Davido Warns Marine Minister Over Alleged Victimisation of His People

LAGOS — Afrobeats superstar Davido has publicly confronted Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola on social media. The singer accused the minister of using his federal position to victimise people in Osun State under his uncle, Governor Adedeji Adeleke’s administration.

Davido posted his message on his official social media accounts on Wednesday. The post drew immediate and massive attention given his enormous following. Within hours, it had been shared and discussed across all major Nigerian social media platforms.

The singer said specific individuals linked to the Adeleke administration were allegedly being targeted by agencies connected to Oyetola. He warned the minister to stop what he described as political persecution. He also tagged President Tinubu in the post, calling for presidential intervention.

Oyetola served as governor of Osun State from 2018 to 2022. He lost his re-election bid to Adeleke in 2022. Tinubu subsequently appointed him as minister. The political rivalry between the two camps has continued since Adeleke took office.

The Minister’s Side

Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, responded swiftly and sharply. He said Davido’s post was disrespectful and unbecoming of a public figure. He said the minister has done nothing wrong and accused Davido of interfering in governance matters beyond his understanding.

“Davido is a talented musician whom many Nigerians love. However, his conduct in this matter is disrespectful and irresponsible. Ministers operate within the framework of law. Allegations without evidence are simply noise,” Akinola said.

The Osun State Government has not yet issued a formal statement on the Davido post. However, government officials in Osogbo said they are aware of the situation and are monitoring developments closely.

Social Media Storm

Nigerian social media erupted following the exchange. Davido’s fans, known as the 30BG, rallied behind their idol. Oyetola supporters and APC loyalists pushed back, accusing Davido of using his celebrity platform inappropriately.

Many Nigerians expressed a more nuanced view. They said while celebrities have every right to speak on governance issues, doing so through social media without specific evidence and context can generate more division than resolution.

Political commentators say the Davido-Oyetola clash is a microcosm of the broader political battle playing out across Nigeria ahead of 2027. Old rivalries from state-level politics are increasingly spilling into the national conversation. With election season accelerating, such clashes are likely to become more frequent in the months ahead.