A viral social media plea from Fatai Odunsi, a man claiming to be the father of Afrobeat sensation Ahmed Ololadebutik (known as Asake), has sparked a heated national conversation about family responsibility, loyalty, and the weight of past grievances. Odunsi, who says he is paralyzed from a stroke, has appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to care for his health, alleging that his son has abandoned him. The story has divided public opinion, with supporters condemning Asake for neglecting his father and critics accusing Odunsi of hypocrisy, given conflicting accounts of their relationship.
The controversy began when videos and photos of Odunsi, appearing frail and in need of medical care, surfaced on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). In the footage, he describes his paralysis and financial struggles, pleading for help to afford treatment. “I need assistance to take care of my health,” he reportedly stated, framing his plea as a call for solidarity.
The post quickly went viral, with many questioning why Asake, a star whose music has amassed millions of streams and fans, would allegedly ignore his father. However, the narrative has become mired in conflicting claims. Some sources insist Odunsi abandoned Asake as a child, while others insist he was present and loving.
The debate hinges on the murky details of their relationship. Online commenters have taken sides, with many accusing Odunsi of hypocrisy.
- Critics of Asake : “If he can’t help his father, his money has no use on earth,” wrote user @Agalmourx. Others, like @Deymyofficial, reduced the drama to a stark contrast: “Deadbeat vs Afrobeat.”
- Critics of Odunsi : Many users questioned his right to demand support after allegedly abandoning Asake. “You abandon him! He abandoned you! You do for me! I do for you,” wrote @Nefertiti_, echoing a sentiment of reciprocal responsibility. User @Kimorah001 summed it up: “Una no go take care of ur child, but you want the child to remember you when he is rich? No, be juju be that?”
The father’s story also drew parallels to other high-profile family disputes. Just weeks earlier, singer Erica faced backlash for bringing her estranged father to a public event. She defended her choice, stating, “I posted my mother throughout the holidays… I don’t want to be a bitter witch holding grudges till he dies.”
The Asake-Odunsi saga has reignited discussions about the societal expectations of familial duty, especially in cases of past neglect. Celebrities like Jumoke George and Charles Inojie have shared similar struggles, revealing how childhood abandonment can shape lifelong relationships.
- Jumoke George once recounted how her father’s remarriage after divorce strained her relationship with him, while her mother abandoned her.
- Charles Inojie detailed being abandoned by his mother at eight months, then neglected by his father and stepmother.
- Bimbo Ademoye and crossdresser James Brown have also spoken about parental abandonment, with mixed outcomes: while Bimbo has reconciled with her mother, James cut ties with his mother after birth.
These stories highlight the emotional toll of broken family bonds and the complexities of forgiveness and reconciliation.
At the heart of the debate lies a question: Should financial success dictate moral obligation? Odunsi’s plea has forced Nigerians to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty and accountability.
- Supporters of Asake : Some argue that he cannot be held responsible for a father who allegedly abandoned him. “So you saying as my papa leaves me and my siblings to suffer, so when he blow, we should go look for him?” questioned user @Anastacia Boniface.
- Supporters of Odunsi : Others, like @Iam_breemay, shifted blame to the father’s current choices: “You sef go hustle. If he no blow, you for dey find am?”
The divide underscores a societal tension between empathy for the father’s plight and resentment toward perceived entitlement.
The controversy reflects broader cultural attitudes toward family loyalty. In a country where communal bonds are often celebrated, the Asake-Odunsi feud has become a Rorschach test for public morality.
Fans of Asake have flooded his social media with messages of support, while critics have demanded accountability. Meanwhile, Odunsi’s story has drawn both sympathy and scorn, with many questioning whether his plea is sincere or a calculated ploy for attention.
As the debate rages, one truth remains: families are rarely simple. Odunsi’s health crisis has thrust a painful reality into the spotlight—the messy, often unresolved nature of parent-child relationships. For Asake, the situation presents a personal dilemma: whether to prioritize forgiveness or adhere to the lessons of a possibly absent father.
The singer has yet to publicly address the allegations, leaving the story open-ended. Yet, regardless of the outcome, the saga has ignited a necessary dialogue about the complexities of family, the cost of past choices, and the weight of expectations in a world where fame and fortune complicate every relationship.
The Asake-Odunsi controversy is more than a celebrity feud—it’s a mirror held up to Nigeria’s collective psyche. It asks: Can love be demanded after years of absence? Does wealth absolve past neglect, or does it magnify it?
For now, the father’s fate rests in the hands of strangers, while his son’s silence speaks volumes. The story will likely fade from headlines, but its questions linger, reminding us that family is both a blessing and a burden—one that no amount of fame or money can easily untangle.
