David Adeleke, known as Davido, has been criticised for his comments on Nigeria’s economy. During a chat in the Big Homies House podcast, he warned Nigerians living abroad not to relocate back home because the economy was terrible. He cited poor leadership, a declining exchange rate, and rising oil prices as significant concerns.
The Afrobeats star comments allegedly followed rumours that some black Americans were considering relocating from the United States after the electoral victory of the President-elect, Donald Trump. According to speculations, African Americans are concerned about potential policies of Trump that may not be favourable.
Speaking about the situation, Davido said, “It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles.
“I am talking about the situation in the country. Now the exchange rate is messed up, a lot of stuff are not going well. The economy is just not good enough. The oil price is too high. Imagine the country that produces oil, paying more for it than a country importing oil,” he explained further.
The comment has since attracted criticism from some citizens, who asked him to immediately retract his statement. Many Nigerians believed Davido stated the obvious situation back home.
Reacting to the comment, Bashir Ahmed, a former aide to Nigerian former president Mohammadu Buhari, said the remark was disappointing.
In a post on his official X handle, Bashir said, “Selling out your country from foreign soil is so disappointing and unpatriotic. Public figures like Davido should know that. They should act and be seen as good ambassadors for Nigeria wherever they find themselves. @NOA_Nigeria”!
Also, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, posted on his official Facebook advising the singer to retract his statement immediately.
“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!” he posted.
Akashat Ny’mat, a presenter on TVC, argued that Davido’s comments, while rooted in truth, were inappropriate on a global platform. Ny’mat, during her segment on a breakfast show on TVC, said, “When the President takes a plane to a country to look for foreign investors and a prominent figure like Davido says this, he is essentially telling them not to come,”
While many believed that what Davido did was unpatriotic, others also thought he was entitled to his opinion, and he shared the actual situation of the country’s economy.
DJ Switch said, “I don’t understand the attack on Davido for telling it as it is on the state of the Nigerian economy. Or should he have lied? This false sense of “rep” your country is why we are not solving problems. Maybe Nigeria has not been embarrassed enough to make these people actually sit up.”
Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, wrote, “Davido is entitled to his opinion about the state of affairs in Nigeria. In any event, he told the truth. Those attacking him are not serious people.”
Shehu Gazali Sadiq said, “Davido told the truth about Nigeria, and they call him unpatriotic. According to the Children of corn, patriotism is lying about Nigeria. I stand with Davido.”
While responding to the situation on his verified X handle, the singer said he wouldn’t have to perform in Nigeria if the citizens decided to cancel his show. Davido wrote, “Dem say dem go cancel my show cus of my interview … loooool I don’t have to perform in Nigeria.”
Davido has invited some international pop culture celebrities including rapper Dababy and popular online streamer Kai Cenat to Nigeria. He has been a big promoter of the Nigerian brand in most of his interviews.
Davido is one of Africa’s most influential artists. In 2019, New African magazine listed Davido as one of the 100 most-influential Africans and In November 2023, Davido received three nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for “Unavailable”, “Feel” and his album Timeless. In January 2024, Davido received three nominations at the 55th NAACP Image Awards.
His next Lagos show has been scheduled for December 24th.
Author: Joy Gofwen
Lagos, Bureau Chief,
Nigeria
