The Edo State commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua on Friday dismissed a claim by the senior special assistant on Digital Media to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Kassy Chukwu that David Adeleke, a global music icon by the stage name, Davido, had been banned from coming into the state for performance.
Dissociating the state from what he described as a “spiteful behaviour,” Afegbua labelled Chukwu “an enemy of Edo state; an impostor and a fraud,” and asserted that if Davido decide to perform in the state in future, “the state will be willing to collaborate and partner with him.”
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Chukwu had in a viral video, stated that Edo youths would deal with should he come to the state.
Addressing Davido, the aide said, “You have been banned from coming to Edo State to perform. We don’t want to see you in Edo again.”
“Edo youths are angry. They said if they catch you again, nobody should bring Davido to come and perform in any place again in Edo State.”
But in a swift and unsparing response, the state government, in a statement titled, “LIKE ALL OTHER NIGERIANS WE LOVE AND WELCOME DAVIDO IN EDO STATE,” acknowledged Davido, who is maternally from the state, as “an illustrious and exemplary son of Edo state,” stressing that he is therefore welcome.
The full statement reads:
“Our enemies are at it again; we did not ban Davido from entering Edo state. The proclaimer of that ban is an enemy of Edo State, an impostor, and a fraud. The Government of Edo State hereby dissociates itself from such spiteful behaviour and wishes to state further that Edo state is home to all, regardless of their belief, political persuasion, affinity and or legal affiliation. As a matter of fact, should Davido intend to perform in Edo state in future, the state will be willing to collaborate and partner with him.
“Governor Okpebholo is very well balanced at home with various demographics and their leanings. Davido is one of our illustrious sons, whose mother hails from Edo state; he’s exemplary, and we are pleased to associate with him. Should he wish to visit Edo state, we would happily host and fete him.
“Whatever transpired in Osun state in the wake of last week’s election was purely politics and nothing more. There was nothing personal in the conversations that deepened the campaigns.
“Davido is a young man who has remained one of Nigeria’s global ambassadors, doing us proud and building bridges of understanding across the socio-political divides. As a government, we are pleased with his conduct, commitment, and calculated conquest in the music industry. Indeed, we look forward to him being awarded a Grammy title.”
