The President of the Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye has cited ego and pride as the cause of the rift between members of the association that include Tope Alabi, Lanre Teriba, and Segun Opalemo.
Evang. Aragbaye made this known during the National Executive Council(NEC) held at the chapel of Osun State Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, to deliberate among the delegates and conduct bye-election to fill vacant positions in association, faulted ego as the cause of rivalry between gospel singers in the country.
She said, “When Lanre Teriba was elected as the VP west and Opalemon as the deputy president, there was ill fighting between two of them over trivial issues caused by pride and ego. They were removed by the NEC of GOMAN through the constitution. The problem of ego, arrogance and personal interest between them caused them the association.
“We have made a concerted effort to bring everybody back to the association. Some members are torn on our flesh which we can’t help their situation, one of them is a popular gospel artist who is messing up every day, she is battling with scandals. I have tried talking to her personally but she is not ready to heed my words. I don’t know why she feels so big than all of us.”
Responding to the controversy between Evang. Tope Alabi and Evang Adeyinka, she said, the association did a lot over the issue. I can’t condemn Tope Alabi openly nor side the other party, I have to broker peace. I put a phone calls through to Tope Alabi but she refused to answer the calls. I tried to advocate for her that she made the statement innocently. It is so unfortunate that Tope Alabi is battling with ego and wouldn’t learn.
“We are doing all that we should do to unite gospel artists in Nigeria irrespective of tribes, group, denomination. I think some are still adamant while others are changing,” she added. (Nation)