Nigerian music star Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has responded sharply to public criticism over his decision to change his birthday celebration from November 18 to November 30.
The singer, formerly one half of the defunct duo P-Square, had earlier announced that he would no longer acknowledge birthday wishes or gifts on his original date, describing the change as a personal choice.
However, the move sparked reactions online, prompting Peter to take to X on Tuesday to question the intensity of the backlash.
He wondered why a personal decision had generated so much outrage, likening the reactions to an overblown controversy.
“Una dey vex like say I cancel Christmas? Na my birthday date I move… no be your own, why e dey pain you? Even Jesus Christ December 25th date sef, people still dey debate am,” he wrote.
Peter also criticised what he described as misplaced priorities, suggesting that Nigerians were giving too much attention to his birthday adjustment instead of more serious national issues.
“Why cry more than the bereaved? Only in Nigeria, funny how my birthday date shift is causing more pain than Nigeria’s real problems,” he added.
In a final remark directed at critics, he said: “Just for the record: Insult no dey reduce success. Who don make am, don make am! Know that and know peace.”
Peter rose to fame alongside his twin brother Paul Okoye in P-Square, one of Africa’s most successful music groups in the 2000s and early 2010s. The duo first split in 2015 over management and royalty disputes before officially disbanding in 2017.
While Peter continued his solo career as Mr P and Paul performed as Rudeboy, the brothers reunited in 2021, though their reconciliation later faced renewed tensions over financial and managerial disagreements.