Popular Afrojuju musician, Shina Peters, has reacted to claims that he refused to raise Damilare, a son he allegedly had with the late Nigerian actress, Funmi Martins, who died as a nursing mother in 2002.
Some online reports had alleged that the singer had abandoned the 19-year-old who has been staying with his late mum’s younger brother.
However, in a viral video, Shina Peters, who was recently made a bishop by the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church stated that he never said he won’t take care of his alleged love child with Martins.
“I am no longer a kid. How can someone like me abandon a child? What would it cost me? I have lost count of how many kids I have raised in my life. I love children a lot, why will I refuse to take care of Damilare?” he asked.
“There’s a reason for everything but I have chosen to let go of the past and I will never bring it up again. I never said I wouldn’t take care of Damilare and it may interest you to know that I have been in talks with him on the phone.
“And I have arranged to meet with Damilare and his uncle. I assure every well-meaning people that has interfered in this matter that I will not disappoint you. I am a father and I have successfully raised a lot of kids.
“Damilare’s case will not be an issue. I want to appeal to everybody concerned to not turn this boy into a beggar that money is being contributed for because of his future.”
Speaking on the controversy surrounding Damilare, the musician disclosed that he had not been in the young boy’s life due to some reasons he would not make public.
He said: “Why would people raise money for him when there’s a person who can look after him? I never said I wouldn’t care for Damilare but there was an issue on ground before that I have said that I wouldn’t talk about.
“Now that people have stepped in, I will meet with him like I promised and talk to him about what he wants to do and where he’d like me to come in. I heard he wants to go into entertainment but he has to complete his education.
“All of my children are educated. He has written JAMB once or twice before unsuccessfully. I will make sure he gets another form and he will be successful. I raised his elder brother and sister, Tunde Martins and Mide Martins.
“So why can’t I raise him as well? A lot has happened in the past but I don’t need to go back to that because of the future of the child. I am not a father that neglects his children. I love children, whether they are mine or not.”
