Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable has called for mass prayers from friends and family, saying he is currently ill upon returning to Nigeria from London
Portable shared a photo on his Instagram story, depicting him on a sickbed, undergoing medical treatment.
In the caption of his post, the music star called for fans’ prayers, emphasising the value of health as true wealth.
Ashabi Simple, fiancée to controversial singer, Portable, has said she sometimes gets jealous when she sees her fiancé with other women.
Ashabi, whose real name is Akinyanju Omobolarinde, also doubles as an actress.
Ashabi, in an interview with Punch, stated that despite the ‘Zazuu’ singer’s hectic lifestyle, he still dedicates time to visiting her, stressing that Portable is very protective regarding his relationship.
She said: “When it comes to his relationships, he is very protective. When I see him with other women, I sometimes get jealous, but I caution myself, knowing that he is a celebrity. However, he is always open and that is better than hiding (keeping secrets). I am used to it all.
“If I am dating him because of his money, I would be tired by now. No one forces Portable to do anything, and I do not have a problem with that, because I do a lot for myself. I have always been like that. Before I started my clothing business, I worked as a bus conductor, bartender, and I sold pieces of jewelry before I started attending filmmaking class and working in the film industry as a manager. And, that was where I started making money.”
Expressing admiration for Portable’s dedication to his craft, the actress said the singer is vibrant and full of energy.
She added: “I strive to achieve what I want. I am not in competition with anyone. If I want to compete with anyone, that should be my husband, because he is also an entertainer. I look up to him; he is more like my mentor. Despite being made, he is still vibrant and full of energy.”
The founder of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) branch in Lagos State, Aderemi Dabiri, has explained why he invited Fuji singer Alabi Pasuma and street-hop artist Portable to his church.
He said he invited them intending to attract new converts to the church.
The Nation reported that the white garment church faced heavy backlash for including secular artists in its praise night event.
In a video addressing a delegation from the church’s task force, Dabiri explained that the decision to invite the two artists was aimed at drawing in deviants from society.
He emphasised that the adopted pattern of evangelism had proven successful over the years, contributing to the notable growth in his church’s membership.
He said: “It is not our first time inviting guest artistes. We have been doing it without a problem and I can give you a series of instances. We cannot go where they sell palm wine or alcoholic drinks and ask them to accept Jesus Christ. If I don’t apply wisdom, they will hit a bottle on my head. That was why I thought of a way to bring them into the church.
“I also noticed that there are some notorious boys who cause trouble in the community, disturbing the authorities and engaging in cultism. I wondered how we can draw their attention so that they would have a change of heart. We have gone to places where they are and they ended up beating us. Most of the members of my church are new converts and it was through that pattern that I converted them.”
Dabiri, while expressing criticism toward certain gospel ministers for perceived disrespect, stated a preference for inviting secular musicians to his events.
He stated: “Some gospel ministers are rude. If you talk to some of them, they respond rudely, but the day I called Pasuma, he sounded respectful on the phone and also agreed with my stance.”
Addressing the concerns raised by the task force about the controversy, Dabiri affirmed that he had no intention of cancelling the invitation.
However, he mentioned plans to curtail the excesses of the artists during the event, particularly focusing on Portable.
He said: “We will tell Portable not to dye his hair and he should not sing vulgar songs but to sing gospel music. We will also caution him not to dress inappropriately or climb the speakers.
“We will also warn him not to allow his boys to smoke here. We have invited close to 30 military personnel to man the event.”
The cleric earnestly appealed to the global Celestial Church community for support, expressing confidence that his unique style of evangelism would bring pride to the church.
The controversial invitation of Fuji singer, Pasuma, and street-hop artiste, Portable, to the Ankara/Praise night of one of the Celestial Church of Christ branches has set many tongues wagging.
The organisers also picked a female rapper and songwriter, Maryam Shuaibu, well-known as May Shua, to perform at the event. She describes herself as Naija’s Best Rapping Shawteey, NBRS, which is one of the major catchphrases in her songs.
When the flier first surfaced, many had thought it was a joke. It caused a stir on the social media after it went viral.
Many knocked the Land of Goshen Cathedral over its choice of singers.
The Nation learnt that the praise night scheduled for December 15, 2023 is slated as part of activities included in the 7th Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving week of the parish.
Like the popular saying “there is nothing new under the sun”, recall On Sunday, December 15, 2019, Genesis Global, another parish of the Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos, had its anniversary, tagged “Celebration of Harvest 2019. One of those who sang at the church programme was fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde (K1 De Ultimate).
In a swift move, the church’s headquarters in Ketu area of Lagos State swiftly responded to public outcry by ensuring the removal of Fuji singers Pasuma and Portable from the upcoming praise night event.
Olatosho Oshoffa, the Shepherd-in-charge of the Celestial Church of Christ International Headquarters in Ketu, strongly condemned the invitation.
In another twist during the week, the church’s taskforce corps paid an unscheduled visit to the branch.
In his own defense, the Shepherd-in-Charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Land of Goshen Parish, Ogudu, Lagos, VSE Aderemi Dabiri, argued that it was a strategy for him to win souls for Christ.
He, however, apologised and promised to cancel the invitation extended to the secular artistes initially advertised.
The C.C.C. Worldwide Task Force Corps under the able leadership of Venerable Superior Evangelist Firmin Akinbode Adjovi, M.P.I.C, in his message warned against dragging the church’s name into disrepute.
He said: “If you’re a member of CCC, especially if you’re a shepherd where the altar of CCC is across the world, please desist from doing things that will paint the church in bad light.
