Veteran Nigerian singer John Asiemo, fondly called Daddy Showkey, has disclosed he was almost set ablaze for stealing in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Daddy Showkey, well known for his hit song ‘Galala’, said he was once a notorious gang member, adding that he and his gang members had guns which they used to terrorise the residents of Ikorodu.

He disclosed this in an interview on the latest episode of the Honest Bunch podcast.

The 53-year-old singer said: “I was in a gang back in the day. I won’t lie. Some of us found a gun that we used to pick valuables from a refuse dump in Ikorodu. We started using guns to terrorise the area. Showing them we now have guns.

“One day, when we were out in our usual style, one of the boys saw us and started screaming, ‘Thieves, thieves, thieves’ and we ran. They caught me and my friend, and they tied us up, and they were going to burn us.”

How Akpabio made me walk again ― Daddy Showkey

Daddy Showkey further disclosed that one of his friends, identified as 91A, was caught and set ablaze alive on a road in the Ajegunle area of Lagos.

He added that the incident made him popular, saying: “We were saved miraculously, but unfortunately, they caught 91A and burnt him alive on the new road in Ajegunle. I was mimicking snakes and all sorts of animals.

“It was that day I became famous. I have always told them in Ajegunle that they see me on the television. People are usually ashamed to talk about their past because it’ll be used to mock them, but I’m not. I don’t care. I was a lion in a garage. Someone told me to use my voice to shout in the garage for singing.

“I am a living testimony for every young man because If I, John, can be alive today to become Daddy Showkey, nobody can’t become someone.”

Daddy Showkey alongside his colleagues – African China, Danfo Drivers, Baba Fryo, and Marvelous Benjy – were Ajengunle’s most prominent musicians between 1990s and early 2000s.

The Star