Nigerian Singer, Portable’s Unending Controversies

Without a doubt, since Nigerian singer, Portable came to the limelight in December 2021 after the release of his song, ‘Zazu Zeh’, on which he featured top artiste and record label boss, Olamide, practically no month has gone by without controversial songster, whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola, being in the news for negative reasons.

After a video of him ordering some boys to beat up his estranged friend, DJ Chicken, surfaced on the Internet last week, The Nigeria Police Force issued an ultimatum to the singer to report to any police station in Ogun State because the incident happened within their jurisdiction.

Barely had the dust settled on that than it was reported that the singer’s range Rover SUV was involved in an accident with an okada, leading to the death of the motorcyclist. However, the singer’s camp quickly stated that though it was indeed the singer’s vehicle, it was one of his aides who drove.

The accident happened on the day Portable’s child was being christened. According to reports, the driver was on top speed when he hit the motorcyclist around the Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

In an interview on the sidelines of the ‘naming ceremony’ shortly after news of the accident broke on the Internet, Portable said, “I did not use my car to kill anyone. I am at the naming ceremony of my child today. I am celebrating my child’s naming ceremony today. I am not the one who hit the person with my car.

“But, I am pained about the person who died. I went to the hospital to help the person before he passed away. May God rest the soul of the deceased. Every disappointment is a blessing.

“We will bless and help the family. By the grace of God, nothing will happen to me. I won’t use my car to kill anyone, talk more of going to jail.”

Threat to Headies nominees

In May, 2022, the singer had threatened other artistes nominating alongside him in two categories of the Headies Award— ‘Rookie of the Year’, and ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’.

He had said, “Those are my awards, anybody else who wins, I will ask for them to be killed. If the organisers give my award to someone else, they will die. Do not give my award to another person or they will die.”

However, after the organisers of the award called out the singer and made a police report, Portable quickly apologised for his statement. In a video posted on his social media pages, the singer said, “Headies has nominated a mad man. The streets have taken over. So, you people should give us our award. Please, don’t be angry. Please, I want my award.”