it comes to family matters, he is our elder brother and we give him that respect. Only our late mum had the power to make us split and she wouldn’t have done that. So, if there is to be a split, it will not be as a result of quarrel, but on mutual ground. Group splits are not out of place, but our blood ties keep us strong and our background won’t even allow us split. We understand each other very well.”
He recalled that he was very stubborn as a child, but Paul ended up paying for his atrocities. “People often mistook him for me. We grew up doing things together and we still do. We have our mum to thank for this. I try to like what he likes and he does same, but in a situation whereby he feels differently, I just let go. We have been united from birth and we still are,” he said.
Perhaps this wedding issue is one of the areas the twin allows his brother to do his wish, without hard feelings. Jude, besides being their brother, took over as their manager 10 years ago, since the release of their first album, Last Nite.
Jude is said to be having other businesses, and giving up the group may not be a big deal, analysts think. Although he keeps his interests on P-Square because outsiders might not understand the way he does his things, signing other artistes may not really be a priority for him.
East Africa is the biggest market for the twin singers, with Southern Africa as a potential market. The artistes have been planning to explore new grounds, breaking into Europe and America. One of their feat in this direction is collaborating with Akon.
“We have known Akon for over six years, but we didn’t have talks for collaboration, till he came to our concert in London and witnessed the reception. He was trying to open Kon Life in Africa and was looking for people to help him run it, so we teamed up in what we call a joint venture. We are establishing an office in Nigeria called Kon Life, because we are here representing him while he is out in the states representing us.” Peter told The Nation.
The twins have also gone into various businesses, including real estate. “This, we have been doing for a long time. We do businesses that we can get people to run for us without fear. We are also about to enter into oil and gas business,” he added.
Observers feel the brothers have too many things in common for a woman to come in-between. Peter’s new wife is said to be comfortable financially. The wedding, which is now the talk-of-the-town, came under public scrutiny after the bride gave birth to their second child outside wedlock. She had rebuffed critics, saying she was never desperate or in a hurry to get married to the renowned singer. She claimed she would be content to remain as Okoye’s baby’s mama than to marry him without being able to support him financially
Other entertainers who were absent at the wedding include Tuface Idibia, who was said to be performing at the Multichoice 20th anniversary gala at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Waje, Omawumi, Bez, Burna Boy and D’banj, who was in Johannesburg, performing at the Coke Rock Corps show, but expressed regret that he could not make it to the wedding.
