THE Okoye twins, Paul and Peter, popularly known as P-Square in the entertainment industry, took the Nigerian music scene by storm in 2003 when they released their debut single, entitled Senorita on the Timbuk2 Music Label.
From that point, the brothers never looked back as they churned out one hit after another. Soon, P-Square became a household name among music lovers in Nigeria and beyond, making them a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Expectedly, their fame grew in leaps and bounds as they became the number one choice on the lips of show organisers in the country. No show was held without the twin brothers being listed on the bill. And soon, business grew, with their mother emerging as the prayer warrior behind the group’s success, while Jude, their elder brother, handled the business interest of the group.
For the group, unity and family blood seemed to be the watch word. Even with several cases of successful musical groups that have broken up, nobody ever imagined that the brothers would one day discuss the idea of going their separate ways and lending credence to the saying that blood is thicker than water.
The brothers were so convinced about their unity that, Peter, the half brother of the twins, boasted that it was only their mother that could separate them and went ahead to rhetorically ask if she would allow them to split if she were alive.
Speaking about how he felt about the various groups that broke up, Peter said: “The best way I can intervene is to keep the group together. Let them watch and learn from us. The day we are going to make up our minds to split, it will be an open decision. May be, when I say I want to retire or Paul says he wants to continue with his career in music. That does not mean that I wouldn’t give him my support. Of course, we are blood brothers. And we always think of where we are coming from. Our parents never had anything. They were not rich people. If Paul says today that we must split, I will only look at him and laugh.”
Interestingly, Peter’s words have proved very prophetic. However, rather than Paul being the one asking to quit the group as Peter said, it is Peter himself that has asked to quit the multiple award-winning group.
Signs that all was not well with the group first emerged in November 2013 when Jude, the elder brother of the twins, didn’t show up at Peter’s traditional wedding to his fiancée Lola Omotayo.
His absence further helped to fuel the rumour which was making the round at the time that other family members were not happy about the union. According to the rumour, the twins’ late mother did not support the relationship.
But the rumour was quickly denied by the group’s’ publicist, Bayo Adetu, who explained 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 said Jude missed his flight and couldn’t get back to Lagos in time for the ceremony.
As the crisis raged on, fingers were pointed to Peter’s wife, Lola, as one of the major causes of the problems in the Okoye family. But she distanced herself from the feud, saying that she is not a fighter but a peace lover.
However, a source, who did not want his name published, told The Nation that trouble started when Peter wanted Jude, their elder brother, to be replaced as the manager. Paul and other members of the family were said to have rebuffed the suggestion, leading to the animosity among the brothers.
“Many people would want to play Peter’s wife for the problem in the family. But the truth is that the lady has no hand in it. The trouble started after Peter suggested that Jude be replaced as the group’s manager.”
The crisis became messier early this month when Peter threatened to sue a telecommunication company based in Congo for using his name to promote a musical show that was to feature P-Sqaure. He claimed that he never endorsed the “usage of my name for the concert”.
Contrary to reports that he could not attend the show because of ill-health, Peter put out a disclaimer, saying that he was not aware of the concert and that he has been misrepresented by his twin brother and former manager. He said he was 101% healthy and would seek legal representation over the matter.
The disclaimer reads: “This goes out to all my fans in Congo specifically and the entire world in general. My attention has been drawn to a much publicised show, holding today 8th July, 2016 (VIP SHOW) and tomorrow 9th July, 2016, (in Goma) and on the 17th of August in Kinshasa wherein the name P-Square was used maliciously and mischievously to garner patronage and huge fans attendance as against the stage name Rudeboy which is used when my twin brother, Paul, and co-owner of the stage name P-Square performs alone.
“I never endorsed the usage of my name as the contractual terms presented were not favourable to me, thus I am not part of the show booked by our former manager, Jude, and I wholeheartedly disassociate myself from the unauthorised use of my co-owned stage name (P-Square) and images for promotional and economic reasons without my express written consent or permission.”
