Thugs Loyal to Delta State Governor, Okowa, Allegedly Threaten Nigerian Comedian, Maleke Idowu’s Life over Jokes on Okowa

 

Information reaching us says the life of Edo/Delta born Nigerian comedian Moye Idowu, popularly known as Maleke, may be in danger following alleged threat messages and calls received by the comedian from thugs loyal to governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state over jokes made by the comedian in his recent performance at the 2016 Ika Carnival in Delta state. 

According to reports, the comedian on Wednesday narrowly escaped being lynched by Okowa's thugs when he dared to speak up on the current hardship faced by the indigenes of the state under Okowa's leadership. Maleke, who was hired to entertain the audience at the 2016 Ika Carnival in Agbor, headquarters of Ika South local government area of the state, made jokes on stage about the governor who wasn't even at the event; but apparently the jokes did not go down well with the governor’s boys. 

Maleke on Stage

 The comedian who is greatly loved by many Nigerians for his sense of boldness whenever the need arose to speak up on government failure, was said to have began the show by thrilling the audience with some musical dance steps but later switched into jokes that appeared to criticize the governor’s poor performance in Delta state.

 Several attempts to stop the comedian from going on with his jokes, proved abortive; until some of the governor’s boys were said to have climbed the stage to harass the comedian in an attempt to force him to stop his performance. 

 Apparently showing no sign of fear, Maleke continued with his performance, and perhaps out of annoyance shouted, “Okowa is an idiot! Okowa is an idiot!” “am not scared to tell him the truth, he is not doing well ” “my people are suffering” “Okowa should sit up” which was accompanied by loud cheers from the mammoth crowd who screamed at the top of their voices asking the comedian to continue that he is Godsent voice to help rescue them from the iron fist government of Dr. Okowa. 

Eye witness present at the event, says that even when the comedian had long left the stage, the people continued cheering and calling for a repeat performance from the comedian who was whisked away by security operatives from Agbor police station.

 Efforts to reach the comedian to hear his own side of the story, has however proved abortive. But source close to him, says the comedian who has gone incommunicado at the moment is greatly saddened by the situation, especially that his own brother [Okowa] from the same hometown with him would want him dead for merely criticizing through "jokes", the poor living condition of his people in Delta state. 

This is not first time the comedian has openly criticize government using his jokes and songs. 

The comedian who has in his credit songs likes “I see system failure”, “the same government, the same politicians” and others has in the past criticized the leadership style of former governors and presidents including that of former president Goodluck Jonathan, as well as the immediately pass governor of Delta state, Emmanuel Udughan . 

Cracking jokes with government officials is however not peculiar to Mr. Idowu, as most Nigerian comedians, actors and singers have openly criticized government policies through  entertainment;  former president Olusegun Obasanjo at some point even became the "guinea-pig" for most Nigerian comedians during his administration

Lets not also forget the late legend of Music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti  of blessed memories who became very popular for constantly speaking against government's bad policies through the instrumentality of music. Fela released several songs including "zombie", "Beasts of No Nation", "Sorrow Tears and Blood", "everything scatter" among many others to criticize the Nigerian government and others when it wasn’t doing well.  So what really is the big deal about yabbing governor Okowa?