Controversial rapper Odumodublvck has sparked mixed reactions after appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for financial support for himself and other Nigerian entertainers.
The rapper made the appeal on Friday while reacting to a post on Tinubu’s X account about the President’s meeting with entertainment and media executive Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group in Paris.
Odumodublvck urged the President to go beyond praising the entertainment industry for promoting Nigeria’s image and provide financial support to artists.
He wrote, “Baba come give boys advance from government funds. Na you go be the biggest label boss. Because of you, artists no go fight their labels and underground artists go see something.
“Baba, come sign all of us. And I mean all of us.”
The post attracted criticism from some fans, who accused the rapper of focusing on the President’s meeting in Paris while failing to comment on insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
Responding to the criticism, Odumodublvck argued that artists rarely benefit from government support compared with civil servants and business owners who receive various forms of assistance.
He said he was yet to see an artist who had received government financial support to produce an album, despite the contributions of Nigerian entertainers, particularly musicians, to the country’s global image.
“Jaga [Jagaban], give me to fly high. I deserve it, sir. Governmental backing for artists gatts dey,” he added.
Odumodublvck’s appeal has also drawn attention because of his previous reported decision to reject a substantial payment to perform at a Tinubu campaign event, which had attracted public praise at the time.
His latest request for government financial support has therefore prompted public discussion about his position on the President and the entertainment industry’s relationship with government.
