Ubi Franklin: Why I didn’t allow Psquare to sign Iyanya

Ubi Franklin, the Nigerian music executive, has revealed why he cancelled Psquare’s deal to sign Iyanya, the singer.

In an interview with Afrobeats podcast, Franklin said Psquare (Paul and Peter Okoye) had expressed interest in signing Iyanya at a point in his career.

He said he refused to allow the deal to go through after he was asked to wait outside during a meeting for the deal.

Franklin said the remark “bruised my ego,” adding that he vowed he would reject even a $50 million deal if it meant being treated with disrespect.

“We got to their house, Paul, Peter and their manager, Jude Okoye, asked me to wait outside and went in with Iyanya,” he said.

“I was boiling outside. Iyanya would have gotten that deal with Psquare but the fact that they said I should wait outside bruised my ego.

“I said to them, ‘you know what, even if I was offered $50 million, I would reject the deal.’ Guess what, Eldee’s deal was actually better than theirs.”

Franklin and Iyanya are co-owners of the record label Made Men Music Group (MMMG).

In 2016, Iyanya left MMMG after an altercation with Franklin.

They, however, reunited in 2021. The pair have established themselves as a household name in the Nigerian music industry with several awards and recognition.