Popular Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, widely known as Real Warri Pikin, has cancelled her planned comedy show in Warri, Delta State, citing growing ethnic tensions and divisions surrounding the event.
The comedian announced the cancellation in a statement shared on her Instagram page, expressing disappointment over what she described as persistent disunity among ethnic groups in the state.
In a video accompanying the announcement, Real Warri Pikin said being an entertainer from Delta State had become increasingly difficult because of the tensions involving different communities.
She specifically referenced divisions among the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri people, while appealing against violence, oppression and bullying.
According to the comedian, she has personally experienced bullying and oppression in Delta State over the past eight years.
She said, “The disunity in my state is very tiring, especially amongst the Ijaws, the Urhobos and the Itsekiris. I am not saying don’t fight for what is right, but does it have to always be violent? Does it have to be oppression?”
Real Warri Pikin explained that the immediate controversy surrounding her show began after an indigene of the venue where the event was scheduled to hold objected to the event being advertised as taking place in Warri.
She said the organisers were asked to change the description of the event to “Real Warri Pikin Live in Uvwie”, with the argument that Uvwie is a distinct area from Warri.
According to her, those opposed to the event demanded the removal of billboards, social media advertisements, radio jingles and other promotional materials that referred to the show as being in Warri.
She further alleged that a petition was written against the event and that she was warned the show would be disrupted if it went ahead.
“They said I should take down the billboards, social media posts, the radio jingles and roll-up banners. They wrote a petition and said the show would never hold and that on the day of the show they would come and scatter everything,” she said.
The comedian also disclosed that some people demanded that she remove “Warri” from her stage name.
She said the controversy had become overwhelming and emotionally exhausting, prompting her decision to cancel the show.
Real Warri Pikin expressed regret that disagreements over geographical and ethnic identity had overshadowed what was intended to be an entertainment event, stressing the need for greater unity and peaceful coexistence among the different communities in Delta State.
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