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| Wale Adenuga with Papa Ajasco. |
My first impression when I watched the Papa Ajasco video now trending on the internet and local TV channels was: “Okay, so this guy has taken Papa Ajasco comedy into the public space!”
It is all well and good. I am happy for him, as his money-making
strategy using social media has apparently worked for him.
Abiodun Ayoyinika is a versatile actor who has played the role of Papa
Ajasco so wonderfully well. He bears the closest resemblance to the cartoon
version of the Papa Ajasco character, which I created on my dining table in
1976 during my publishing days.
He is very close to me, and so far, there has been no irreconcilable
difference between us.
Candidly, I want to address the wave of misinformation, emotional
commentary, and uninformed public intervention that has followed his recent
media interview.
I am doing this not with malice, but in the interest of truth,
transparency, and the integrity of a legacy that has entertained millions of
Nigerians for decades.
Abiodun Ayoyinika was a civil servant with the Lagos State Government
for over three decades. He was even the face of the state’s cultural troupe,
which endeared him to the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his time as
governor, as well as his successors. He retired not too long ago. In fact, we
used to seek permission from his office anytime we needed him on location.
On the car issue, we once gave him a car - and Pa James as well. He has
also used not less than five cars, including a Mercedes-Benz, at different
times. And to the best of my knowledge, he has a house in Ogun State.
He cannot use the copyrighted brand name Papa Ajasco for personal
ventures because it is our duty to protect the brand from inappropriate usage
that could damage its reputation.
Also, he has not been barred from accepting advert jobs. As he himself
stated, all that is required is to seek official approval from WAP. This is
part of brand protection.
Now, the question is: why is Abiodun Ayoyinika claiming to be broke?
Where are the investments from his over 30 years of meritorious service
with the Lagos State Government? What happened to his gratuities?
His colleagues at WAP such as Pa James, Mama Ajasco, Boy Alinco, Miss
Pepeiye, Akpan, and Oduma are always on various film locations, working under
their personal names. This clearly shows that artistes working with us are not
restricted from taking other roles.
To further buttress this, Abiodun Ayoyinika and other artistes in the TV
show are on our set for 6 weeks in a whole year, thereby availing them enough
time to pursue other endeavors. It is important to note that within the 6
weeks, we record enough episodes to last for a year.
The award-winning Papa Ajasco and Company comedy series still runs on
NTA Network, STV Network, WAPTV Network, and others, both on terrestrial and
cable platforms, as well as on YouTube: waptvchannel.
Wale Adenuga Productions has remained reputable over the years,
maintaining cordial working relationships with artistes and crew members alike.
The organisation pays according to industry standards and ensures all
financial obligations are fulfilled as at when due. Therefore, any narrative
suggesting financial abandonment or exploitation by our organisation is
entirely false and misleading.
We sincerely appreciate the concerns and support from our viewers and
the general public.
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