- Edo Government says Davido has not been banned from entering or performing in the state.
- Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, distances the government from the alleged ban.
- Government says it is willing to host Davido despite his recent clash with Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The Edo State Government has denied reports that Afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has been banned from entering or performing in the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, made the clarification in a statement on Friday, describing the alleged ban as the position of an impostor and not that of the government.
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The clarification followed comments by the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Apostle Kassy Chukwu, who had said Davido should not expect to perform in Edo State for the remainder of the governor’s tenure.
Chukwu made the statement in a video shared by Peniel TV International Benin City on Thursday.
His comments came amid a dispute between Davido and Governor Okpebholo following the governor’s criticism of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is Davido’s uncle.
Davido had responded to the dispute by sharing what appeared to be Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council result on his Instagram Story. He later defended the post during an interview, maintaining that he had no reason to apologise.
Reacting to Davido’s refusal to apologise, Chukwu said the singer had been banned from coming to Edo State to perform.
However, Afegbua said the Edo State Government had no such policy against the singer.
“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 commissioner said.
He added that the state government dissociated itself from the comments and maintained that Edo remained open to everyone regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs.
According to Afegbua, the government would even be willing to collaborate with Davido if he decides to perform in the state in the future.
He described Davido as one of Nigeria’s global ambassadors and noted that the singer’s mother hails from Edo State.
“Should he wish to visit Edo State, we would happily host and fete him,” Afegbua said.
The commissioner further described the disagreement between Davido and the governor as a political matter linked to the recent Osun governorship election, insisting that there was nothing personal about the exchange.
He also praised Davido’s achievements in the music industry, describing him as an illustrious son of Edo State and expressing optimism that the singer would eventually win a Grammy Award.
The controversy comes after the August 15 Osun governorship election, in which Davido publicly supported his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
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