How my mum died on my father’s birthday -Davido

A Nigerian singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed how his mother, Veronica Adeleke,  died in 2003 at the age of 39.   Davido was about 10 years old then.

In a recent interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, host of the BBNaija reality TV show, Davido revealed that his mother died of cardiac arrest on his father’s birthday, noting that his mother’s death affected him emotionally.

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He said,  “I was about 10 to 11 years old when she died. She died on my father’s birthday. Honestly, it was just cardiac arrest. Even if it was going to happen, I would not have known.  She was not really sick. She used to get sick once in a while.

“But it was nothing serious. I often say that I see my mother in Chioma. I did not grow up with my mother. I can hardly remember what happened when I was that young. One thing I always wish for is that she should have been alive. I would have bought her a lot of diamonds and houses but she knew that I was going to be great.

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“My mother was from Benin. I think I’m like her; I inherited her agility. She helped so many people to date, I go to some places and people would tell me what my mother did for them. Before my mother died, I was a mummy’s boy because my father was always busy. He was working and always travelling to places like China;  so, imagine her just being taken from me, my best friend, the only person in the world I loved being taken from me without caution.”

On why he postponed his wedding with Chioma, he said the wedding was postponed till 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He said, “Corona f**ked it up. It was supposed to be July. But I’ve decided next year. For now, I want her to work on her business, our album, and the kids. I want her to get social balance first.

“I’ve known Chioma for seven years. We were just together. But we started dating properly five years ago. We went to the same school in Babcock. I got so used to her and she got so used to me. Chioma is somebody I can leave Imade with. I know nothing will happen. I gave her fame; she didn’t want the ‘Assurance’ video. Every day, if I show you the messages she gets, people are evil!

“She didn’t ask for this. She’s handling it quite well for someone who didn’t expect anything like an overnight blowing. She has her own family, her dad. Imagine that added to my own problems.”

Asked  how he manages the dynamics between Chioma and his two baby mamas, Davido said he regards them as equals.

“At the end of the day, all my kids are equal. Obviously, nothing is perfect. I’m not going to tell you we don’t argue or fight. It happens. It is just that the love we have for our kids comes first,” he said.

He added, “Imade and her sister talk almost every week. Their mums make sure they speak. It’s not easy, but as a man, you have to make everyone happy. Just to be responsible, you just do what you have to do. And, people I engaged with, I know they are good people, whether we planned for it or not.”