“Portable that I raised never drank or smoked”- Sister, Aminat Opens Up On Their Mum’s Death, Singer’s Childhood Days

Aminat Okikiola, the sister of infamous Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable, has decoded the mystery surrounding her brother’s childhood.

Portable began displaying signs of his singing abilities as early as childhood, according to Aminat, who owns a grocery store in Oke-Osa, Iyana Ilogbo, Ado-odo/Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the singer grew up.

During his childhood, she claims, the Zazuu Crooner was courteous and obedient. Aminat explained how she enrolled him with a tailor to master the skill of tailoring, which he excelled at.

Amina said;

“He started showing his talent for singing from childhood before our mother passed. Right after our mother’s death, he intensified the habit, to the extent that if I sent him on any errand, he would sing throughout the trip. If I gave him a chore, he would sing throughout the chore. I thought it was a joke, like a passing phase. If he was sitting down, he was singing. At a point, I started wondering ‘what kind of thing is this?’ Eventually, I enrolled him with a tailor to learn tailoring. The plan was for him to learn that trade and have a means of livelihood. Funny enough, he learnt sewing, knew the job well and was able to sew well. But he did not ditch his passion, as he kept singing.”

About his schooling and mother’s death, Aminat said, “Of course he went to school. He attended Iganmode Secondary School in Ota. Primary school was in Iyana-Iba area in Lagos. There was a time he went to stay with our uncle in Obasanjo area of Ota. I can’t remember the school he attended while he was with him. It was after that he went to Iganmode Secondary School. Then my mum had died. I was twenty when mum died. I am ten years older. I took him in and brought him up. So I am like a mother to him.”

Speaking on his recent bad habits, Aminat told the Nation News that Portable may have picked up the habit of smoking and drinking from his singing profession and the stardom that followed.

“Funny enough, I cannot tell when he develop this love for marijuana. The Habeeb, the Portable that I know and brought up never smoked hemp. In fact, he didn’t smoke cigarette or drink alcohol. So I am surprised at the development. Even now, I could almost swear that he does not smoke or drink. I guess it comes with the profession and stardom.” she said.

Aminat was also asked about a Portable’s little bungalow under construction a few meters from her own home.

Notably, she revealed that it was their dad who was supervising the construction of Portable’s new home.

“Yes, it’s his house. He is building it for himself.”

“That should underline the level of rapport and trust between father and son”, she said.