Peter Okoye, one half of the renowned Nigerian music duo P-Square, has publicly addressed his ongoing feud with his brother Paul in an open letter.
In the letter, Peter refuted claims made by Paul regarding their contributions to the group and expressed his frustration over what he perceives as continuous disrespect and marginalization.
Peter has taken issue with recent remarks made by his brother Paul, highlighting what he sees as a longstanding pattern of belittlement and falsehoods. The rift, which has simmered for years, seems to have escalated following Paul’s recent interviews, where he claimed to have written and sung “99% of all P-Square songs.”
Peter challenged these assertions, referencing the group’s hits like “Get-Squared,” “Bizzy Body,” “Personally,” and “Alingo,” questioning whether these successful tracks were also considered failures as Paul had described their collaborative efforts. “You never acknowledged the other songs like ‘Get-Squared,’ ‘Bizzy Body,’ ‘Personally,’ ‘Roll It,’ ‘Temptation,’ ‘Alingo,’ ‘More than a Friend,’ ‘Shekini,’ ‘Say Your Love,’ ‘Gimme Dat,’ ‘Senorita,’ ‘IGBEdu,’ and a few others. Were these songs also considered failures as well?” Peter wrote.
The letter further reveals the depth of Peter’s grievances, as he lamented the lack of recognition he has received within the group. He pointed out that while he has always spoken of the duo as a team, Paul has consistently used individualistic language, even when they were standing side by side. “Every time I have spoken in interviews about P-SQUARE, I have always used ‘we’ and ‘us’ because I saw us as a team. But whenever you speak, it’s always ‘I’ and ‘me,’ even when I’m standing right beside you. It’s as if I never existed,” he said.
Peter’s letter also criticized Paul for aligning with their older brother, Jude, in what he perceives as a bid to dominate the group and marginalize him. He accused Paul of reducing P-Square, once Africa’s most decorated music group, to a “laughingstock” through these internal conflicts.
He further questioned the current status of their solo careers, implicitly suggesting that neither has been able to replicate the success of P-Square as individual artists. “So, my brother, let me ask you: Is Rudeboy or Mr P bigger and more successful than P-SQUARE today? Are we individually selling out arenas and stadiums like P-SQUARE used to? Are we topping world music charts with our songs as solo artistes?” Peter queried.
The letter, which is both an appeal for reconciliation and a defense of his contributions to P-Square, concludes with a note of resignation. Peter expressed his desire to move forward and focus on his music in peace, despite the ongoing discord. “Please allow me to focus and do my music in peace,” he implored, signaling a possible shift away from further public disputes.
