Lola Omotayo-Okoye, wife of Nigerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has spoken publicly amid the renewed controversy surrounding the Okoye family and the prolonged dispute involving Peter, his twin brother Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, and their elder brother, Jude Okoye.
Lola’s comments come after a fresh wave of public discussion surrounding Peter’s revelations about his relationship with Lola and the alleged treatment she received from members of his family during the early years of their relationship and marriage.
The dispute intensified after Peter released a series of videos in which he revisited events surrounding the collapse of P-Square and his strained relationship with his brothers. Some of the revelations focused specifically on Lola, her relationship with the Okoye family and events surrounding the birth of their first child.
Lola addresses the controversy
In her response, Lola indicated that she could not simply ignore what was happening around her, particularly because of her responsibilities to her family.
Her decision to speak comes after weeks of intense public conversation concerning the allegations made by her husband and the reactions that followed from members of the Okoye family and Nigerians.
The controversy has placed Lola in the middle of a dispute that extends beyond the music careers of Peter and Paul. It involves family relationships, marriage, personal grievances and events that reportedly occurred years ago.
Peter’s allegations about Lola
Peter has alleged that Lola faced significant opposition from some members of his family during their relationship.
According to his account, tensions became particularly serious during Lola’s pregnancy with their first child. He alleged that members of the family questioned the paternity of the child and that Lola was subjected to emotional pressure during the period.
Peter also alleged that his late mother, Josephine Okoye, initially participated in a confrontation involving Lola but later changed her position and sought reconciliation.
These claims are Peter’s account of events and have not been independently established.
Peter says his mother later accepted Lola
Peter has also strongly disputed suggestions that his late mother never accepted Lola.
He recalled that when his mother became seriously ill and was receiving treatment in Lagos, Lola allegedly played a significant role in caring for her and helping to look after pastors who had travelled to Lagos to support the family.
Peter said Lola regularly visited the hospital, prepared food and assisted the pastors during the period of his mother’s illness.
He has used these events to argue that the relationship between Lola and his mother was more complicated than the picture presented during the current family dispute.
Apology became a major issue
Another major element of Peter’s account concerns an alleged apology.
Peter claimed that his late mother wanted Paul and Jude to apologise to him and Lola over the treatment they allegedly received. He said some members of the family eventually apologised, but alleged that Paul and Jude did not do so before his mother’s death.
The issue has subsequently become part of the broader debate over whether longstanding grievances within the Okoye family were ever properly resolved.
Rudeboy reacts
Paul Okoye has also responded to the controversy.
Rather than directly addressing every allegation made by his twin brother, Paul appeared to defend their late mother following Peter’s claims about her involvement in the family dispute.
His response reflected the emotional nature of the disagreement, particularly because their mother is no longer alive to respond to the competing accounts of events.
The situation has therefore created a difficult divide between the brothers, with different versions of family history being presented publicly.
Lola caught in the middle
For Lola, the controversy is particularly sensitive because she is both a member of the Okoye family through marriage and a central figure in some of the events being discussed.
Her decision to speak has therefore attracted attention from Nigerians who have followed the P-Square story for years.
The renewed controversy has also generated calls for restraint, reconciliation and an end to the public exchange of family accusations.
The bigger P-Square dispute
The latest development is part of a much larger dispute that has repeatedly affected the relationship between Peter, Paul and Jude.
P-Square became one of Africa’s most successful music groups before the twin brothers experienced their first major split in 2017. They later reconciled in 2021, but their relationship subsequently deteriorated again.
The disagreements have involved family relationships, management, finances and the direction of their individual careers.
Peter’s recent tell-all series has reopened several of these issues, bringing old grievances back into public discussion.
A call for responsibility
Lola’s decision to speak has added another dimension to the ongoing controversy.
Her position suggests that she sees responsibility not simply in terms of defending herself but also in acknowledging the effect that the prolonged dispute has had on the family.
The controversy has generated strong reactions from Nigerians, with many expressing sympathy for the individuals involved while urging the Okoye brothers and their families to resolve their differences privately.
For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with Peter, Paul and Jude presenting different perspectives about events that have shaped their family and professional relationships.
What began as disagreements within one of Nigeria’s most successful musical families has evolved into a highly public dispute involving marriage, family loyalty, personal grievances and the legacy of P-Square.