## Peter P-Square apologises over viral ‘Naija language’ comment, explains what he meant

Peter Okoye of P-Square has apologised after his comment about Nigerian languages triggered a heated conversation about culture, identity and how celebrities speak about their roots online.

The singer, popularly known as Mr P, found himself at the centre of the debate after sharing a post from Paris about how effortlessly his children speak French.

Peter said watching them communicate in the language made him consider owning a home in the French capital.

Things changed when a social media user asked whether his children could also speak Igbo.

Peter responded: “And who Naija language help? Make I hear word abeg.”

The short response quickly travelled across social media, with critics interpreting it as dismissive of Nigeria's indigenous languages and, particularly, Igbo because Peter is Igbo.

Why the ‘Naija language’ comment caused a stir

For some Nigerians, the issue was not simply about whether Peter's children could speak a particular language.

The conversation quickly expanded into a wider debate about parents teaching indigenous languages to their children, especially families raising children outside Nigeria.

Peter initially defended parents' right to decide which languages their children learn, but the criticism continued as screenshots of his response circulated online.

His twin brother and former P-Square bandmate, Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, also entered the wider conversation with a post celebrating his Nigerian and Igbo identity.

That added another layer to the Nigerian celebrity trend, given the brothers' well-documented disagreements.

Peter P-Square apologises and explains himself

Peter later returned to social media to clarify what he meant.

“If my response to ‘Who Naija language help?’ upset some people, I apologize and take full responsibility for my words,” he wrote.

He stressed that his comment did not mean he disliked Nigerian languages or culture.

Peter also rejected the suggestion that he had specifically attacked Igbo.

According to him, his use of the phrase “Naija language” referred generally to the different indigenous languages spoken across Nigeria.

“At no point did I say I hate the Igbo language or Igbo culture,” he explained.

The singer acknowledged that he could have expressed himself better and accepted that people had a right to criticise the original comment.

Why language comments trend quickly in Nigeria

The strong reaction to the Peter P-Square apology highlights how sensitive conversations about language and cultural identity can become in Nigeria.

With hundreds of indigenous languages spoken across the country, language is often closely connected to family, ethnicity, community and cultural heritage.

For celebrities, the conversation can become even bigger.

Public figures have audiences from different parts of the country, meaning a short comment posted casually online can quickly be interpreted through cultural, generational and regional perspectives.

Social media makes that process even faster. Screenshots remove comments from longer conversations, while reactions, memes and celebrity responses can push a simple exchange onto entertainment blogs and trending pages within hours.

In Peter's case, what started as a light post about his children speaking French became a national conversation about whether Nigerian parents should prioritise indigenous languages.

His clarification may not settle that bigger debate.

But the singer has made his own position clearer; he accepts that his wording upset people, says he could have expressed himself better and insists the comment was never meant as an attack on Igbo language or culture.