‘Dad abandoned us, came back to die in our house’ – Terry Apala

Nigerian singer Terry Apala has recounted how his father abandoned him and his siblings with their mum.

He said his dad was not part of his life, stressing that he only came back 17 years after he abandoned them and died in their house the same day he visited.

The Apala crooner disclosed this in a candid interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo.

He said: “My dad was not there [for me]. He was not there. He was just somewhere, living his life. I have no relationship with him at all.

“I left my dad in 1990 and the day I saw my dad was the day he was dying. He came all the way from Apapa to our house in Mushin. He was strong and healthy. He asked after my mum and I told him she wasn’t around. I called my mum and informed her that my dad was around and she told me to ask him to leave. I told my dad what my mum said but he insisted that he would wait till she came back. Because my other siblings heard he was around, they couldn’t come home that night.

“So, it was just me, my dad, and our lastborn, Obi. We slept together. He slept on the bed with my junior brother. I think he was throwing up when I woke up. It was very touching. Even though I didn’t really feel bad because this man was not there, but, you know, you go pity person wey don die. So, that was the day I saw my dad last. From our house to mortuary.

“I think he knew that he was going to die because we didn’t see him for like 15 to 17 years and suddenly, he came and rested in our house and went straight to mortuary.”