In this interview with the publisher of SOLIDNEWSNG.COM Online Magazine, AZUH LILIAN, veteran musician and activist, Eedris Abdulkareem opens up on his kidney failure, the successful operation, wife’s support and many more.
Once again, congratulations on your successful kidney transplant. What was the experience like? Were you very scared on the day of the operation?
Thank you very much for the kind wishes, to Allah be all the glory always. No, I wasn’t scared, because I am a very spiritual person. I have always lived by the tenets of the most High. I entered the theatre with utmost calmness and peace, knowing that Jah was and will always be In charge of all things.
What was it like battling Kidney failure in Nigeria?
Due to many years of bad governance, things seem bleak in Nigeria, especially our healthcare system, which is in comatose like so many other sectors of our economic and social lives. But it will surprise you to find out that despite all these sad commentaries on our truncated national trajectory, there are still very dedicated Nigerian professionals who take their vocations very seriously. I found such angelic beings at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. I truly give thanks for that opportunity.
Did you force your wife to donate her kidney for you or she did it on her own volition?
Force? No way! She is simply an angel specifically made for me by God. Immediately the doctor mentioned what needs to be done, she instantly volunteered to be my lifeline … It was so natural.
And what was your reaction when your wife told you she would donate her kidney to you?
Only God can see through all our facades and only Him knows our inner most thoughts and feelings. And God knows that I am forever indebted to my lovely, dependable and unforgettable wife. She’s my all in all.
Can you ever repay your wife for what she did?
To repay her is to love her all my life. And that is what I have resolved to do, because she is everything to me.
Nigeria Jaga Jaga, one of your songs remains a classic. Your fears about Nigeria are finally here. How do you feel today? Do you feel vindicated?
I really and truly feel bad to be vindicated this way…This was not how I envisaged it. The idea of the song is to say the painful fact that Nigeria is derailing and heading to the precipice. So, the alarm I raised was meant to propel our leaders to start doing the right things so as to avoid this unmitigated “Jaga Jaga” situation, but they didn’t pay attention to my timely warming, hence we find ourselves in this disgraceful quagmire. It’s so sad.
Without doubts, arts measures life and society. Do you think music is doing enough to change our conditions in Nigeria at the moment?
Yes Indeed, to a very large extent. Because people like the venerable Fela kuti and myself have been crying from the wilderness to the extent that those who have ears must have heard our messages clearly. But unfortunately, many people have turned deaf ears to the important messages we preach and have decided to continue in their evil ways. In fact, that’s why most of them are involved in the promotion of derogatory lyrics and promiscuous music and videos so as to continue to lead the leaders of tomorrow astray, so they never live to fulfill their God-given potentials.
Nigeria’s youthful population is now on the edge due to the sad realities on ground, what is your message to them?
The youths of Nigeria should never relent…They should continue to push and work assiduously for a new Nigeria. They have awaken, so they should not go back to sleep. Aluta continua … Victoria Ascerta
Your wife recently gave you another opportunity to live. In your opinion, what is marriage all about?
My wife Sekinat is an angel, and with her, marriage is nothing but blissful.
The problem in our society is that some people marry for many varying reasons except
true love. And when marriage is hinged on any other selfish or parochial sentiment
and not love, then that is just a marriage of convenience … It’s usually totally devoid
of love.
Do you have any regret as an artiste who sounded the alarm bells many years ago?
I don’t deal with regrets. A messenger delivers the messages assigned to him to deliver irrespective of whose ox is gored. I have a mission and that vision is channeled through my music … That is my God given duty. I will perform that to the fullest in accordance with the time and strength given to me to do so.
