Legendary Nigerian singer and songwriter, Daniel Wilson, popularly known as Mr. Ragamuffin, has weighed in on the viral controversy involving a UBA graduate trainee and billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu, urging the Chairman to see the incident as a compliment rather than disrespect.
In a humorous statement obtained by Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com), Wilson described Elumelu as “Grandpa Tony” and suggested that years of fitness, yoga, and healthy living had paid off, making him appear youthful enough to be addressed by his first name.
“Some young girl looks at you and apparently sees Tony, not Mr. Elumelu, Chairman, Sir, Oga, or Grandpa. She sees a youthful-looking man and calls him by his first name. Isn’t that precisely the compliment your years of exercise were supposed to earn you?” Wilson quipped.
He argued that Elumelu’s reaction missed the lighter side of the moment, noting that the trainee’s greeting was less about defiance and more about perceiving him as youthful and approachable.
“You can’t spend years fighting the appearance of ageing and then become offended when somebody fails to treat you like an old man. Please, Grandpa Tony, take the compliment. The yoga is working!” Wilson added with laughter.
The reggae/Afro-pop pioneer, who helped shape Nigerian pop culture in the late 1980s and 1990s, concluded his remarks by encouraging Elumelu to embrace the youthful image he has cultivated.
“Go back to your yoga mat, Grandpa. Tomorrow’s session is important. We must maintain this youthful evidence!” he teased.
Wilson’s lighthearted intervention adds a comic twist to a debate that has dominated Nigerian social media for days, reframing the incident as a testament to Elumelu’s youthful appearance rather than a breach of respect.
