ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
A cleric and Ijaw gospel musician, Evangelist Bannerman Embiowei, has alleged that the Bayelsa State government has neglected the gospel musicians in the state.
Embiowei, who prided himself ‘The Father of Gospel Musicians in Ijaw Land’, claimed that whenever the state had any religious functions, the government usually preferred to invite musicians from outside the Ijaw nation and paid them millions of naira to the detriment of indigenous musicians.
The gospel musician, who expressed his displeasure in a statement on Friday, said the development was an act of wickedness on the part of the government to stifle the growth of musicians in the state.
He said: “I am not happy with the way and manner the state government is treating gospel musicians in Bayelsa. The government always invites musicians from outside and pay them millions of naira and neglects the gospel musicians in the state.
“And even when the gospel musicians in the state are being invited, they give them peanuts. This is an act of wickedness. Recall that even God instructed His disciples to first go and consider Jerusalem before any other part.
“Bayelsa is just a civil servants’ state, with no other multinational companies, so how does the government want the indigenous gospel musicians minister? Truth be told, this development is an error that needs to be corrected because talents are being wasted in the state.
“As a father of gospel music in the state, I beg before I eat, pay rents and settle children’s school fees, etc. Will this government action of neglecting the indigenous musicians encourage the young ones to imbibe any skill?”
Embiowei also alleged the government had invited Osinachi Okoro Egbu, popularly known as Sinach, to perform at the State’s Thanksgiving without recourse yet to inviting any gospel singer from the state.
He, however, clarified: “I am not against Sinach being invited and paid millions of naira, but that same gesture should be extended to the indigenous gospel music ministers in the state.
“Curiously, when they invite us, they give us peanuts and they still expect us to excel. God is not also happy with the way the indigenous gospel music ministers are being neglected in the state.”