Flashback: When Pasuma Crowned Oba Ara as the “Oga Nla Gospel”

By Taofik Afolabi

It was a moment of pure joy and musical unity on October 28, 2017, when two powerhouses from different ends of Nigeria’s music spectrum came together in an unexpected but heartwarming way. That day, the air was filled with rhythm, respect, and revelation as Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, the acclaimed Fuji maestro fondly known as Oga Nla Fuji, officially crowned popular gospel singer Dr. Rotimi Onimole, a.k.a. Oba Ara, as the “Oga Nla Gospel.”

The event became an unforgettable highlight in the Nigerian music scene, — a moment where Fuji met Gospel, and where talent recognized grace.

In his characteristic energetic style, Pasuma paused his performance to acknowledge Oba Ara in a heartfelt tribute. With rhythmic chants flowing effortlessly from his lips, he sang:

“Oba Ara ti wa leleyii, olorin emin to niteriba, to je awokose fawon olorin emin egbe e, ko jo ara won rara, Oba Ara yato gedegbe, Oga nla Gospel ree, okan ninu ebi Oga Nla ree.”

The message was clear and deeply touching, Pasuma was publicly recognizing Oba Ara not just as a fellow artist, but as a respected brother and inspiration within the music family. The crowd erupted in cheers as the Fuji legend eulogized him with pride, filling the venue with warmth, smiles, and applause.

For Pasuma, this wasn’t just a random proclamation. Those close to him revealed that the decision came after years of observing Oba Ara’s humility, composure, and steadfast faith. Despite being from different genres, Pasuma reportedly told his team that Oba Ara embodied “the character of a true ambassador of Christ” — a shining light whose lifestyle spoke louder than his lyrics.

The title “Oga Nla Gospel” was therefore more than a name; it was a seal of respect, an acknowledgment of excellence, and a bridge between secular and spiritual artistry.

For Dr. Rotimi Onimole, the honor came as a pleasant surprise. Fresh from bagging the award as Icon of Gospel Music, Oba Ara was deeply moved by Pasuma’s recognition.

Speaking shortly after the event, he said:

> “This came as a total surprise to me. I believe Alhaji Pasuma has been following my journey in music, and I’m grateful for his kind words. Though I’m a gospel artist, Pasuma is a force to reckon with in the entire music industry. I appreciate him for this beautiful gesture.”

That single gesture from Pasuma, a Fuji legend crowning a gospel act was more than an endorsement. It represented unity in diversity, a rare show of mutual respect in a competitive industry. It showed that music, at its core, transcends boundaries, beliefs, and genres.

Years later, the moment remains a fond memory’s for fans and industry watchers, a timeless reminder that greatness recognizes greatness, no matter the rhythm.

The Dreamers Who Prefer to Smile While Standing in the Ashes.

George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published on saharaweeklyng.com

“We pray for change; then we applaud the status quo.”

The tragedy of Nigeria is not a lack of intelligence, talent or even ambition, it is the absence of collective courage. The average Nigerian dreams of the best, prays for transformation, but trembles at the thought of doing what it takes to make that dream real. He is content to “suffering and smiling” as the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang, while waiting for salvation from a system he secretly knows is rotten to the core.

We are a nation of dreamers not doers; believers, not builders. We talk revolution at night and queue for handouts in the morning. Everyone laments corruption, but only a few dare to challenge it. We all desire a better Nigeria, yet most Nigerians fear the discomfort that true change demands.

Our national mindset has been conditioned to equate endurance with virtue. We glorify survival instead of progress. Instead of fighting back, we have learned to adapt to hardship (living without light, without security, without hope) and calling it “God’s will.” This attitude has birthed generations of citizens who prefer endurance to resistance.

The late literary icon Chinua Achebe once declared, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Leadership is not born in isolation; it grows from a people willing to demand accountability. The Nigerian tragedy, therefore, is not just in bad governance but in citizen complacency but the silence of millions who prefer to smile in the ashes rather than rebuild from the ruins.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty; deprived of access to clean water, health care, education or secure income. Yet, the outrage is mild. Instead of mass civic awakening, we see mass migration. The World Bank estimates that more than 1.2 million Nigerian professionals have left the country in the last five years, draining critical sectors such as medicine, engineering and academia.

Dreamers keep leaving; the timid keep surviving.

History offers us instructive contrasts. Some nations reached a breaking point (that sacred threshold where silence was no longer an option) and chose to stand.

South Africa did it in 1994, after decades of apartheid. The courage of Nelson Mandela and countless unnamed revolutionaries changed the course of history. They decided it was “now or never.” For them, freedom was not a prayer point; it was a moral obligation.

Ghana did it in 1957, when Kwame Nkrumah declared independence and rallied his people around self-reliance and dignity. They did not wait for perfect conditions; they created them.

Tunisia did it in 2011, when the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi sparked the Arab Spring, ending decades of dictatorship.

Even Rwanda, ravaged by genocide in 1994, stood up, redefined itself and became one of Africa’s most disciplined societies.

Each of these nations reached a point where fear was no longer an option and they transformed because citizens decided to act.

