Davido Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Nigeria’s Economy
Patrick Doyle, Joe Igbokwe Criticize Singer for 'Unpatriotic' Comments, But Many Agree with His Assessment
Popular Afrobeats artiste Davido has faced strong criticism and backlash following his recent comments about the state of the Nigerian economy during an appearance on the ‘Big Homies House’ podcast.
Davido, known for his timeless hit ‘Dami Duro,’ advised Black Americans against relocating to Nigeria due to the nation’s ongoing economic challenges, citing issues such as poor leadership, a high exchange rate, and soaring oil prices.
His remarks drew swift condemnation from various quarters, including APC stalwart Joe Igbokwe and Reno Omokri, a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Igbokwe, in a statement on his Facebook page, questioned Davido’s grasp of economic policies and accused the singer of undermining the country’s leadership despite benefiting from its wealth. He demanded that Davido retract his statement, calling it “unfair and damaging.”
“My In-law Davido has made me sad by telling the world in America that Nigeria’s economy is in shambles. This is very sad. I will advise him to retract the statement asap. Nigeria made Davido. QED!!!” Igbokwe wrote.
Omokri, on the other hand, encouraged Davido to take a cue from Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna, who refrains from criticizing her country and instead leverages her celebrity status to promote Barbados and present it in a positive light on the global stage.
The author alleged that Davido’s remarks about Nigeria’s economy reflected the situation in Osun State, governed by his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“Even worse, he said that to a foreign audience in a foreign country. Davido may have US citizenship, but that does not mean he should de-market Nigeria,” Omokri said.
Similarly, Bashir Ahmed, a former aide to Nigerian former president, Mohammadu Buhari, described Davido’s remark as “disappointing and unpatriotic,” stating that public figures should act and be seen as good ambassadors for Nigeria.
Veteran Nollywood actor Patrick Doyle also took issue with Davido’s comments, saying, “You have to be incredibly dense to ask foreigners not to visit a country where your father has a $2 Billion Dollar power generation investment. Some persons ought to know much better.”
However, the singer’s comments also found support from some netizens, who agreed with his assessment of the country’s economic challenges. Inibehe Effiong, a Nigerian lawyer, argued that Davido was entitled to his opinion and that he had stated the truth.
DJ Switch, a popular Nigerian disc jockey, also defended Davido, saying that the “false sense of ‘rep’ your country is why we are not solving problems” and that “maybe Nigeria has not been embarrassed enough to make these people actually sit up.”
The controversy has reignited viral conversations about the role of celebrities in socio-political discourse, with calls for a more nuanced and informed approach to addressing national challenges.
