Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has defended his decision to wear a jacket highlighting the plight of abducted schoolchildren during a FIFA World Cup event, insisting that Nigerians should not remain silent about the country’s security challenges.
The singer’s comments followed criticism from veteran Hausa musician Dauda Kahutu Rarara, who accused him of portraying Nigeria negatively before an international audience.
The controversy began after Davido appeared at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles wearing a customised jacket bearing the message “Bring Them Home” alongside the names of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Reacting in a video shared on social media, Rarara described the gesture as inappropriate and alleged that it was politically motivated.
“I do not usually respond to issues like this, but what Davido did was wrong,” Rarara said.
“How can you take a sensitive security matter and project it to the entire world in a way that could damage Nigeria’s image?”
He questioned the motive behind the singer’s action, arguing that national security issues should not be used for political purposes.
“What was the objective of displaying the names of abducted children abroad?” he asked. “Is insecurity now becoming a campaign tool because of political differences?”
Rarara further maintained that the government and security agencies were already working to secure the victims’ release and warned against internationalising sensitive security matters.
“The President and security agencies had assured Nigerians that the children would be rescued,” he said. “At such a delicate moment, taking the issue to the global stage was unnecessary.”
The disagreement later spilled onto social media, where both entertainers exchanged remarks in Hausa and English.
In a follow-up statement, Davido defended his actions and urged Nigerians to prioritise national interest over political loyalty.
“Every Nigerian should be able to speak openly about the insecurity affecting the country,” he said. “No one should be discouraged from expressing concern about issues that impact innocent citizens.”
The singer also criticised what he described as the tendency to place politics above the welfare of the people.
“Putting personal or political interests ahead of the wellbeing of the public is not something to be proud of,” Davido stated. “We must be patriotic, stand for the truth and fear God in everything we do.”
The exchange has generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians applauding Davido for drawing attention to the plight of the abducted victims, while others sided with Rarara’s argument that security issues should be handled with greater caution.
Neither Davido nor Rarara had issued any further statement on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