In contrast, Nigeria (with her unmatched human capital, oil wealth and global influence) still crouches beneath the weight of timidity. We have perfected the art of complaining without confrontation. We hide behind tribalism, religion and pessimism, waiting for messiahs who never come.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, current Director-General of the World Trade Organization, once said, “Reform is never easy. Those who benefit from the old ways will always resist change.” But Nigerians themselves, too, often resist reform. Why? Because true reform requires short-term pain and we have grown allergic to discomfort.

We want electricity but reject tariff adjustments. We want good governance but sell our votes for ₦5,000. We want leaders with integrity but glorify looters who share food during elections.

This moral inconsistency keeps us trapped in the cycle of stagnation. Economists call it “rational inertia”, the tendency of societies to prefer familiar misery over unfamiliar hope.

When President Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidy in 2023, the same Nigerians who once criticized Goodluck Jonathan for “cowardice” in 2012 suddenly called the move “heartless.” Yet, every credible economist (from Bismarck Rewane to Dr. Doyin Salami) agrees that subsidy removal was essential to stabilizing Nigeria’s collapsing fiscal structure. But because we have been trained to seek comfort over correction, we sabotage necessary change even when it is for our collective good.

The Spirit of Revolution (Not in Blood, but in Mind.
The revolution Nigeria needs is not a bloody uprising. It is a revolution of responsibility) where citizens decide that enough is enough. The courage to demand transparency, to reject tribal politics, to participate in governance and to hold public officers accountable.

Countries that rose from chaos did not do so because of divine luck; they did so because ordinary men and women refused to surrender. South Africans defied fear to dismantle apartheid. Tunisians risked their lives to end tyranny. Rwandans rebuilt a shattered nation brick by brick.

When will Nigerians stop outsourcing courage to God? When will we realize that God blesses effort, not excuses?

Data Doesn’t Lie, Nigeria’s youth population (over 70% under the age of 35) is its greatest asset, yet also its greatest untapped potential. UNESCO reports that about 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school; the highest in the world. The World Bank ranks Nigeria among the top 10 countries with the worst human capital indices in 2024.

We are a nation sitting on a demographic goldmine, but instead of mining it through education, innovation and governance, we are exporting it through migration.

As Professor Wole Soyinka once noted, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” That silence, today, has become deafening. We have grown comfortable in fear and fluent in endurance.

To fix Nigeria, we must break this culture of passive optimism. Dreaming is not enough, but doing is the true measure of belief. The young must take ownership of their destiny, not just through hashtags and protests but through political participation, innovation and civic involvement.

Run for office. Build cooperatives. Join reform movements. Start small, but start somewhere.

Nigerians abroad (from Johannesburg to London) must redirect part of their remittances to projects that build, not just sustain, families. Communities must take charge of local schools, hospitals and policing. Accountability begins at the grassroots.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, once said, “Africa does not need pity. It needs fair policies and empowered people.” Empowerment begins when the people stop being spectators.

Every generation faces its defining moment (its “now or never.” For South Africa, it was apartheid. For Ghana, it was independence. For Tunisia, it was dictatorship. For Nigeria, it is moral paralysis) the choice between perpetual complaint and collective courage.

If 220 million Nigerians decide, truly decide, that this is the moment to stand, the story will change. We will no longer be the giant of Africa in name only, but in substance, in vision and in courage.

Closing Reflection.
A chronic disease that has spread to every organ can only be cured by radical treatment. Nigeria’s moral and civic illness demands a similar remedy; one rooted in discipline not denial.

If South Africa could defeat apartheid, if Rwanda could rise from genocide, then Nigeria can surely rise from mediocrity. But only when her dreamers stop standing and smiling; and start marching and building.

The choice is ours: to keep narrating dreams or to start living them.

Nollywood Star Tonia Okoro Ferrari Distances Herself from Alleged London S3x Tape Saga

America based Nollywood actress, Tonia Okoro, popularly known as Ferrari, has reacted strongly to a viral post by an unverified blog, Hallesblogafricaa, which falsely used her picture in a trending report about a 55-year-old London-based Nigerian businesswoman, Omoge Saida, CEO of Jamond Jewelry (also known as Aralamo Amonu).

The controversial post, published on Instagram, alleged that the businesswoman’s s3x tape had surfaced online. However, in a major blunder, the amateur news platform mistakenly used Tonia Okoro’s picture to illustrate the story, causing confusion among fans and followers who believed the actress was the person in question.

Since the post went viral, the actress has reportedly been bombarded with messages from fans and industry colleagues seeking clarification. In her reaction, Tonia Okoro Ferrari expressed deep displeasure over the incident, describing it as “irresponsible journalism and a deliberate attempt to tarnish her image.”

“I woke up to several calls and messages from people asking me about something I know nothing about. I have no idea who this Omoge Saida is, and I am definitely not the woman in that story,” she said.

The actress, who is in her late 30s, further stated that she has no connection whatsoever with the London-based businesswoman mentioned in the viral report. She also vowed to take legal action against the blog for defamation of character and the unauthorized use of her image.

“This is pure defamation. I will not allow anyone or any platform to drag my name into such a disgusting story. My legal team is already looking into the matter, and appropriate action will be taken,” she added.

The incident has sparked conversations online about the dangers of fake news and misinformation, especially on social media platforms where unverified blogs often publish sensational content without proper verification.

Meanwhile, fans and colleagues have rallied around the actress, urging her to stay strong and clear her name publicly as she pursues justice.