The Deputy Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly and member representing Ibadan South-West Constituency I, Hon. Yusuf Adebisi, has defended his father, Fuji maestro Akande Adebisi, popularly known as Taiye Currency, over a controversial song performed during the coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Currency’s performance, which featured the now-viral lyric “werey lafin wo werey” (loosely translated as “using madness to cure madness”), drew sharp criticism from sections of the public who argued that the line was inappropriate for such a revered traditional event.
Speaking with journalists, Hon. Adebisi insisted that the lyric had been misconstrued. According to him, the song was not a careless chant but a carefully crafted parable rooted in the political history of Oyo State.
He explained that the phrase referenced the 2006 political crisis that led to the impeachment of then-Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. Adebisi noted that Ladoja’s resistance to the political establishment at the time and his eventual triumph reflected the resilience that the song sought to underscore.
“The song was a reflection and reminder of that moment in our political history, not an insult or a show of disrespect,” the lawmaker said.
He further appealed to critics not to take the lyric literally, stressing that Taiye Currency, with over three decades of experience on stage, has always used music as a vehicle for social and political commentary.
“I appeal to those who feel offended to understand the intent behind the lyrics rather than focus on the literal meaning. The song was a symbolic reminder of resilience and justice,” he added.
The coronation of Oba Ladoja, which drew dignitaries from across Nigeria, has been widely described as a landmark moment for Ibadanland.
