Controversial music sensation, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus popularly known as Portable, on Thursday, failed to show up in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where he was scheduled to thrill the audience at the concert organised by Fuji star, Alhaji Taye Akande Adebisi, famously known as Taye Currency.

Portable drew the ire of the Ibadan people after a comment in a viral video late last year in the heat of a conflict between him and his ex-lover, Queen Dami, where he dissed the Ibadan and Oyo people of not owning buildings with Plaster-of-Paris (PoP).

Okikiola took to his social media to show the apartment he rented for his estranged lover in a video with POP embellishment, saying such facilities were not obtainable in Oyo and Ibadan in Oyo State.

The comment drew condemnations among people with many expressing disgust with the singer’s disregard for the people of both places.

He was however invited by Taye Currency to perform in Ibadan for the Fuji sensation’s New Year Concert on Thursday January 2, 2025 but the Zazu crooner was visibly absent to take the stage when it was his turn.

Fearing the consequences of his earlier utterances, the singer had begged for forgiveness prior to the concert from the Ibadan people after his invitation by Taye Currency.

LEADERSHIP understands that the singer was advised against mounting the stage over security concerns even when he was already in the city.

The advice, our correspondent learnt, was anchored on the unlikely backlash that may accompany his PoP comment, which many feared could spark unintended reactions from the Ibadan fans.

His failure to perform was against the assurances by the Oyo State Police Command to guarantee adequate security at the just concluded concert.