“If you’re a true celestial, follow the church’s laid down rules and doctrines.
“We have commenced monitoring round celestial churches nationwide. If you know you are under us, you have to cooperate with us.
“But if you know you’re not with us, anything that has to do with celestial, including hymn book, altar cloth or logo should be removed to avoid legal steps.”
In his explanation, he said: “This is not to promote or to make profit from this event. I thought deeply as to how can we invite new members and win souls for Christ.
“We can’t go to a beer parlor and start forcing people to repent, or go to bus stops and start forcing people. So I sat with my church members and thought of how to catch new members.
“We also thought of how to bait street urchins and hooligans disturbing the community. In my church here, you will hardly hear Christian names. Many are Muslim names. I converted them to Christians.
“If you look at all images, I’ve been promoting only Baba Oshoffa. The Ankara we plan to use, my picture is not there. I’m not using anyone to promote or engage in profitable act, I’m only winning souls for Christ.
“Many youths are engaging in illegal acts and social vices today. I’ve invited Mega 99, Ayefele, Esther, Atorise, Alayo and others, and those singers are for prayers.
“I’ve also noticed that if I call other gospel singers, they are like shortage. Those who are invited as new members will not wait afterwards.
“I’ve invited Qdot and St. Janet before. When I invited them, I know what I saw. When I invite these worldly singers, I know I will win souls for Christ because they will bring new people along. My church is a youthful church.
“In this church, no one is allowed to drink alcohol. We don’t organise harvest for people to be drinking anyhow. Different churches have their own strategies of getting new members. Some share food around.”
Meanwhile, Street-hop singer, Portable, stated that he must perform at the church, adding that he was paid N5 million for the performance.
The singer who is currently in United Kingdom (UK) said: “Celestial Church, we must do the show o. You have already paid me N5 million. Pasuma will perform, I will also perform and we must do it.
“The children of God are coming. Land of Goshen Cathedral please in God’s name, consider us as children of God. Don’t judge me by my appearance.”
He took to social media to make this claim while urging everyone owing him to pay back immediately.
“Portable na my mentor from now on,” the Legbegbe crooner wrote.
“I wish Portable blow before me, artiste need to learn from this dude. Don’t be carried away by those werey status, reapers never look back but front to reap another and move on.”
Mr Real’s post has sparked controversy and diverse opinion on his Instagram page.
Street Hip-Hop artiste, Olalomi Okikiola Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable has called out a show promoter, Abisagboola John, aka Bankulli, for refusing to release a song he allegedly made with Shatta Wale in Bankulli’s studio.
The artist shared this on an Instagram livestream, where he was seen visibly perturbed by the delay and time wasted.
He also asserted that the song has become some sort of welcome tune for Bankulli’s studio guests while he had not even listened to the full song.
According to Portable, he was on his way to have the song featuring Ghanaian singer, Shatta Wale on the day he crashed his G-Wagon and despite his car loss, the song was not released.
Expressing frustration, Portable accused the music industry of being jealous of his greatness, particularly after his recent music verse with the UK rapper, Skepta.
“Why is it that the people I have done hit music with always refuse to release my songs? Is it because I outshined them?
“Abu Abel asked me to meet Bankulli, I had an accident with my G-Wagon and still managed to be there to record the song. You can see that I am not a coward,” he said in part.
Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has announced an increase in his fees for collaborations, endorsement deals and appearances.
Speaking from the United Kingdom in a viral video, he stated that his new rate is $10,000 for features and appearances, including music videos, skits, meet and greets, and brand endorsements.
In the video, Portable said: “2024 is my year. I have an update for you. Count yourself lucky if you’ve worked with me before. I now charge $10,000 for features and appearances. Be it an appearance in a music video or skit, it’s $10,000. Even link-up (meet and greet) is $10,000. And the brand endorsement deal is also $10,000.”
Portable emphasised his focus on collaborations with those who can afford his rates, expressing a reluctance to work with individuals he described as “poor.”
Portable thanked God for his new achievement and asked him to do it again for him.
Portable wrote: “Do it again BigGod. Am grateful oh lord no matter how hard it is you have always been here from the beginning to the end. @skepta @portablebaeby we are outside IKA OF AFRICA live in London Fashion Awards 2023.”
Controversial singer, Okikiola Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable has reacted to the immediate exclusion of him and Pasuma to perform at a Celestial Church praise night.
The Nation reported that a Lagos-based church recently stirred up controversies after unveiling popular Fuji musicians, Pasuma and Portable as guest artistes for its upcoming programme.
Condemning the development, Celestial Church leader, Olatosho Oshoffa, in a Facebook post, announced that he had stopped Portable and Pasuma from performing at the praise night.
Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable, has bragged about owning 30 mansions in different parts of Lagos and Ogun States.
He said he is a low-key millionaire who doesn’t flaunt his wealth.
The ‘Zazuu’ crooner also said he engages in a lot of philanthropic works because the more he gives to the poor, the richer he gets.
Portable, who spoke in the latest episode of the Afrobeats Podcast hosted by Adesope Olajide, said the music industry is very lucrative.
He said: “I’m a superstar, man of the people. People come to me for aid and I have to give them because the more I give them, the more I blow.
“I have a lot of money. The amount of money I spray. I’m not normal but I get 30 mansions. I have houses in Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Sango-Otta, and Abeokuta. I just bought the houses because of tomorrow. Nobody knows that I’m the owner of those houses.”
He said he is richer than most of his colleagues he met in the industry, claiming that most of them flaunt “fake lifestyles” on social media.
