Highlife Veteran Dies On New York - Lagos Flight

The late Alaba Pedro (2nd left) with the Faaji Agba group that performed

Highlife veteran, Alaba Pedro dies on New York-Lagos flight


Highlife veteran and member of the Faaji Agba musical group led by Fatai Rolling Dollar, Mr Alaba Pedro, yesterday died aboard an Arik flight operated on the New York - Lagos route. He was 72.

The late musician, who was part of the group that went on a week-long musical tour of the United States (U.S.) died about two hours into the 12-hour flight between New York and Lagos.

Speaking with the Nigerian Compass shortly after the flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Rolling Dollar said the late Pedro was discovered to have been very weak while they were leaving their hotel for the airport.www.mannastores.com


However, one hour into the flight, the late Pedro was said to have developed breathing problem and panting for breath.

This, he said, necessitated some medical personnel on board the flight to come to his aid and made frantic efforts to save him.

“We noticed that our late friend and band member had developed illness as we were preparing for the airport for a 10 p.m. (U.S. local time) flight to Lagos. We asked him if he could make it, and he said yes. We got to the airport and the airline officials saw his situation and sought to know if he would be able to make the flight and he said he would endure it.

“We were checked in and boarded. There were announcements in the aircraft for doctors and other medical persons on board to identify themselves. About ten people did so and the flight took off. But at about one hour into the flight, our late band member developed breathing problem and the medical persons who had been on the alert came to his rescue.

“They battled to save him. They removed him from the seat where we were all seating to the back seat near the convenience and kept attending to him there until about three hours when he passed on,” Pa Rolling Dollars narrated.

He said the late Pedro had been sick for some time but despite warnings from himself and other members of the band, he was still consuming alcohol throughout their stay in the U.S.

The musical group had left Nigeria for the U.S on musical performance last Tuesday under the directorship of a Nigerian U.S-based promoter named Kunle Tejuosho.

Also speaking with the Nigerian Compass, Sunday Pedro, the first and eldest son of the late Alaba Pedro who had come to the airport to welcome his father back from the trip was shocked when he saw all the other members of the band except his father returning alive from the musical tour.

The bereaved son who was short of words said “The death was an act of God.”

He said the family members would be contacted on the burial arrangements.

Speaking to our correspondent on the impact of the sudden death on other band members, Pa Rolling Dollars said the death was a sad one, and was unexpected, adding, however, that it would not lead to disbandment of the band.

S.F Olowokere, another member of the band, who was also on the trip and witnessed the death of his fellow band member, lamented: “Why now? This is a time we would all have gotten another breakthrough in our musical career which has spanned over 50 years. But see what death has done to us”

The youngest member of the band, simply referred to as Niyi, said his joy on the trip was cut short by the sudden death of the late Pedro.

Niyi, who claimed to be 30 years old, recalled that the musical tour was a success but the sudden death of a band member aboard the flight home after a successful performance”

Meanwhile, the remains of the late Pedro were taken in an Ambulance belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the morgue of the Nigerian Air Force.

In his reaction, Arik Air spokesman, Banji Ola, said: A passenger aboard Arik Air flight, W3 108 New York, JFK – Lagos, Nigeria, was found dead mid-flight in the early hours of this morning.

“As yet, there has been no details of the cause of death confirmed and until the person’s family members are notified, we would not like to speculate on this unexpected passing.

“We are very saddened to hear about the death and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this time.

A leader of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Predy Wise Okowa, described the late Alaba Pedro as a wonderful guitarist.

He said his death is a sad loss to Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate that I have not met him, Alaba Pedro was a very popular guitarist. His death came to me as a surprise, recently we heard of Christy Essien-Igbokwe, now this one, it is only God who knows why. We cannot question Him for what happened. My condolence goes to the family, and the country at large.”

Former president of PMAN, Tee Mac Omatshola Itseli, said he was shocked to hear that Alaba Pedro is dead.

His words: “It is a shocking news. I am very surprised to hear that. One problem about life is that we don’t know what it will bring.”

He descried Alaba Pedro as a brilliant guitarist who exported Nigerian music to the outside world.

“He is an exponent of high life music. I am really shocked. My condolence goes to his family.”

Rolling Dollar described Alaba Pedro as a good guitarist “though he was sick and taken to hospital. He was okay before he left Nigeria. We did a lot of shows during the tour, even yesterday we were together, his death is a painful one to the country. Alaba Pedro will be missed in the Nigerian entertainment scene. He was very good guitarist.”