In a recent revelation during the 19th edition of Warri Again, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, publicly criticized Afrobeats sensation Davido for failing to fulfill his performance commitment at an event, despite receiving a substantial payment of $94,600.
Pinnick went on to reveal that in addition to the payment, an expenditure of $18,000 was made to secure a private jet for Davido’s transportation. However, to everyone’s surprise, the acclaimed “Unavailable Crooner” failed to make an appearance at the event, leaving organizers and fans disappointed.
In response to Davido’s absence, the event organizers were compelled to seek an alternative artist, eventually enlisting the talents of Shallipopi to salvage the evening’s entertainment.
Pinnick expressed his frustration, stating, “We paid Davido $94,600 on the 6th of April. We paid $18,000 for his plane. If he says he’s a big boy, we will tell him we are bigger than him.”
Highlighting the prominence of other Nigerian artists, Pinnick emphasized, “Is Burna Boy not the biggest artiste in Nigeria today? Burna Boy is half Itsekiri. Burna Boy’s paternal grandmother is Itsekiri. So, he’s bigger than him (Davido).”
He continued, “Is there anyone bigger than RMD in the acting industry? Or someone bigger than Ali Baba in the comedy industry? We have stars aplenty in Warri. Nobody is bigger than Warri.”
Amaju Pinnick’s remarks shed light on the disappointment and inconvenience caused by Davido’s no-show, ultimately leading to the decision to replace him with an alternative performer, Shallipopi. This incident has sparked conversations about the reliability and professionalism of artists in fulfilling their contractual obligations.
