Nigerian street-pop sensation, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has issued a public apology following a viral video that captured him slapping a pastor who had come to preach at his bar.
The incident, which took place a few days ago, has ignited a wave of backlash on social media, with many, including religious leaders, condemning the singer’s actions.
In response to the criticism, Portable released a video in the early hours of Monday, offering an explanation for his behaviour.
He attributed his aggressive reaction to previous traumatic experiences and a misunderstanding of the pastor’s intentions.
According to the singer, he initially believed the pastor posed a spiritual threat, which led to the physical altercation.
Clarifying his stance, Portable pleaded for forgiveness from both God and the public, expressing his regret over the situation.
“My fans, community issues are different from that of the street. May God forgive me. I didn’t know he was a genuine man of God. If I knew, I wouldn’t have slapped him,” Portable explained.
The singer also delved into the personal tragedy that influenced his reaction, revealing that his past experiences with spiritual harm have made him wary.
He recalled a painful event involving his sister, who he claimed was harmed in a similar manner.
“I’m also a child of God. I’m human, I’m not perfect. I am an orphan. They have harmed my sister through this same strategy,” he stated.
Since the video apology surfaced online, it has drawn significant attention, with fans and social media users offering a range of reactions to Portable’s explanation and plea for forgiveness.
