Renowned flutist, Tee Mac has revealed that operatives of the defunct-Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) once harassed his son because of hair and the phone he was using.
While lamenting Nigerians’ ordeal in the hands of the defunct notorious police unit, Mac said the condemnation SARS operatives received should also be visited on people who do not treat their neighbours well.
According to the musician, there’s need for moral revolution in Nigeria.
“My son was also harassed because of his hair and he uses an iPhone. Yes we need to fight, not just SARS but the whole system.
“We need a moral revolution from the bottom to the top. There is some SARS in all of us. From the musicians to politicians, teachers, students, everybody.
“From my experience in Europe, you need to treat people well, respect your neighbours and share when you make money, especially with your band members.
“I came to Nigeria after my degree in Music and Economics in 1970 to see some band leaders treating their members like thrash and I always criticise that,” NAN quoted him as saying.
Mac recalled that in 2000, he was to perform at a Gala night after which he made his band members sleep at the same five-star hotel where they all passed the night “and I saw some band leaders leaving their members to pass the night in the bus.
“I do the same thing when I cook. Now none of us was being paid immediately, in fact, I am still being owed but I made sure my members were comfortable because you are as good as your band.
“If one man in your band is not good, then the sound is not there. So, treat them well and pay them well. In the music industry and outside, treat those working for you well.
“My domestic staff have been working with me for years. This is not really because I pay them well but because I treat them well.
“If you are a band leader and you don’t pay your musicians well, you don’t treat them well, you let them sleep in the bus on tour while you stay in a five-star hotel.”
He added, “if you eat in a first-class restaurant while your band members eat bread and sardine, then you are worse than SARS.
“We have to start respecting our neighbours. It is stated in the bible. `Love thy neighbour as you love thyself’ and that will solve all the problems.”