Fuji Megastar, General Kollington Ayinla has come out to dispel several rumours making the rounds in the social circle in Lagos, Nigeria about the state of his health.

General Kollington Ayinla on the red carpet arriving for a ceremony.

As the wild rumours of his paralysis and even death were fast spreading all over the Lagos, like an harmattan fire,  General Kollington Ayinla himself has appeared in a video and declared that "i am indeed back from the dead".

The Fuji legend, looking frail and ill, declared in an emotional viral video shot in a private ward of the health facility that “I Alhaji General Kollington Ayinla, the head of all Fuji musicians in Nigeria and abroad, I’m the one speaking. Many people thought I was dead. But LASUTH miraculously brought me back to life”.

The Fuji General was close to tears as he spoke glowingly of the efforts of Dr. Adetokunbo O. Fabanwo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH and his medical team to resuscitate him from the near state of death. Alhaji Ayinla was critically ill penultimate Saturday. He was rushed to a private health facility in the Alagbado suburb of Lagos on Saturday, January 13, but was immediately referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, because of the critical nature of his sickness.

The ace Fuji legend was said to have fallen critically ill on January 13, 2024, while relaxing in his newly opened drinking bar in his Alagbado, Lagos suburb compound. He was subsequently rushed to a private facility within the area but was referred to the state tertiary facility when his condition worsened by Thursday. At the facility, the 72-year-old Fuji megastar is said to have gone into a coma, thus needing the aid of a life support machine to stay alive. But in a viral video Tuesday (January 23), the musician popularly called Baba Alatika by his teeming fans, gave all glory to God for bringing him back from the dead. He praised the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Dr. Adetokunbo Fabanwo and his team of specialists for doing a wonderful job on him. He thanked the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for providing all the support needed to give him first-class treatment. He also mentioned the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde and the members of the State Executive. He thanked them for seeing to his quick recovery.

According to the Fuji General, “It is only God that can deliver one from death, but the management of LASUTH under Dr. Fabanwo tried and rescue me. They tried for me.” He continued, “By now, I would have been dead, but for LASUTH and its management.” At his Alagbado home, none of his family members nor workers was ready to volunteer any information about the nature of the Fuji General’s illness to our correspondent. But www.feferity.com was able to speak to one of his band boys, who though pleaded for anonymity, revealed to our correspondent that Baba Alatika was down with diabetics and an ulcer. A medical doctor spoke with me independently and said that the conditions described are critical and life-threatening. He said diabetics if not managed well could lead to kidney and heart failure. He expressed fears that the Bata Fuji king might have fallen victim to the end-stage devastation of diabetics coupled with ulcer.

General Kollington Ayinla and his son Big Sheff

General Kollington Ayinla, 71, is a foremost Fuji musician, coming after only the late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. He started singing the Islamic ajisari/were from age 10 in Apapa Road, Ebute Meta, Lagos. By age 16, he enrolled in the Nigerian Army and was a prominent member of the Army Band in Abeokuta barracks. He was discharged from the Army in 1978 to focus on Fuji music alone. He started the Alhaji Kollington Ayinla and His Fuji 78 in 1978. He spiced the Nigerian social scene with his fresh idea about how music should be played. He later engaged his bosom friend and fellow soldier, the late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister in a heart-wrenching rivalry. The rivalry was to mark the golden era of Fuji music. Although the two friends reconciled before the death of Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister on December 16, 2010. About 5 years ago, he started an ambitious project of converting his vast compound in Alagbado, Agege, Lagos to a huge commercial centre. He started the Kollington Drinks and Bar. He was also planning to add about twenty-four rooms at the back of the bar. According to him, he had been nursing the idea for quite some time now.

Baba Alatika also engaged in some bitter spats with the King of Fuji music, Ki, the Olori Omo Oba Akile, Ijebu immediately after the passing of Dr. Ayinde Barrister. But all the hot flakes seemed to have died down recently.
www.feferity.com learnt from one of his band boys that the Fuji maestro was planning to hit the studio to record a chart-bursting elpee when the illness became critical.

Alagba Afolayan Adebiyi writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Images Courtesy: Google image