Nigerian street-pop artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has issued an apology to the pastor he slapped after an incident at his bar.
The apology follows widespread backlash on social media after the event, which took place on September 9, 2024.
The altercation occurred during one of Portable’s Instagram live streams at his bar in the Sango area of Ogun State.
In the video, Portable confronted an evangelist preaching outside his bar, accusing him of disturbing his customers.
The musician insulted the preacher and slapped him.
The incident drew criticism from various religious leaders, many of whom condemned Portable’s actions and threatened consequences for attacking a pastor.
Responding to the backlash, Portable has now addressed the situation in a new video shared on his Instagram.
The singer explained that he did not realize the man was a pastor at the time of the incident.
He said that his actions were influenced by a previous incident where his older sister was attacked by someone dressed like a pastor.
He said, “They want to set me up. He was not a man of God, and if he was a man of God, may God forgive me for slapping him. If I knew he was a real man of God, I won’t have slapped him.
“The way he acted was why I slapped him, I’m a human being and I’m not perfect,” Portable then apologized for his behavior.
Watch the video below:
Portable slaps the pastor that came to preach at his bar.
— BASITO (@itzbasito) September 9, 2024
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KanyiDaily recalls that the police had previously summoned Portable over a viral video, where he organized some youths to beat up a young man.