This interview with Peter, the twin brother of Paul Okoye
who are collectively known in the music scene as P-square,
was held in the second floor lobby of Golden Peacock Hotel
in Liliongwe, the capital of Malawi few hours before their
hugely successful concert that was almost marred by a
torrential rainfall destroyed some of their instruments.
The concert was part of African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
nomination party/gala nite that held in Malawi. Deputy Editor,
Charles Okogene was among the journalists Peter fielded
answers to their questions on sundry issues.
You are always on the road, how many days do you guys
have to yourselves?
We have been trying as much as possible to create time for
ourselves, but most times, we don’t get it. We need more time to
rest because performing for two to three hours on stage is not
an easy task. However, we took a break in January.
What is the inspiration behind Alingo video?
P-Square for the past five years haven’t done any dance video
and our fans expected to see something of that nature from us.
So, Alingo was just the first song we had even before the
Invasion album came out. We didn’t take the song seriously until
our fans started loving it. And before we knew what was
happening, it caught fire and was everywhere. We have no choice
than to give our fans a video.
You put in a lot of energy into the video…(cuts in).
Yes. When the song started picking up, we thought it was
important to give our fans something they have never gotten
from P-Square in the past five years. The last time, we did
something similar to this, Roll It was over five years ago. It took
us a lot of time and energy to produce the album. Our elder
brother, Jude, who is also our manager, shot the video.
Interestingly, most people didn’t know that the video was shot in
Nigeria. We went to an abandoned warehouse situated some 10
minutes away from our Lagos residence to shoot the video.
There, we created the scenario and got the video shot.
It was also rumoured sometime ago that you guys bought a
private jet. Is it true?
There was nothing like that. I guess because it was included in
our rider that whenever we are going for a specific show, the
organsiers must provide us with a private jet. We had a deal with
a private jet company which always give out their private jet to
us on hire whenever we are in need of it. So, it is like, we have
private jet at our disposal. I remember, I once tweeted that
private jet has been included in our list. That was how people
started speculating that P-Square has bought a private jet.
The impression out there is that P-Square is arrogant?
I think P-Square is very intimidating; we are not arrogant. When
you saw me today, did I look arrogant? I came to greet
everybody. That is a wrong impression people have about us.
There is Peter and there is Paul. Peter is stubborn, bad and
controversial, but they say Paul is quiet, cool headed and all
that. But you see, you can steal from Peter to pay Paul, and if
you steal from Peter to pay Paul, you are indeed paying P-
Square. I’m a very controversial person and I’m not expecting
every news about me to be positive. P-Square is not arrogant,
it’s just that the people are scared of approaching them,
considering the way we operate. When you see P-Square
stepping out, we look very intimidating. But the people that are
very close to us will testify that we are not arrogant. Beyonce
could visit a shopping mall today, and the whole place will be
shut down. That does not make her arrogant. It is her
management that has made it to be so.
How is life without your mother?
It has been hectic. We haven’t decided to do a new album at the
moment. But then, anytime we were working on a new album,
while she was alive, she was always with us in our studio. We
don’t know how we are going to do it this time around. She was
a minister of God before she passed on. She had her own church
which Paul and I built for her. Anytime we want to release a new
album, she would pray for the album for almost a week before
we release it. Her church is still functioning till date and her
prayer partners are still there. Once in while, we do
communicate with the leadership of the church and it is our
desire to see the church continue to function after her death.
Wherever she is today, she will be happy that the church is still
functioning because it’s a monument for her.
But did you guys really know what happened to your
mother?
People must always speculate. It got to a point I said to myself
that those people who were accusing us of being responsible for
our mum’s death must be ignorant of how close we were to her.
We didn’t want that rumour to distract us. In fact, when people
are insinuating such things, the best advice is for you to block
your ears and never allow it to distract you. I’m human and I
don’t except people to say positive things about P-Square all the
time. But I am not looking forward to that. P-Square has made
its worst mistake in the past, and people didn’t notice it. We are
not perfect. And we know why people accused us of being
responsible for our mother’s death. It’s because we are
successful in what we are doing for a living. Even in my Igbo
nation, once somebody starts to progress, his kinsmen will begin
to associate his riches with money ritual. We have overgrown
such insinuation.
What are those mistakes you made in the past?
Let’s leave that in the past.
How did you grow up with Paul?
Our growing up was fantastic. I’m the person who was always on
the stubborn side. Then, I would go out there and cause some
stir and they would put the blame on Paul because we are twins.
We were always wearing the same clothes. I and Paul grew up
doing things together. It has remained like that till date. That’s
the way our mother trained us. What Paul does not like today, I
will not like either. Maybe, this is what has been holding us
together.
Have you had any cause to date the same woman?
Every woman wants to hang out with Peter. This is because
everybody knows that Peter is more outgoing than Paul. But I
doubt if woman can cause problem between Paul and myself.
Money would have been the devil that will cause problem
between us than woman. Any woman that wants to come
between us is wasting her time.
Every successful man wants to continue to invest in other
areas of life. Are you thinking in that direction?
P-Square is not only involved in music alone. We are into real
estate business. That we have been doing for a long time now.
We do a lot of businesses. A business man who is keeping his
money in the bank, what is he keeping it without investing it. We
also do banking business, but real estate pays us more.
Recently it was rumoured that you are into oil and gas
business?
Yes, it’s about to kick off. My music is doing very well in the
market, and investing in other areas will help to boost my
pocket, which is not a bad idea.
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