Music rendition by Fuji musician, Akorede Babatunde Okunola, widely known as Saheed Osupa, at the official declaration of Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s ambition for the Oyo State governorship race has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians.

Videos from the event on Friday, now circulating across several social media platforms, showed the artiste criticising what is believed to be Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State governor.

Performing at the official declaration ceremony, Mr Saheed appealed to Oyo State residents to withdraw their support and refuse to be misled by what he described as a deceitful administration.

“Oyo don’t rely on a deceitful person. Who deceived the first time and did the second administration anyhow. Their secret is exposed. What is 0.1, 0.2? They are all point fraud,” the Fuji star said. Mr Makinde’s slogan has been Omituntun 1.0 and 2.0 for his first and second term in office, respectively. 

He urged residents of the state to refrain from following the governor’s preferred successor.

Mr Saheed stated, “Who brought you that you want to be our leader? We won’t follow the person. The deceit they employed the last time is what they are scheming again.”

The Fuji artiste affirmed his loyalty to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, stating that no true indigene of Ibadan would hesitate to align with the monarch’s political direction.

“It is where Olubadan is facing that I am facing. Asiwaju Tinubu is our choice. It is only if you are an unfortunate Ibadan indigene that you would not face that direction. In this Ibadan, who is bigger than the Olubadan? No motherfucker,” he said.

“In politics, who is bigger than the Olubadan? In chieftaincy, who is bigger than the Olubadan?” he added.

Denouncing the alleged plot to oust the Olubadan of Ibadanland from his royal position, Mr Saheed said Oyo State needs a humble and respectful leader.

“We need someone humble and respectful. We don’t want someone resentful, very stubborn, who would soon be leaving, yet causing disorder. He said he wanted to remove the Olubadan of Ibadan, not the Olubadan of Ijesha,” the musician said.

The artist’es performance at the event has since generated mixed reactions among netizens.

A Facebook user, Sam Olawale, dismissed the artiste’s performance as a “conspiracy song”, arguing that the state governor remained the best among governors the state has had in history.

Mr Olawale stated, “This is nothing but a Treacherous/Conspiracy song, but you have right to your opinion but no matter what you all there can say, Seyi Makinde remain the best ever in the history of Oyo State.”

He added, “But then, if it’s true that he was trying to dethrone Oba Oladoja, that’s not a good thing and I believe whatever the misunderstanding can be settled between both parties. And to Saheed Osupa, you’re actually doing the job you’re being paid for.”

Also commenting, another user, Dayo Akin, stated, “Thought this guy is wiser with his adequate use of Yoruba adages, he couldn’t entertain his audience without throwing those unnecessary jabs?”

“Boda Osupa. Seyi Makinde is the best performing Governor ever in the history of Oyo state. You sang this one wrongly. Even musicians and artists should use their art to speak the truth to power irrespective of how many millions have dropped into their account,” Ola Makinde, another user said.

On X, a fan of the artiste, @The_Ilaija, expressed displeasure at the musician’s swipe at the state governor.

“I’ve always been a fan of Saheed Osupa… But for this, not anymore. He could have promoted whoever paid him without hitting my governor,” the user tweeted.

Also reacting, a user, @damboy, said it is characteristic of Oyo State residents to vote for candidates of their choice rather than an imposed candidate.

“One thing that’s constant about Oyo State is that na we go vote the candidate wey we want, them no born any body papa well to impose a Governor on us, if you like spend 1 Billion to buy vote…. Na who we want we go vote,” he tweeted.

“Ibadan is not like that, we respect Olubadan stool and it is not for politics. So nobody can dictate who to vote for. Everyone is entitled to his or her choice. No baba or mama so pe,” @onipekere, another X user stated.