Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, has ignited a fresh firestorm in the entertainment industry with a brutal critique of his colleague, Marvin Ukanigbe Oseremen, popularly called Mavo.
Portable's Scathing Video Critique
In a video that went viral on social media around January 9, 2026, the 'Zazu' crooner did not hold back. He directly accused Mavo of having no real musical talent and leaning heavily on technology to mask his deficiencies. Portable specifically targeted Mavo's live performances, using a clip from a recent stage show as evidence of what he called a poor display.
"Even my youngest signees perform better than him," Portable declared emphatically. He insisted that the artists under his own record label possess more natural singing ability and stagecraft than Mavo, whom he portrayed as overly dependent on auto-tune.
Frustration with Industry Support
Expanding on his criticism, Portable expressed bewilderment and frustration that established celebrities continue to collaborate with and promote Mavo. He argued that these stars are ignoring genuinely talented artists while uplifting someone who, in his view, cannot sing well without technological aid.
Portable stressed that the responsibility lies with these top figures in the industry. He claimed they are failing in their duty to promote true artistry by supporting performers like Mavo, whose live band performances, according to Portable, are not handled competently.
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The video sparked a heated debate online, with social media users divided in their opinions.
Some users sided with Portable's assessment. One user, @aro_tune, commented, "PORTABLE IS MORE TALENTED THAN THIS MAVO GUY... What kinda fuckery is this? Afrobeat is falling off gradually if this is the kinda next gen to take over." Another, @Hatapzy, questioned the quality of Mavo's performance.
However, others came to Mavo's defense and criticized Portable's approach. User @yourmom_boy drew a parallel with singer Shallipopi, who also faced early criticism but grew into a major force. "Shalli started like this too but today he's a very big force... so i believe mavo is improved," the user wrote. Another, @iamjuspat, simply stated, "sense really far from this portable guy."
A more measured opinion came from @tol13037, who opined, "normally, mavo need to learn more about performing on stage as an artist." User @upright_leftist delivered a biting remark aimed at Mavo: "Just know say your own don spoil when portable start to dey correct you."
This public feud comes shortly after Portable made headlines for accusing his own father of theft and extortion in a heated Instagram video posted on January 6, 2026. In that incident, he claimed his father stole his personal belongings and harassed his baby mamas for money.
