Following the embattled gospel singer, Tope Alabi’s daughter’s response involving her paternity, on ‘Your View’, Femi Kuti has come forward to request a mental check for parents who raise their children to hate the other parent.
“I think erm… whichever parent it is, you mustn’t bring your child up to hate the father or mother irrespective of who we are talking about.” He said.
According to reports, Ayomikun, daughter of popular gospel singer, Tope Alabi declared that the only father she knows is her mother’s husband, Soji Alabi following the recent paternity scandal involving the gospel singer and one Mayegun Olaoye.
Based on online reports, Mr. Olaoye claimed to be Ayomikun’s father, while alleging that Tope Alabi had blocked every avenue for him to reconcile with his biological daughter in the past 22 years.
His claims sparked various reactions which went viral but Ayomikun in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Saturday stated that she was not surprised about the development as her mother had since informed her about the man who claimed to be her father.
The all-female hosts of “Your View” weighed the issue and if a reconciliation between a child and a parent who has been absent in their life was necessary.
“What makes you a parent is beyond your donation of egg and sperm. What makes you a parent is a fact that you have raised the child. So, your parent is not the person who biologically contributed to your coming into the world, but your parent is the person that sowed into your life, that raised you.” Tope Mark Odigie said.
Obiajulu Ugboh said: “biological parents are overrated but we are not ready to have that conversation.”
The anchor of the daytime talk show Morayo Afolabi-Brown emphasized how important it was in her culture for a father regardless of his status to be present at the said child’s wedding ceremony.
“It happened to a family member of mine; I won’t mention the person. The person’s father was totally not in the picture, but they went to pick him up from somewhere. He was drunk, he had no job… they picked him up there, washed him up, dressed him up for the wedding day. After the wedding day, they carried him back to where they found him.” Morayo said.
Ayomikun, however, has stressed that the only father that she has is Soji Alabi, who has been married to her mother for over two decades.
“I will always know that my father is Soji Alabi. I do not know any other person and I have never met any other man. I cannot blatantly deny him because I have heard about him, but I have never had anything to do with this man.
“My mother never blocked the avenues for us to see. My mother even tried for me to have a relationship with him. I remember when I was about 15 years old, she used to tell me about him, but he never tried to reach out to me.
“I am grateful to God for the kind of mother and father that I have. After God, my parents are next in my life,” Ayomikun said.
She further stressed that she cannot bear her biological father’s name because she has never met him while emphasizing that everyone knows who her real father was but if she was going to grant him an audience then they will have to meet in court.
“So, there is not much story to tell. It is just a story about an irresponsible father, and he is trying to cut every relationship he could ever build with his so-called daughter. I genuinely do not know why he is coming out after 22 years.”
Mayegun Olaoye had claimed that he was in the earlier years of his daughter’s life until his marriage with Tope Alabi fell apart.
The Alabi’s appear not to be shocked by Olaoye’s actions.
“I have spoken to my mother about it and we are all fine. It was not something that shocked us. He is not blackmailing the family, but he is an example of a very terrible father,” Ayomikun said.
This is a developing story.