By Agency Report
Abiodun Owokoya, better known as Abbey Cheche, has insisted that being a gospel artiste doesn’t make him a perfect human being.
Reacting to questions that most gospel ministers don’t practice what they sing, Abbey Cheche said that there was no perfect human in the world. He said, “We are all humans and we are all working towards perfection. The scripture also stated that our righteousness is like a filthy rag before God. You might see me doing something bad but do you know if the Holy Spirit has convicted me and I have gone to my closet to seek forgiveness? I don’t want to be part of the people that act too holy. I am a Christian and I believe in the power of the anointing. That is the major thing required from a gospel artiste and it is how one can make an impact because talent is not enough.”
The instrumentalist, who had worked with the likes of Femi Kuti, D’banj, Onyeka Onwenu, Orits Wiliki, Righteous Man and Dede Mabiaku, insisted that playing the saxophone had given him so much in life. He added, “It was through the saxophone I travelled to the United States, went to school, got married and became a citizen of America. Ever since I started playing sax professionally, it has been putting food on my table beyond my imagination and it has also connected me with great people I wouldn’t ordinarily come across in my life.”
Abbey Cheche, however, said he had concluded plans to embark on Europe tour in September, spreading the gospel to countries such as France, Belgium, Spain, Netherland, England, Ireland and Italy.
He stated, “The tour is tagged the Mother Land Tour. The Nigeria version is special because it’s my country and I have to do it in a bigger way in order to establish myself in the industry and to get more fans. I have been to many places like Ibadan, Abeokuta, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and my name, Lagos. I performed in five churches recently on a Sunday in Lagos.”
According to him, there has not been a time he thought of going back to the secular world. He maintained, “I have been able to discipline myself as a gospel minister. I have had a feel of both the two worlds; I feel gospel is best for me. I played in Afrika Shrine for years, playing with secular artistes. The secular artistes are exciting but this is my calling. My main focus now is to impact on lives positively and inspire people with my music. I cry and pray to God every day to give me the grace to achieve these.”