Maroof Asudemade

For years, fans of Psquare have watched with sadness as one of Africa’s most successful music groups repeatedly descended into public disputes. At the centre of many of these controversies has been their elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye.

While only the brothers themselves know every detail of what transpired behind closed doors, one recurring pattern has become difficult to ignore: whenever Paul and Peter Okoye appear to be making progress towards reconciliation, fresh disagreements emerge, with Jude often becoming part of the conversation.

The latest round of accusations and counter-accusations has once again raised a familiar question: is Jude merely an unfortunate victim caught between two feuding brothers, or has he become the catalyst that keeps their conflict alive? Many observers lean towards the latter.

As the elder brother, Jude was expected to play the role of peacemaker, guiding both twins towards unity. Instead, his name has repeatedly surfaced in allegations involving financial management, business decisions and loyalty. Whether these allegations are ultimately proven or disproven, the unfortunate reality is that his involvement has consistently coincided with widening cracks in the relationship between Paul and Peter.

History offers a compelling pattern. Whenever the twins operate independently of Jude, there appears to be greater willingness to rebuild bridges. However, whenever disputes involving Jude resurface, mistrust quickly returns, old wounds reopen, and reconciliation becomes increasingly difficult.

This is not to absolve Paul and Peter of responsibility. They are adults who must own their actions and decisions. Their public disagreements have undoubtedly damaged the Psquare brand and disappointed millions of fans across Africa and beyond.

Yet leadership comes with responsibility. An elder brother is traditionally expected to calm tensions rather than deepen them. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Jude’s continued involvement has become a source of suspicion and division rather than stability.

Family businesses are notoriously difficult to manage because emotions often cloud business judgment. In the case of Psquare, what should have been a model of brotherhood has instead become a cautionary tale about mixing family, business and unresolved grievances. From Peter’s recent revelations on his social media handles, he alleges that Paul has been working in cahoots with Jude to defraud him of funds running into millions of dollars. He shows evidences of statements of account from FCMB and Zenith banks to back his allegations.

Unfortunately for Paul, he appears to have fallen to Jude’s alleged antics to work against his twin brother as he, Paul, also receives far less amounts that he ought to be getting from their incomes. The cases against Jude are being handled by EFCC.

If Psquare is ever to rediscover the chemistry that made them continental icons, genuine reconciliation may require Paul and Peter to rebuild their relationship on their own terms, free from any influence, however well-intentioned, that has repeatedly become a point of contention.

Ultimately, the future of Psquare lies not in courtrooms, social media exchanges or public interviews, but in the willingness of two brothers to trust each other again. Whether Jude becomes part of that healing process or remains a symbol of the divisions that have plagued the group will depend on the choices all three brothers make in the years ahead.