Sadly, despite all the efforts to manage the differences that dogged their relationship, fresh developments continued to show that all was not well with the music stars. This became more evident when Peter was conspicuously missing at Jude’s wedding in July 2014 in Nnewi.
At that point, there was no need denying the rift any longer and Peter came out with all gun blazing when he explained on his tweeter handle that he cherished attending to his immediate family than going for his brother’s wedding ceremony.
A series of tweets by Peter between July 18 and 19 read:
“P’ple talking shit about blood which blood is thicker than the 1 of my children? #mufus — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare) .
Does ur mum and dad care more about der own siblings more than they care for u? #mufus — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
#mufus talking about family! My number 1 family for now is the 1 I built. And nobody can change dat. #amout Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
Just to remind some #mufus.. PSQUARE is PETER & PAUL… Am sure u knw what that means. #Gnight“Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).
Prior to the controversy generated by Peter’s absence at Jude’s wedding, it was alleged that he (Peter) and his twin brother, Paul, almost exchanged blows during rehearsal and had to be separated by their band members.
At the height of the quarrel, Peter moved out of their Squarevile mansion at Omole with his family and moved to Lekki Phase One. But that, Peter was said to have accused Jude of disrespecting his wife and also working with Paul to restrict him to the dance aspect of their projects.
And like he had done in the past, Peter once again took to the social media to announce that he had sacked Jude as the manager of the band.
He said: “Four years ago, I told Jude that he needs to step down as our manager, because I didn’t want to disrespect him as a brother, but this is business, we have to structure it. And Jude said to me that there’s a way I’ll talk to him, and he’ll slap me. So I kept quiet. So, a few hours after, Paul came to me and said if I want Jude to step down it’s not a problem, but it’ll mean that he (Paul) will go solo.
“The first time word got out about P-Square breaking up, a lot of people called us, senators, governors, and people like that. In fact three of us were once in a private jet to go and see someone who wanted to resolve our issues and we didn’t speak to each other all through the flight. At the end of the day, I swallowed my pride for peace to reign and allowed Jude to remain as our manager.
“Now listen to this, P-Square featured on songs with J-Martins, Bracket,LKT, 9ice and these 4 songs were done by Paul alone, but guess what, did I appear in the videos? YES. Now hear this, we have other collabos with Kaha, Darey, Ruggedman. I did these songs alone. How come they don’t have videos? Paul refused to appear in the videos. So I told Paul that when next he does collabo alone, he should be in the video alone, because it got a point where artistes began to feel if they do a collabo with Paul, it gets a video but if it’s me it doesn’t get a video. The last collabo we did was with Flavour and I refused to do another one. Even Flavour had to speak all the Igbo he knows to convince me before I agreed to do it. Only for my brother to come and tell me that ‘shey I thought you said you won’t appear in any video that I did the collabo alone? Why did you appear on this one?’. I was sad but I knew another one will come.”
He followed that up on February 16, 2016, with another post: “Pls who so ever makes any transaction with Northside Entertainment or Jude Okoye on Psquare’s behalf does so at their on risk. #warning — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
A manager is been employed by the artiste not the other way round. #truthBeTold — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
People change management and you r not different. — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare) February 16, 2016.
Usher Raymond did it, Beyoncé did it as well. So it’s not new. — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
Peter and Paul has the right to sack the entire management team. Business is Business. #Period — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)
Pls who so ever makes any transaction with Northside Entertainment or Jude Okoye on Psquare’s behalf does so at their on risk. #warning — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).
However, in an effort to tell the world that the problem was with Jude, and not Paul, Peter wrote: “My bro I will still stand and fight for you because you and I started this journey b4 Jude came onboard as our manager — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare). In 2013 I told Jude he’s no longer needed as our manager he agreed, only for u to come to me that if he is not our manager then we should split!— Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).
But, Paul, in an emotion – laden post on Instagram, denied Peter’s claim that Jude was at the centre of the crisis in the family. He wrote: *“All you all want is P-Square,…all I want is family, love and care! Social media is the new root of all evil! There’s family before P-Square and there will always be family after P-Square ….Jude was only a scape goat and a victim. The person who has been keeping us together for all these years,..the truth is peter and Paul have issues!
