D’banj reconciles with Glo

There are indications that Dapo Oyebanjo
aka D'banj may be returned this month as
brand ambassador of Globacom. The
singer's initial contract was terminated
two years ago after he fell out with
Globacom over demand for an increase in
performance fees, among others.
Close sources say talks are ongoing to
bring the entertainer back, because the
company believes he has got the clout to
sell the brand in the international arena.
Our sources say Glo believes D'banj has
turned a new leaf and it's looking forward
to a smoother relationship with the
singer.
Although there were conflicting reports
about the reason the Koko Master, as he
(D'banj) is fondly called, could not
continue with his first contract, a common
reason pointed at the slash in sign-on fee,
which the company decided at some
point. D'Banj was said to have been
dropped after he refused to sign a new
contract extension that was less
attractive.
Although Glo has never revealed what it
pays its ambassadors officially, D'banj,
who was said to have signed an initial
two-year contract worth N70 million, but
was allegedly paid for a year, felt slighted
when the new sign-on fee the telecoms
giant was offering, took effect.
It is not clear how much the new offering
will be, but there are indications it may
be close to N35 million, which is in the
range of what is being paid twin singers P-
Square, and a far cry from what mask-
styled musician, Bisade Ologunde aka
Lagbaja, gets for doing the same job.
If the returnee ambassador is paid N20
million, as believed in some quarters, it
will still put him above P-Square as a
single earner and may just be near the
range of Lagbaja, who has been less
visible at Glo's events since he spends
more time abroad.
Lagbaja, it appears, is in the good books of
Glo Chairman Chief Mike Adenuga for
retaining his contracts despite being less
visible. The company had dropped several
of his ambassadors for not creating
adequate time to be part of its musical
concerts, media and social events,
advertisement photo shoot, among
others.
Years ago, D'banj incurred the wrath of
the Glo helmsman when he demanded an
upward review of his N70 million annual
sign-on fee, and the N2million per Glo
campus show deal that would have taken
him to 36 locations.
The aftermath, many say, led to the
company's choice of P-Square, who was
thought out as a viable replacement.
The endorsement of P-Square in 2010
was said to have brought about the slash
of his endorsement fee from N70 million
to N20 million.
Reason was also attributed to his face off
with the company during the Rock & Rule
concert series, organised by Globacom.
The latest in the sign-on deal is Wande
Coal, who just parted ways with Mavin
Records. Sources say the pop star is being
offered less than a N1million for the
Globacom deal, a fee which was earlier
rejected for him by his former label.