Social media has been buzzing following a widely circulated video where street-pop artist Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, openly admitted that he accepted payment from Nigeria’s APC to organize rallies supporting President Bola Tinubu.
He explained his openness stemmed from being broke earlier, but now with the funds, he plans to ‘show love to the street’ and fully back Tinubu.
He said, “I was broke before, that’s why I haven’t been spraying money for the street, but now, I want to do rally for Tinubu, they’ve paid me, I’ve collected money and now I’ll show love to the street. I have a lot of money now, I’ve been paid and I’m fully supporting Tinubu.”
While some online users praised his brutal honesty for exposing transactional politics rather than hiding behind fake activism, others heavily criticized him and the government.
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are reactions to the story:
Justin UG (@JustinUgochu…): They have paid you huge amount of money but you want to spread chicken change to the poor masses and manipulate them to vote to the candidate of your choice. You must be sick
Biological Cata (@BC_Slutyyy): Look, I respect this. Atleast we all know you collected money
Emmanuel Benjamin (@E…): And somebody is saying money cannot buy conscience… Dey play
Ramseybee007 (@Abiol…): At least he is bold enough to admit it publicly. Not the mad APC dimwit that aren’t supporting the government because of good governance but because they were paid like portable
THE REVOLUTIONARY AC… (@portablebaeby): You should honestly be ashamed of this kind of politics. So your reason for supporting a presidential candidate is simply because you were paid and now you have money to spray on the street? Is that what Nigerians should reduce their future to?
Precious (@otakerio…): See what they are using our tax money for ?
Ògbéni Enzyme (@Enzyme…): This is a good reminder of what our tax payers money is used for, not the rubbish games Adetoun & the other idiot is doing, at least we know that money is speaking, who knows if it was the 50m they promised Kolu that they gave to portable
ABIOLA AKINBOBOLA (@i…): This is how i expect all you influencers / celebrities to behave. If you don collect money come out plain and tell us, dont hide under i want to the best for the people and the country. kudos to portable for saying the truth
Jacky UTD (@rusev158): God I wish this election can take away people like this guy, we need a very good cleanse among youth too
Comrade Ayumzi (@ayumzi): Very transparent guy, no time for hanky-panky. Money dun dey from APC; Tinubu-Shettima for second term. Nigerians have to choose between Tinubu for a second term or the Oodua Republic
Elaig (@elaig_john): I pity who d the keep secrets with Portable. He reach his own, he scatter the table
Esther Chikezie (@chikezieesth…): Fans that want to join him. Make sure to collect money that will be enough for you and your family in the next four years ohh
Rutherford (@Ruthieharps): I won’t even blame him. He’s been broke for a while, nobody came 2 his rescue, and now APC has paid him. At least we know he’s doing it 4 d money. Evry1 wants to survive smhow. It’s the fools supporting him for no benefit, simply becos he’s their tribesman, dat I find baffling
Segun . R. Sanni (@SegunO…): Na so e suppose be. If you’ve been paid to campaign for a candidate, it’s okay to come out and tell the truth that you’re supporting and promoting that candidate because you’ve been paid. No shame in being honest about it
MADAKI (@PillzMadaki): This guy mouth no dey wear pant
Ifeyinwa Jolaolu (@IJolaolu812): At the very least he is honest he got paid for a job and he says he will deliver for the job not hypocrites coming here to gaslight us telling us the govt of the day is the next best thing to slice bread… Vote for Peter Obi NDC a New Nigeria is POSSIBLE
Ava (@Avasbigmouth): Portable is the only Tinubu supporter I fully respect. Man will admit to collecting money and tell U straight up – I’m just doing my job. Big ups to U portable
Ahmad Ismaeel (@AhmadI…): Abeg make una go collect the money and leave this mad man. If this kind of people are thr one’s to campaign for Tinubu what does it tell you?
Levi Okeke (@iamleviokeke): I respect you. At least you’re doing so because they paid you. You are better and will gain more than those hungry fools that lie against their stomach and families just because of tribe and foolishness
Papezian! (@skay4real1): See who are choosing leaders for the so called very smart & educated Nigerians. Cut this people off our polity @PeterObi when you become the president of Nigeria
Sirdavis (@Sirdavis8): This man is being real shaa!! At least he agree he has been paid
YugenKoro (@TheYugenKoro): At least he accepted that he has collected money. Others will be claiming that it’s based on what Tinubu has done. Which only them can see
Abe A A (@JamalA234): The useless government ever would rather give money to a nuisance than invest that same money in the people, it must be madness
Akanne Chigozie (@Abram…): I like as him no lie say na love for nigeria or tinubu did a great job in his first tenure. Him talk true say dem pay am
King of Attitude (@kingatti1): For portable to say he is now rich naim Be say na block them drop oh
Johnson Caleb (@JohnsonCal…): This is just the worst person to collab with. Now i understand why so many other artist have refused to associate with him. Portable no get sense normally
P Olabanji (@patola58): Which apc approach this one now, he may do more harm than good, why should they pay him before he will campaign for tinubu