Opinion
TuFace And His Untold Links To Nigerian Politics
By Emmanuel Aziken
Famous musician, Innocent Idiaba also known as Tuface, 2Baba has with his engagement to Natasha Osawaru fully linked up with the political class, but his romantic escapades bear an eerie likeness to Nigeria’s unsteady four republics.
Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idiaba known with his several aliases has a trajectory that bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Nigerian nation, if not, then in the instability of his romantic inclinations.
The first thing that draws a comparison between Innocent Idiaba and Nigeria is that of an identity crisis.
For any journalist following the triumphs and trials of Innocent Idiaba, a major issue is how to identify him. Innocent Idiaba first evolved with the moniker, 2Face. That byname first adopted in his early days in Enugu was to differentiate his double identity as a businessman and as an artiste.
From 2Face the name grew into Tuface as the musician sought a stylistic shade to his stature in the industry.
By 2016, having established himself in the industry, he transformed into 2Baba. However, it is remarkable that Tuface is what many of his followers continue to identify him with.
Google searches show that Tuface by far ranks above every other identity that the music star bears. So, some can dare say that given the fact that he is more popularly searched for as Tuface, a name that he has discarded, the musical icon may well be living in the glory of the past.
Only a few in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC would disagree that Nigeria is not living in the glory of the past. With economic and political indicators alarming many, there is no doubt that Nigeria just like TuFace is also living in the glory of the past.
In an interview on Arise News Tv earlier this week, African Development Bank president, Dr Akiwunmi Adesina spoke of how he was able to travel to the United States with less than N500 in his pocket in the eighties.
That old glory of Nigeria was also seen by some of us who made night trips across Nigeria on good motorable roads. There were those of us who also saw bustling factories in Kano, Ikeja, Ogba. Such glories of the past were also seen when university undergraduates were served a quarter chicken for a ticket of 25 kobo.
The back and forth on Tuface’s identity also bears a resemblance to Nigeria and the back and forth with a National Anthem. An anthem is a song that binds a group, a society, state or nation.
In that respect, many will agree that Nigeria was stronger together as a nation in the past than today with ethnic jingoists taking centre stage in the polity.
After Nigeria discarded the colonial anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ in October 1978, it is significant that ideological rebels and student bodies in the heat of protest often resorted to that anthem to express their displeasure. For them singing the new anthem, “Arise o Compatriots” was reflective of submission to the authority.
After President Bola Tinubu railroaded the National Assembly to return to that colonial anthem in 2024, we have now seen those who in the spirit of rebellion rejected Arise o Compatriots now reprising the same Arise O Compatriots to express their rebellion.
However, what may have drawn out the comparison on Tuface and Nigeria is the instability in his dalliances.
Tuface presently has seven children from three women. It is remarkable that by the time he married Annie in 2012, one of the baby mamas already had three children for him. Another had two. The lady with two, who was actually the First Republic, has since covered up that “dirty” chapter of her life by marrying a pastor.
They now have a thriving Christian ministry operating out of Lagos. US-based Pero Adeniyi, who was the Second Republic with three children for Tuface and from an elitist home was a recurring nightmare for Annie, the Third Republic.
While Annie, may have been Tuface’s longest republic, it now appears that like Nigeria’s Third Republic masterminded by General Ibrahim Babangida, it was a web of intrigues and deceit.
Just as Babangida forced the Third Republic on Nigeria for his interests, Tuface and Annie appeared to have coerced themselves into a Republic out of emotion.
Now about to enter his Fourth Republic with lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru, there is increasing scepticism on the prospects of this Fourth Journey. It cannot be otherwise given the official and unofficial tales of philandering credited to Tuface, an otherwise very nice, respectful and good fellow.
There are very few who believe that this Fourth Republic with Honourable Natasha Osawaru will last.
Natasha, daughter of Desmond Osawaru and Philomena (Igbinedion) Osawaru is the grand-daughter of powerful Benin chief, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
Her parents’ wedding about 35 years ago was officiated by Dr Benson Idahosa and broadcast live on television. Dr Idahosa had at that wedding warned against marrying for wealth. It is thus significant that such will not be said for Natasha or Tuface.
Philomena’s mother, Madam Maria Igbinedion, and father, Sir Gabriel were already divorced by the time the wedding took place.
So, for those giving dire warnings to Natasha about Tuface’s unstable love life, she undoubtedly has a history of marital discord in her lineage to know the dangers ahead.
It is worthy to note that at the commencement of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, many who fought for democracy detached themselves believing that it will not last. That is why Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana and many other zealots kept away.
However, the Fourth Republic has now lasted more than 24 years and surprised many. So for sceptics of the Tuface-Natasha affair, they could well be surprised that this his Fourth Republic may endure!
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