Nigerian street-hop sensation, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, has spoken out in response to the criticism leveled by controversial social commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) against prominent Afrobeats artists including Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.
VDM, whose real name is Vincent Martins Otse, had sparked outrage across social media after releasing a viral video condemning the trio’s recent display of wealth, including Burna Boy’s headline-making N3.2 billion McLaren purchase. In his video, VDM questioned why these artists, despite their riches, allegedly do little to improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.
In a fiery reaction shared via his social media platforms, Portable defended the music stars, especially Burna Boy and Davido, citing personal and public examples of their generosity. The Zazoo Zeh crooner recounted how Burna Boy gifted him a whopping N20 million, while Davido has a history of donating large sums to orphanages and other charitable causes.
Not holding back, Portable challenged VDM’s own transparency, pointing fingers at the funds donated to the activist’s NGO. He referenced the widely reported N100 million donation allegedly made by Don Jazzy, the head of Mavin Records, and questioned how those funds were used. Portable demanded that VDM show evidence of how such donations were translated into tangible development projects such as schools, hospitals, or housing for the less privileged.
“If you're going to call out others, you should be ready to show what you’ve done with the support you’ve received,” Portable argued in his video. He emphasized that people should have the freedom to enjoy their hard-earned money as they please, noting that critics will never be satisfied regardless of how much is given out.
The singer didn’t stop there. He called out what he perceived as hypocrisy on the part of VDM, reminding him of his modest background and accusing him of using his platform to drag successful individuals unnecessarily. Portable warned the social critic to tread carefully and avoid stepping on the toes of respected industry figures.
Concluding his response, Portable urged VDM to redirect his energy toward fighting for real societal change rather than attempting to tarnish the image of celebrities who have worked hard for their success.