Prologue
In the early 90s, he took the music industry by storm with hit singles like Madam, You Is the One and Say Me Well. Born as Olalekan Fadeyi, he braved the storms and streets of Lagos and became A Zealous and Determined Unbowed Soldier, aka AZADUS. He has won several awards like the City People Music Throwback Hall of Fame award, and was signed on to very big record labels like Kennis Music, Just, 51 Lex Presents Hit Makers specializing in the Hip-hop/Rap genre.
Azadus was recently discharged from the Lagos isolation after he caught the Covid bug. Alltimepost special correspondent, Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku had a chat with him:
ATP: How did you find out that you had Covid 19? What were the symptoms?
Azadus: After treating malaria for about 3 weeks, going to the hospital back and forth without any signs of improvement, my doctor advised that I go for a test. I was supposed to get the test results after 72 hours but I knew I didn’t have that much time to live with all the symptoms.
The next day I had to go back to the centre to complain. The medical staff there were very helpful and they admitted me. Much later they announced to me that I tested positive. This was Thursday, 11th June, 2020.
ATP: How were the tests administered on you?
Azadus: They have a long flexible strip like a test kit which they insert in your nose. Thereafter you are asked to spit in a container. These were the tests that they based their results on.
ATP: Can you describe the isolation centre and what was the regimen of your treatment?
Azadus: The centre has male and female wards. The male ward has about 250 occupied beds when I was there. I really don’t know about the drugs but they were about 15 tablets to be taken day and night.
ATP: How long were you at the isolation ward?
Azadus: I was lucky not to have had any underlying medical conditions. People like me spend just a week at the centre with treatment and discharged with medications after one week, because of the high volume of cases.
ATP: Sometimes adversity inspires new songs with some artists. Did this experience inspire any song?
Azadus: Yes it has…I have a few tunes (He smiled)
ATP: What is your assessment of the management of the Covid 19 in Lagos and Nigeria?
Azadus: The government has been doing well, but some bad elements have created doubts in the minds of people that has reduced the level of achievement in the management of the Covid 19.
ATP: Would you support a reopening of schools, religious and sport activities?
Azadus: Not for now.
ATP: What advice do you have for Nigerians out there who say that the Covid 19 is Oyibo Malaria?
Azadus: They have either listened to the set of people. Covid 19 has killed too many and is relentlessly killing more. Be safe. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing.
