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A public feud has erupted between controversial Nigerian musician Portable and social media personality VeryDarkMan, escalating from political commentary to personal attacks involving theft accusations and homophobic slurs. The conflict began when VeryDarkMan – known for politically charged online critiques – called on Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to address violence in Benue State, where recent communal clashes have left dozens dead, and the country’s worsening economic crisis marked by soaring inflation.

Portable, whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola, countered in an Instagram video by defending the Tinubu administration: “It’s under this government that you started wearing designer clothes and gold chains,” the singer asserted, suggesting the critic’s newfound wealth stemmed from the current presidency. The jab prompted an aggressive response from VeryDarkMan, who resurfaced a 2020 video showing Portable being assaulted over allegations he stole a commercial tricycle, known locally as a “keke,” prior to his musical fame.

The exchange intensified Wednesday when VeryDarkMan released a diss track mockingly chanting “Ole!” – Yoruba for “thief” – while referencing the tricycle incident. Portable fired back through his own musical rebuttal on Instagram, denying the theft claims and launching personal attacks. “Your father mended shoes; I’m my father’s son – no thief’s blood here,” the musician rapped in the since-deleted clip, simultaneously accusing his critic of homosexuality in a country where same-sex relations remain criminalized.

Neither party has provided verifiable evidence to support their allegations. The dispute highlights Nigeria’s increasingly combative social media landscape, where political debates often devolve into personal vendettas amplified through viral content. It also underscores tensions between rising cultural influencers and established entertainers in Africa’s most populous nation, where public figures frequently use music and online platforms to settle scores.

Human rights advocates have criticized the exchange for diverting attention from substantive issues like the Benue violence, which has displaced thousands, and Nigeria’s economic turmoil. As inflation nears 34% and food prices triple, analysts note public frustration increasingly manifests in both street protests and digital sparring among celebrities.

The authenticity of the resurfaced 2020 altercation video remains unverified. Portable, who rose to fame in 2021 with his hit “Zazoo Zeh,” has faced multiple legal issues in recent years, including assault charges and a 2023 money laundering investigation. VeryDarkMan, whose real identity is undisclosed, built a following through hyperbolic commentary on celebrities and politicians, often employing confrontational tactics.