In a surprising turn of events, popular street-hop singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, has come forward to explain why he did not perform at the pre-inauguration concert organized by presidential-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The concert, held at the M.K. Abiola Stadium in Abuja, was intended to celebrate Tinubu’s upcoming tenure as the president of Nigeria. News About Nigeria gathered.
More than 40 artists were reportedly contracted to perform at the event, but Portable’s absence from the list of performers raised eyebrows, considering his previous association with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his campaign song for Tinubu.
Addressing the questions surrounding his absence, Portable clarified that he was indeed the artist who composed and performed a campaign song for the politician. However, he revealed that he decided not to perform at the concert due to a disagreement over payment.
According to Portable, artists were being offered 10 million naira for their performances, but he was offered only five million naira. Feeling undervalued and disrespected, he tore up the contract sheet in protest. The singer expressed his disappointment with the unequal treatment and questioned the fairness of the payment structure.
In addition, Portable took a swipe at other artists who had not shown support for Tinubu in the past but were now rushing to praise him as he prepared to assume the presidency. He criticized their opportunistic behavior, suggesting that their sudden support was insincere.
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The singer’s decision to speak out has ignited a debate within the entertainment industry, with some supporting his stance on fair compensation and others questioning his loyalty to the APC.
Regardless of differing opinions, Portable’s decision not to perform at the concert has sparked discussions about the treatment and remuneration of artists in the music industry.
