I don’t hate Nigerian languages – Mr P apologises after heavy backlash

Mr P

Nigerian musician, Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has apologised over his controversial “Naija language” comment, saying it was never meant to insult the Igbo language or Nigerian culture.

In a post on his X account on Wednesday, the former P-Square member admitted that his words offended some people and accepted responsibility for the backlash.

“If my response to 'Who Naija language help?' upset some people, I apologise and take full responsibility for my words. That doesn't mean I hate Nigerian languages or our culture,” he wrote.

Mr P explained that the controversy began after he shared a post about his children speaking French during a trip to Paris, and that the discussion later took a different turn.

He stressed that he never singled out the Igbo language in his response, adding that some people misrepresented his comments.

“At no point did I say I hate the Igbo language or Igbo culture. I said 'Naija language,' referring to the different languages in Nigeria, but some individuals twisted it and made it seem like I specifically mentioned Igbo,” he said.

The singer also accused an unnamed person of using the controversy to damage his reputation, claiming similar attempts had been made in the past.

While acknowledging that his statement deserved criticism, Mr P said he would no longer ignore what he described as deliberate attacks against him.

The controversy began after Mr P posted that hearing his children speak French fluently made him consider buying a house in Paris.

When an X user asked whether his children could also speak Igbo, he replied, “And who Naija language help? Make I hear word abeg.”

The response sparked widespread criticism, with many social media users arguing that indigenous languages play a vital role in preserving Nigeria's cultural heritage.