Davido is no stranger to the spotlight, but this time, it’s not his music making headlines. In a recent interview, the Afrobeat superstar declared that “Nigeria’s economy is in shambles,” a statement that struck a nerve with some Nigerians. The reaction? A full-blown trolling spree, complete with name-calling and threats to boycott his much-anticipated December 24th concert. In true Nigerian fashion, it’s drama season.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Is Davido wrong? Not exactly. Nigeria’s current economic climate has been anything but rosy. Inflation is soaring, and the removal of fuel subsidies has tightened belts across the country. It’s a situation most Nigerians live with daily, so why should calling it out be controversial?
Here’s the thing: People in other countries already see what’s happening. The data doesn’t lie, and neither does the lived experience of millions. As a global public figure, Davido is in a position where honesty is non-negotiable. Imagine if he sugarcoated the situation, only for international audiences to point out the glaring contradictions. That would be like trying to sell a dented car as brand new nobody’s buying it.
But let’s not pretend this is a win-win situation. If Davido had said otherwise, the same critics would still have something to say. Nigerians have perfected the art of finding fault; it’s practically a national sport. The truth? You can’t please everyone. Whether he sings, speaks, or stays silent, someone, somewhere, will find a reason to grumble.
At the end of the day, this controversy is a classic case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Public figures like Davido walk a tightrope daily, trying to balance honesty with diplomacy. But here’s a hard pill to swallow: if the house is on fire, do you blame the person shouting “fire” or the people who set it ablaze? Davido may have lit the conversation, but he didn’t light the match.
