Terry Apala, the acclaimed Nigerian singer, has candidly shared the poignant story of his father abandoning him and his brothers under their mother's care.
Revealing the absence of paternal involvement in his life, Terry Apala disclosed that his father remained distant, reappearing only 17 years after leaving them. Tragically, he passed away on the very day he paid them a visit, a revelation made during an open conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo.
Recounting the circumstances, Terry Apala expressed, “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 the 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 the mortuary.”