Early in our lives, while growing up, we knew there was no room for impudence, as our parents usually reprimanded us for being delinquent or showing any sign of disrespect to those older than us.
Whenever we remember the value of the rudimentary ethics inculcated in us in those days, we praise our parents who also dealt with us mercilessly if we misbehaved. The upbraiding we received for disrespecting an elder was akin to the pummelling a child got for stealing a piece of beef from a pot of soup.
In my case, if my father suddenly developed sympathy, during a scolding session, my mother would not hesitate to hit me with her big wooden ladle. During one of such unpleasant encounters, my mother inflicted a mark on me when I was much younger.
If an elderly person whom we might have offended taught us a bitter lesson by spanking us, it was better to wipe off our tears before we returned home. Some of those old people were even unsparing that after dealing with us, they would yet report to our parents.
If Davido is ignorant or childish in his behaviour, his elders should know better. Giving him the freedom to ridicule Dele Momodu is shameful. But, I doubt it. I want to believe that Davido would have been warned to let the sleeping dog lie, but has only refused to listen. Uncle Dele, a fantastic writer, knows how to talk if he wants to and whenever he talks through his pen, it makes huge impact. But he probably thinks it makes no sense to engage a son in a battle of words.
On the remix of Humble Smith’s song, ‘Osinachi,’ the singer made reference to a Dubai trip that allegedly caused the scuffle between him, Sophie and the Ovation publisher. He was obviously mocking Momodu in a way.
Yet, Momodu didn’t take offence. In an interview with City People, he said: “…When someone is like your son, you just have to let it pass. Whether we like it or not, we are like a family. His dad and I have known each other for long. The devil is a liar. When good things are happening, the devil will want to come in and stop the development. I saw it online first as people were tweeting about it. I initially said, well, he is abusing me, no problem. You know several times in the past, he would attack me and apologise. I understand how he thinks, he believes I’m supporting my cousin against him and that is not it. All I wanted was just peace and I am happy we got it.”
In January, Davido, Sophie and Dele Momodu, made the headlines over several claims and counter claims on the custody of Imade, Davido’s daughter. He was not interested in marrying Sophie, but was ready to take Imade’s responsibility after a DNA test confirmed that he is the biological father.
If the disposition of Davido to Momodu was a soft landing in ‘Osinachi,’ he took it to another level in the song, titled, ‘Bad, Baddo, Baddest.’ I am sure when Folarin Falana aka Falz reached out to Olamide and Davido to make the song, he wanted something distinct. Though Falz is in the best position to tell if he actually got it, Davido still didn’t resist the temptation of mentioning Momodu. He said in his lyrics: “Dele Na Ma Boy.’ That phrase is a proof that Davido is a troublemaker and he is looking for one.
After the celebrated international deal with Sony Music, Davido is yet to make much meaningful impact. Though, he still hits the headlines for other reasons than music, he has allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the baby saga and the role Momodu played in it. Momodu’s crime was that he stood against what he perceived as an injustice against his cousin, Sophie.
Davido seems to have forgotten that this is a new page in his career. All he had done in the past do not really count anymore. He needs to disappoint his critics, who felt the deal was an arranged one by making great music like never before. And he should stop complicating things for Imade, the innocent baby, who still has many years ahead of her.
Despite the shortcomings of the mother and himself, they still remain the only biological parents of Imade and no one can take their position except in death.
