One of Nigeria’s best-known drummers and music producers, Richard Ayodele Cole, has called for the award of one the nation’s highest honours on the former President of PMAN and Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji.
In a recent interview with www.beats-onit, Mr Cole, a member of the COSON Board and indisputably one of the Nigerian music industry’s most respected elder statesmen, said: “I have worked with Chief Tony Okoroji for several years. I respect him. His love for the musicians of Nigeria is unmatched. His readiness to sacrifice his remarkable intellect for what he believes in is unparalleled. His insistence on doing things properly and transparently is unrivaled. Okoroji’s legacy is everywhere.
“Just come to COSON House in Ikeja, built by the vision of Tony Okoroji, and see a world class organization at work. No one would have thought that the music industry in Nigeria can set up an organization run so professionally.
“When Covid 19 hit the country and no musician could earn a living, COSON distributed millions of Naira to thousands of musicians across Nigeria in a very professional and transparent manner. With the present economic hardship in Nigeria, COSON recently distributed millions of Naira as palliatives to thousands of musicians across Nigeria in a 100% transparent manner. Specific royalties continue to be distributed to musicians by COSON, every day.
“Are you aware that nobody pays even one naira to join COSON? There are no monthly or annual dues at COSON, or any form of subscription whatsoever. No one in the creative industry is charged one penny to use the first-class facilities at the COSON House Arena. That is part of the many legacies of an exceptional Nigerian known as Tony Okoroji.
“Okoroji is an extraordinary manager of men. I have participated in many board meetings chaired by Tony Okoroji. You know how hot-tempered we musicians can be. I am sure that you know several members of our board. Please ask them. The man never loses his cool and, on every issue, gives everyone a chance to ventilate their opinions until we reach a consensus. We have never had any meeting that ended and anyone leaves dissatisfied.
“It is the same way that Okoroji throws everything open at our Annual General Meetings. Every year, without fail, audited accounts are handed to every member that attends from around the country and openly discussed. Royalty distributions are openly discussed and agreed upon in front of the media. He does not tolerate secrets of any kind.
Said Mr. Cole: “I know that the scammers and ‘wayo’ people that operate in the creative industry, who want to feed where they did not sow, are scared of Tony Okoroji because of his insistence that the industry must be transparent, and not allowed to become a scammers’ paradise. There is nothing they have not thrown at him. They have used the Police, EFCC, DSS, NFIU and even NCC against Okoroji and the man has continued to stand firm.
“They froze his personal accounts and even tried to abduct him. Chief Okoroji has won more defamation cases in court than any other Nigerian living or dead. At a time, they demanded a forensic audit of COSON. Ok now. One of the most reputable audit firms in the world was invited to do the forensic audit. The firm spent seven months at COSON House, checking every book, every voucher, every transaction, every bank account, etc. At the end of the day, no fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement of any kind was discovered. COSON is the only organization in the history of the Nigerian creative industry to ever do a forensic audit”.
“If Nigeria was a normal country, Chief Tony Okoroji ought to be awarded one of the nation’s highest honours. This totally detribalized Nigerian is out there every day fighting for the rights of musicians from the east, west, north or south of our nation, caring for musicians, helping those who are sick and making sure that those who die, get decent burials. Tony Okoroji understands the meaning of service. He is a leader, a true leader.”
