This is still shocking to me, is this guy for real though, he went this far just to prove a point. I personally find this Evil and Wicked, I mean we all are guilty of ignoring certain people at some point in our life.
Aye Dee claims Linda ignored his series of emails, chat and tweets, and him been one of her back bones then when Linda's blog was just beginning, he took it out on her.
Linda is one blogger I know that has steeped on many toes, if you must grow, you have to be ready for these things.
Once she wrote a story involving me and I asked for the posted to be taken down and yes she did take it down, of course I was upset for a day or two and that was it.
Now, Linda as we have learnt did not do any thing to this guy, no character defamation, no copyright or plagiarism of any sort, just mere ignoring, of which she says she didn't see any mails from him, we can all understand that right???
Well, one thing Aye Dee might not know is that, he just won a true fan for Linda and am serious!!!
When I saw her post, I quickly put a call to Sandra, Linda's sister who has been a true friend from day one, I sympathize with the ikeji's for this misconception. Read Linda's Press Release after cut, it's lengthy, be patient....
To understand this, I am going to start from the beginning but before that I want to talk about plagiarism. My understanding of plagiarism is when you take someone’s work and republish it verbatim as your own work. I don’t do that. But if I have ever done that in the past then I apologize…it was an oversight. I do get a lot of original content, way more than any other blogger in this country. Some of the biggest news stories in this country in recent times was broken by LIB. From Goldie’s death (God rest her soul) Aluu4, ABSU rape, P-Square saga, Solomon Akiyesi and plenty more. And when I take news from other sources, I always credit them. When I don’t give credit is when the news is everywhere so I write it in my own words and make it mine. I don’t believe that is a crime. I admit that I have used photos without giving credit. I apologize. That will never happen again. You learn every day. And I have learnt from this.
I’m going to just copy and paste our conversation because it’s quite long. Note: Linda Ikeji is – me: Alex Info 1976AD/Mr Aye Dee is – info:
Yeah, well…that’s the shocking real story. Mr dear friend Alex 1976AD aka Mr Aye Dee wanted to be back in my life and he felt the best way to get my attention again was to shut down a blog I’ve slaved for almost eight years. And because he knew what to do and had the resources, he succeeded. Google let him succeed.
I appreciate this. This is someone I used to love. Will always respect. I have absolutely nothing against him. At the end of the day he’s not an enemy…God used him to open my eyes. I’ll always be grateful.
Now about Mr Aye Dee. Let me start from the very beginning so you guys understand what really happened. Please read more.
Like I said earlier, this was not about copyright or plagiarism. It was personal. Very personal. In 2009 or 2010…(not sure) a guy named Alex who used to run 1976AD blog contacted me. He said he was impressed with my work and wanted to encourage me to never relent. Alex Info 1976AD (how I knew him back then) and I became very good friends online. In fact he was my confidant. Every time I had questions or challenges, I would reach out to him. By 2011, Alex 1976AD and I became quite close…online. We even exchanged numbers and spoke a few times. He always reminded me how proud of me he was. He told me I would one day become a phenomenon. I wasn’t number one at the time but he told me that I would one day be the biggest news site in Nigeria…that he believed in me that much. He was my friend, my supporter; he sent me news to post on my blog. He wanted me to succeed. He told me things to do to get more readers. He knew a lot about the internet and how it works so I always went to him for advice. He was my anchor.
In 2011, Alex 1976AD made me his blog’s Person of the Year 2011. I shared that post excitedly on my blog. He said I was the most deserving Nigerian for the award that year…and he wrote the most beautiful article about me. He was so proud of me…and never hesitated to tell me. I was grateful. I was happy to have him as a friend.
Then we stopped talking. I sincerely can’t remember when exactly. I know that Alex 1976AD tried to reach out to me mid last year…but I can’t remember if I responded. If I didn’t, it was an oversight. I’m really bad at replying mails because I get so many and I’m always busy blogging…but anyway.
Yesterday around 2.07pm…my long lost friend Alex Info 1976AD contacted me via gmail chat. I was so happy when I saw his name pop up. I was like yay…Alex 1976AD! He would know what I should do in this situation. I thought he was reaching out to me after all this while because he’d seen all the craziness going on and wanted to lend support…but what he said to me next shocked me to my bone marrow. He said ‘I hope u’re sitting down’. Thankfully I was because I would have literally fallen if I hadn’t been sitting.
You see, my good friend and biggest supporter Alex 1976AD told me he was Mr Aye Dee. The same guy who started this. The guy that got Google to shut down my blog. It wasn’t about plagiarism or copyright infringement…it was about a scorned former friend. It was about love turning to hate because he felt I’d abandoned him after I became big. Please patiently read our chat below…
His last chat to me before yesterday was 12th of May 2013…
I’m going to just copy and paste our conversation because it’s quite long. Note: Linda Ikeji is – me: Alex Info 1976AD/Mr Aye Dee is – info:
info: I assumed you knew and were just forming
me: are u for real or ur just messing with me???
me: u are aye dee?
me: the person I thought respected me the most?
info: I do
me: so u thought i knew u were aye dee for real?
