Famous Poet, Ologundudu Arrested - for Criticising Obj

P.M. News (Lagos)

May 7, 2004
Posted to the web May 7, 2004

Ayodele Lawal
Lagos

Following the release of an album titled "Mr. Obasanjo," a top Yoruba poet (Ewi crooner), Kunle Ologundudu, has been abducted.

P.M.News gathered that the poet was abducted last Saturday night at a friend's residence on Fajuyi Road in Ile Ife, Osun State by people believed to be security operatives, who apparently had been trailing him for sometime.

Investigation revealed that the Yoruba poet, who was a thorn in flesh of the military administrations of Generals Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida (retd), on account of his very critical poetry, was picked up along with two of his friends.

Investigation further revealed that this was effected by six well armed cops who had trailed him to the friend's residence. The poet and his friends were apprehended at gunpoint. Ologundudu was compelled to quickly introduce himself, following which he was taken away.

It was gathered that his captors quickly moved him to Abuja, where he is said to be undergoing intense grilling.

His friends (who were later released) reportedly returned to brief his (Ologundudu) family that he had been taken away by security operatives.

Ologundudu shot into limelight during the military era when he criticised the military ceaselessly. His albums never bore his pictures but artiste's impression of himself in a way that made it difficult for him to be identified.

Ologundudu's controversial album titled Mr. Obasanjo has two tracks: "Mr. Obasanjo" on the flip side and Eri Okan on the other.

In the first side of the controversial album titled "Mr. Obasanjo" Ologundudu described President Obasanjo, as an ingrate who bites the hand that fed him.

He accused him (OBJ) of destroying his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in order to pave way for his friend, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) who "once contributed to the downfall of Nigeria".

While taking a swipe at the governors of Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun and Osun respectively, Ologundudu said the governors had forgotten how they came to power and that the people will soon rise against them.

Speaking with P.M.News on telephone, Mrs. Biodun Adeniran Ologundudu, the wife of the poet said the family has not been able to locate the whereabouts of her husband since the arrest.

Continuing she said "please help us appeal to Obasanjo and his agents to release my husband. He is an artiste who was doing his legal business. Please don't let Obasanjo kill my husband."