Music video ban: Group calls for P-Square arrest, Nigerian artists respond

Okoye of the duo P-Square had responded to the planned ban on music videos on social media, saying, “Dear Federal Government, for your information all the shame you bring to this country are covered by Nigerian entertainers.”

In response to his response, the APC youth renaissance group (with no clear relationship to the political party All Progressives Congress) has said Okoye should be arrested. “How dare you say that P-Square?” asked the group.

Reminding Okoye of a past dominated by music from foreign artists, the group said, "Where was Peter Okoye or [the] Psquare brand in 1999 when foreign music dominated our airwaves? If not for the government policy which mandated all broadcast stations in Nigeria to pay attention to Nigerian music by playing 95 percent of Nigerian songs every day, would Peter Okoye or Psquare be known to anybody in Nigeria today? Or would they have competed with better American music which dominated our airwaves then?

“Now that government has intervened to raise great and better entertainers again, Peter Okoye has the gut to insult the entire Federal Government by calling our great leaders 'Ndi Ala' which means mad and stupid people. We, therefore, urge the security agencies in the country to arrest Mr Peter Okoye for disrespecting our government and bringing it to a disrepute. If you cannot produce in Nigeria and hire Nigerians, then leave the industry. We must export Nigerian culture to the outside world through our music and videos.”

Besides P-Square, other artists have spoken against the plan. Yemi Alade wrote, “So all the money artists have spent shooting videos that are yet to be released will be refunded abi? An economy/industry that has gotten thus far without your one dime or assistance is what you want to nip so insensitively.

“So will you sponsor the unavoidable travel expenses to Naija of the international acts we have featured on our songs? You might think that a musical video is just “a thing” we do!!. It’s a business! you don’t understand!”

Rapper Ruggedman also responded to the ban. “Nigerians who are not related to any rich family are on their own,” he said. “Entertainment that has kept a lot of Nigerians off the street is what you want to try to destroy. You haven't helped us fight pirates. You haven't helped us get our royalties. You have not set up anything to help the Nigerian entertainment industry.

“Meanwhile the budget to run the Nigerian Senate this 2017 is N215billion.Amenities we lack are a few of the reasons some entertainers go outside the country to shoot music videos and movies. Now you want to try to stop that? Please do not make me laugh.”

On Twitter, Ruggedman tweeted a response to the call for Paul Okoye’s arrest: “The federal government did not order @PeterPsquare’s arrest. It’s Collins Edwin, National Secretary APC Youths that’s ordering the government to.”

Peter Okoye then responded to Ruggedman’s tweet. “Abeg make im order pounded yam and goat mean join for the arrest,” he wrote. “I know those youth will start from 70 and above.” [Translation: Please let him also order for pounded yam and goat meat along with the arrest. I know members of that youth group are age 70 and above.]