info: Of course
info: I’ve been following you since I opened my twitter account
info: then when we set up your blog-twitter I think I mentioned it
me: but I wasn’t following u and i never tweeted at u
me: because i didnt know it was u
info: so I thought you knew but again, since last year when you became unreachable, I stopped trying, figuring you have grown the proverbial set of wings
me: i know u as info1976ad
me: no other name
info: Yes, realized that this morning
me: wow
info: Yes
info: Wow is correct
info: You know part of me never believed you could be the way it appeared you were
info: it just seemed crazy
me: u should have tried to reach out to me
me: through here
info: I did. email and twitter
info: I know
info: Entirely my fault
me: i always wondered what happened to u
info: Last time we communicated
info: I think you were supposed to get in touch when you were in NYC
then you came, went, didn’t hear from you
me: u were such a strong support system for me
info: reached out a few more times via this acct
info: No answer
info: Of course, always and anytime. You know I will always guide you right and assist in any way I can
info: I’m sure you’ve never doubted that
info: so
me: so…
me: what do u want now?
info: Your continued success
info: Now that I’ve reached out and know this is a big misunderstanding
info: tell me what you want from me and I’ll do it
info: no questions asked
me: i’m confused
info: let me try and un-confuse you
me: ok
info: go on, ask away
me: i don’t know what to ask again
me: im still in shock i swear
info: That’s why I asked you to sit down
info: I knew I had to when you responded
info: I was like oh crap, she really didn’t know
info: What would you like me to do?
me: there’s nothing to be done
me: I’m happy u reached out
info: There’s always something
info: PR crisis managers handle stuff like this daily
me: i will definitely unblock u now and follow u
me: lol
info: Hahaha
info: how about we do this
me: but don’t worry everything will die down
info: we simultaneously post something
me: what?
info: I can handle the heat
info: Rest assured. You’re the one I’m worried about
info: I post: @LindaIkeji and I had a huge misunderstanding as a result of miscommunication. It is over now, and our relationship is back to one of mutual respect and admiration.
info: actually for 160 characters: @LindaIkeji & I had an avoidable misunderstanding, it’s now been resolved , & our relationship is back to 1 of mutual respect & admiration.
info: And we never speak of this again
info: the new story will be how did they do it
info: and what happened
info: but we can keep them guessing forever
me: wow
info: Crisis management 101
info: If we are united
info: what/whom is going to get between us? Our relationship predates “THE” Linda Ikeji afterall
me: what’s ur real name?
info: whichever tweets of mine that you want me to yank, I shall
info: What do you think, do you even remember?
Info: Mukhtar Alexander Dan’Iyan
info: MrAyeDee
me: oh dear Lord
me: i can’t believe this
info: Once done, let’s face those who are blackmailing you. We’ll have none of that
info: Yes, neither can I. Save the story for your memoirs
info: which you know you are going to HAVE to write one day
info: you are an inspiration to many
me: so the reports to google will stop?
info: I’ll ask my guys. They put requests in for my tweets that they say you took
info: At this end. Those who have been aggreived by you, I shall talk down. You might have to take some of their stuff down though
info: But if you want, I’ll walk you through overcoming copyright challenges
info: I want you to be bulletproof for the next part of your journey
info: that of being an international conglomerate, Nigeria’s first bonafide Multi Million $ web property
me: after everything that happened now i’m wondering if i can trust u
info: Have I ever given you cause NOT to?
info: I believe in you
info: nothing can change that
me: u turned many people against me…in the last few days
me: so yes
info: Those who turned we can get back if need be. You will emerge stronger from this if you want, and I’ll do all I can to assist you in this endeavor
info: I am emotionally vested in your success, I’ve been involved in your growth, nothing can change that
info: I’ve laid down all my weapons lol
info: Neutralized
me: ok so
info: so?
me: dont even know what to write again
me: lol
info: Hahahaha
info: what would you like the outcome of this discussion to be?
me: thank God i was sitting when u started chatting
info: Hahahahaha
info: smart move
me: my goodness yesterday u were asking pple to submit their names for a lawsuit and today i find out its u?
info: A day is a long time in politics
info: I have partners
info: I swear I tried
info: But remember this
me: I feel like i truly lost a friend
info: hard as it may be to believe
me: i used to look forward to talking with u
info: and now I am back
me: i felt u had my back
info: not going anywhere except you say you are tired of me
info: I do
me: i could always run to u
info: You still can
info: I am back, I promise you I am
info: I said this before, I’ll say it again. I am still your #1 supporter
info: #1 fan and totally committed to your success
info: what do you think?
info: you there?
Yeah, well…that’s the shocking real story. Mr dear friend Alex 1976AD aka Mr Aye Dee wanted to be back in my life and he felt the best way to get my attention again was to shut down a blog I’ve slaved for almost eight years. And because he knew what to do and had the resources, he succeeded. Google let him succeed.
Below are his tweets last night after our chat…his tone completely changed.
I appreciate this. This is someone I used to love. Will always respect. I have absolutely nothing against him. At the end of the day he’s not an enemy…God used him to open my eyes. I’ll always be grateful.
I’ve been in touch with the people at Google…some of them say they may return the blog but I’m no longer interested. If they can’t protect me from people like Alex/Aye Dee, then there’s no point continuing to do business with them. I’m going to continue blogging from my own domain name – lindaikejionline.com. (cyber-squatters have taken everything else)
I will like to say a big thank you to everyone who reached out, people who have shown concern, but most especially LIB readers. Your love and support has been overwhelming. Rest assured, I will never stop blogging. As long as I have breath in me…I will always be a blogger.
I hope you guys have learnt something from this story.
God bless you and yours and long live LIB
Will get back to blogging in a bit. Just waiting for my IT guys to sort this website thing out. Kisses everyone
its all pranks...too bad
ReplyDelete