Nigerian street-hop singer Habeeb Okikiola, known widely as Portable, has triggered fresh outrage after a viral statement in which he warned Nigerians to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or face war. Going further, he directed spiritual threats at Yoruba men who refuse to support Tinubu, invoking thunder and the deity Ogun in language that has drawn sharp criticism across social media.
In the statement, Portable claimed he had been “signed” and would soon begin distributing campaign items including rice and vegetable oil. The admission was as blunt as it was unsurprising. Portable has previously and publicly acknowledged switching political loyalties based on whoever is paying at the time, admitting on separate occasions that he had been compensated both to attack and to praise Tinubu. His latest comments follow the same transactional pattern, but the tone this time crossed a line that many found difficult to ignore.
“If you don’t want war in Nigeria vote Tinubu. Thunder and Ogun go strike any Yoruba man way no vote Tinubu,” Portable said in the viral clip.
The reaction online was immediate and largely negative. Critics dismissed the statement as reckless and irresponsible, arguing that invoking violence and spiritual curses in the context of an election is dangerous regardless of who says it. Many pointed out that Portable’s own history of flip-flopping between political camps for money strips his endorsement of any credibility. Others questioned why political actors continue to recruit figures known for controversy when the result is almost always backlash.
Portable is not the first entertainer to wade into Nigeria’s political waters and stir up trouble. During the 2023 elections, figures like Naira Marley and MC Oluomo publicly backed Tinubu’s campaign, drawing mixed reactions. Actor Zack Orji and other celebrities aligned with the ruling party have also faced criticism over their political positions. The recurring concern is that celebrity influence, especially when paired with coercive or divisive language, can distort public opinion among younger voters who make up a significant portion of the electorate….See More
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