Igbo Comments: Brymo Must Not Win AFRIMA Award, Angry Fans Tell Organisers As Over 3,000 Sign Petition

Nigerian singer, Olawale Olofooro, popularly known as Brymo, has come under more criticism over his comments regarding the possibility of an easterner becoming president of  Nigeria.

To this end, some angry fans have launched a public petition against him saying that he must not win in any of the categories of the 8th edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA slated to hold between January 12 and 15, 2023 in Dakar, Senegal.

Brymo stirred intense negative reactions on Twitter when he tweeted that an Igbo presidency would only be a “pipe dream” due to the agitation for Biafra.

“As long as there (are) talks by prominent people from Igboland about Biafra, an Igbo presidency will be a pipe dream.

“It is not prudent to elect Peter Obiyet. He may have to vividly organise his home front to lead the rest of us. An Igbo VP first maybe to test the waters with the region is safer!” he tweeted.

These tweets have attracted condemnation from some Nigerians and they have now taken agitation against him a step further by launching a petition on Change.org, the world’s biggest petition platform based in the United States, asking that Brymo should not be considered for winning at AFRIMA.

Brymo is nominated in the song of the year category of the prestigious awards.

However, the petition which was launched by one Charles Ogundele is asking the organisers not to bestow the awards on the singer even if he garners enough votes.

The petition reads:

“Brymo recently put up a series of hateful messages on Twitter toward the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, even going as far as retweeting a tweet that said that all Igbos are senseless. His actions are ones which spark disunity and hatred in the multicultural nation that Nigeria is. Preventing him from winning the All Africa Music Award would send a strong message to him, and people like him, that he can’t get away with such blatant ethnic bigotry.”

At least 500 people must sign the petition before the management of Change.org will officially approach the organisers of AFRIMA for action.

As of the time of filing this over 3,000 are believed to have signed the petition to cancel Brymo’s AFRIMA nominations.

Mike Ogunleye, one of those that signed the petition wrote, “He’s a bigot who needs to be taught a lesson. Nobody said you had to vote for Obi, but you insulting a whole tribe. You can’t get away with that one.”

Chijioke Onyeocha added, “He’s an ethnic bigot.”

Okwueshine Kelvin simply said, “Hate speech.”

Udeme Ekpe, another fan who signed the petition, wrote, “Nigeria needs unity, not bigotry. Music transcends ethnic borders.”