Afrobeats superstar Davido has thrown down a fresh challenge to Nigerian politicians after Peter Obi publicly opened up about his business history and how he accumulated his wealth before joining politics.
Davido’s message was brief but loaded.
Reacting to a post by television host Oseni Rufai, who challenged Nigerian politicians to explain how they made their money as openly as Obi did, the music star declared: “None of them can try it 😂😂.”
The remark has sparked fresh debate over financial transparency among politicians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Rufai had shared a clip of Obi responding to questions about his wealth and business interests before he became governor of Anambra State.
He then asked a question that effectively put other politicians on the spot: “Can every Nigerian politician tell us how they made their money like this?”
Davido’s response suggested that he did not believe many politicians would be willing to undergo the same level of public scrutiny.
Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, had used the interview to provide a detailed account of his business career before entering politics.
He said he operated a brand and market management company and held the franchise for Heinz products in Nigeria.
He also mentioned business relationships with South African Breweries and Novartis, while disclosing that he held substantial interests in banks and served as chairman of at least one bank before becoming governor.
Obi also spoke about his financial standing while living in the United Kingdom, citing premium American Express cards as part of his effort to demonstrate that his wealth existed long before his political career.
He said entering politics had, in his view, made him poorer.
“If there’s anything to regret in my life, it’s going into politics because it made me poorer,” Obi said, while stressing that he was nevertheless glad he entered public service.
The disclosure has now put the question of politicians’ sources of wealth back in the spotlight.
Davido’s comment effectively turns Rufai’s question into a challenge to the politicians seeking the presidency in 2027: if Obi can publicly account for his business background and wealth, can the other candidates do the same?
The singer did not identify any candidate by name, nor did he provide evidence that other politicians could not explain their wealth.
But his “None of them can try it” remark has added considerable attention to the growing demand for greater transparency from political office seekers.
With the 2027 election approaching, the debate is likely to extend beyond campaign promises to questions about the financial histories, businesses, assets and sources of wealth of those seeking Nigeria’s highest political office.