Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole said late music maestro, Sir Victor Uwaifo, used his talent to take Nigeria and Edo to the international community.

Oshiomhole said this in Benin on Thursday, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Uwaifo in his residence, in the company of APC chieftains in Edo.

Oshiomhole, also a former governor of Edo, described Uwaifo as an intellectual, who tried to bring his thoughts to reality in his music and the arts.

“There are many ways in which he affected my life. As a young man in the typical rural village when there was no light and no road, anytime we want to listen to music, we make requests through Radio Nigeria.

“We listen to radio using battery. The number one record we always requested was Victor Uwaifo; Guitar Boy, Joromi and others. We will wear our small knickers and dance and then there were stories about the exploits of Uwaifo in the music world.

“In this part of the world and at that time, the man who forcefully put Nigeria and the face of Edo on the world map was Sir Victor Uwaifo by his creativity, his talent and his industry. You cannot resist the music.

“We always pray that God give us long life and good health because you can live so long and become a vegetable; you are not dying and you are not living.

“We thank God that he came in the manner he did and left without being a burden to the family,” he said.

Oshiomhole said Uwaifo was an original musician, noting that in his days, one had to master the use of English language, and have a natural good voice not digitally aided and shopped.

“The voice of Uwaifo was not the result of manipulation of modern gadgets, it was a natural gift that God gave him and his music had meaning. When you listen, beyond the entertainment, you also pick a lesson.

“Uwaifo was an intellectual. Beyond music, Uwaifo was always busy, if he can think it through he will try to create and translate it,” Oshiomhole said.

According to the former governor, Edo people and Nigeria indeed, have lost an elder statesman.

He said he was happy that President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged the fact that Uwaifo was one of the few artistes that succeeding heads of states and presidents recognised and invited to state functions.