‘He impacted my life in many ways’ — Oshiomhole mourns Victor Uwaifo

Adams Oshiomhole, ex-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Victor Uwaifo, the late singer, impacted his life in many ways.

Uwaifo, who was better known as the Guitar Boy, had passed away last Saturday at the age of 80.

Speaking on his demise in Benin on Thursday, Oshiomhole described Uwaifo as an intellectual who tried to bring his thoughts to reality in his music and the arts.

According to NAN, the former governor said he paid a condolence visit to Uwaifo’s family in the company of APC chieftains in Edo.

“There are many ways in which he affected my life. As a young man in the typical rural village when there was no light and no road, anytime we want to listen to music, we make requests through Radio Nigeria,” he said.

“We listen to radio using a battery. The number one record we always requested was Victor Uwaifo; Guitar Boy, Joromi, and others.

“We will wear our small knickers and dance and. Then, there were stories about the exploits of Uwaifo in music.

“In this part of the world and at that time, the man who forcefully put Nigeria and the face of Edo on the world map was Sir Victor Uwaifo by his creativity, his talent, and his industry. You cannot resist the music.

“We always pray that God gives us long life and good health because you can live so long and become a vegetable; you are not dying and you are not living.”

POshiomhole also described Uwaifo as an “original” musician.

He said, in his days, he had to master the use of English and have a naturally good voice, not digitally aided.

According to him, the Edo people and Nigeria indeed have lost an elder statesman.

“The voice of Uwaifo was not the result of manipulation of modern gadgets, it was a natural gift that God gave him and his music had meaning. When you listen, beyond the entertainment, you also pick a lesson,” he added.

“Uwaifo was an intellectual. Beyond music, Uwaifo was always busy, if he can think it through he will try to create and translate it.”