‘For the first time I decided to do something outside P-Square, and that is the case study here.
‘I have always supported my brother 100% from his personal endorsements to dance with Peter which some re still on my I.g… Now I have just 3 questions….
‘Why is it that these things are happening immediately I released muno’s singles under rudeboy Recordz. no.2 .. How come after Jude stopped managing psquare for over a month now, the problem still exist. No.3 why is he in a hurry to go solo and doing solo? It’s very sad, and very heart broken I wish these things never came out to the public at first… Now our fans are divided pls nobody should support any teamPaul sh*t, I don’t need that.. Pls resist from it cos thats evil…and for those of you promoters ,supporting him to be performing psquare’s songs alone on stage, you are only killing us and destroying us the more .
‘Dear brother am begging you ,even if you don’t want Jude anymore and you don’t want psquare, u re forever going to be my brother … But I wish the 3 of us could still do these together, bcos its a thing of joy….people love us so much not only because of our good music but seeing brothers doing it together and keeping it together, setting a good example to other families and to our kids. Pls swallow ur pride, forgive and forget, we can still turn these things around….
‘If I have said anything or done anything that hurts you. Am very sorry…. And to all our true fans pls pray for us. God bless you all.”
The twin brothers have since gone solo with Peter announcing a new management for himself on his Instagram page.
Before making the announcement, Peter came out with a self-promoted single, entitled Look Into My Eyes. He has also changed his stage name to Mr P and has gone ahead to perform and get endorsements for himself.
Paul has also released his own debut single entitled Call Heaven as a solo artiste.
Famous musical groups that broke up too
Segun Adewale and Shina Peters
Two young men, Segun Adewale and Shina Peters, stunned lovers of juju music in the early 80s when they teamed up to form a musical group. The two were members of another group, led by the popular Prince Adekunle, before they decided to come together. But just when their fans were beginning to enjoy them, the team broke apart, with the two going their separate ways.
Styl Plus – consisting of Shifi Omoefe, Zeal and Tunde
The group debuted with smash hits like Olufunmi; Runaway; Iya Basira and Imagine Dat. But despite the success and huge potential of the group, the members soon parted ways, with Tunde going ahead to pursue a solo career.
KCee Presh
The two young men hit the music scene when they won the maiden edition of Star Quest talent hunt show organised by the Nigerian Breweries Plc. In their debut hit, the duo came out with their hit song, entitled Senge Menge. However, the two decided to go their different ways in 2011.Kcee went on to release smash hit, entitled Limpopo, while Presh released his own debut, entitled Say dem say, featuring Davido.
Xappeal
The group, comprising Jazzman Olofin and Lexzy Doo appeared on the scene in 2000. But they soon went their separate ways, with Jazzman Olofin going ahead to release his own single, entitled Raise the roof, while Lexzy Doo dropped Baby Skeske.
Remedies
With hit songs like Shakomo and Omoge, Remedies comprising Tony Tetuila; Eedris Abdulkareem and Eddie Remedy were about the best hip-hop group in the early 90s. Their fame grew beyond the shores of Nigeria. But the group split as a result of what was described ‘irreconcilable differences.’
Maintain
The group, Maintain, Olu, Tolu and Big Bamo, ruled the Nigerian music scene with hit singles like I catch cold and Nibo la wa gbe lo. But like most things that don’t last forever, the group split in 2005 with Olu going on to release Yahooze, while Big Bamo released Fi jo ko wo je.
Plantashun Boys
The story of the growth of hip-hop in Nigeria cannot be complete without the mention of Plantashun Boys. The group led the musical revolution of young Nigerians when it came out with two successful albums, Body and Soul and Sold Out.
But the group, consisting of 2face .Faze and BlackFace, spilt when they all decided to pursue their individual solo career.
Kush
The group, consisting of Lara George, Ty Bello Emem and Dapo, hit the musical scene with their hit single, Stay together. They followed up the success with their debut album, The experience. But they spilt in 2004.
