YINKA Ayefele is now a honorary citizen of the State of Georgia in the United States of America.
The artiste was presented with the certificate of honorary citizenship by the Secretary of the State of Georgia on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by eminent Nigerians in the state and other neighbouring states.
In the certificate presented to him, the Secretary of the State of Georgia wrote that “I, Karen C. Handel, Secretary of the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim the Honourable Yinka Ayefele as an Honorary Georgia citizen. May this Honorary citizen be afforded every courtesy as a goodwill ambassador from Georgia in his travels to other States, to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America, or wherever he may hereafter travel or reside.”
Ayefele has been away for close to 12 weeks with his 14-piece Merry Makers band on a musical tour of Uncle Sam’s country. Speaking with Rhythms and Vibes shortly after he received the honour on Wednesday morning, an elated Ayefele said he’s having the best of time in his career.
According to him, “I thank God for his mercies for turning my sorrow to happiness. I’d have been a forgotten issue by now but for the grace of God. Here I’m today making myself and my country proud”, he said.
One of his promoters in the United States, Bishop Adejube, the CEO of Bishop Entertainment Consult informed Rhythms and Vibes that the artiste will be hosted to a lavish send forth party on Wednesday, before coming to Nigeria.
“Ayefele is coming back home but before then, we are hosting him to a send forth party at The Atrium, one of the biggest event centre in Atlanta. “He has completed the first phase of his 50-state tour of the United States and he’s eager to come back home,” Bishop said.
Ayefele described his tour as the best thing to have happened to him in his 11-year music career. “All glory is to God for this opportunity. I never knew people love my music and to say I enjoyed every bit of the shows we had here is to say the least.
“I will be back later to complete the tour but, for now, I want to focus on the shows I have in Nigeria immediately I arrive”, he said. Ayefele’s first show in America held in Atlanta was shut down by the police because the number of fun seekers who thronged the hall was more than the capacity of the hall.
Rumuored back home to have been arrested for a drug trafficking offence, Ayefele said he doesn’t know where the rumour emanated from. “I hope my on Friday will clear the air on the rumour,” he stated.
