Popular afrobeats singer, Ahmed Ololade, better known as Asake, has melted the hearts of people after a video of him gifting his father, Fatai Odunsi, fondly known as Malo, a 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado jeep, valued at about N130m on Friday, March 6, 2026. Earlier in the week, Asake had gifted his mother a new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon G63, said to be worth about N311m.
Although fans initially questioned his motive for gifting his mother a new car without doing the same for his father, Asake and his father remained silent, letting their actions speak amid the heated debates that erupted across social media platforms. However, the tone of the conversation has gradually shifted from comparison to congratulation.
An Instagram user, ladel195, wrote, “I hope Asake critics can see now. God bless Asake,” while another user, damiee, simply commented, “Equation balance.”
Earlier, some fans had hailed the singer as the epitome of a “mama’s boy.” Yet beneath the celebration lay a simmering debate about the absence of his father from the narrative and his continued silence.
Days after the surprise car gift, Asake was seen celebrating with his mother and her friends in a video shared by dancer, Poco Lee, on his Instagram story on Friday, further fuelling online scrutiny. The clips, widely circulated across social media, amassed millions of views as fans applauded the gesture while continuing to question the dynamics within the singer’s family.
This is not the first time Asake’s family life has come under public scrutiny. In March 2025, his father, Malo, a stroke survivor, made headlines after publicly appealing for help in an emotional video. In the widely circulated clip, Odunsi accused his son of neglecting him despite the singer’s rising fame and fortune.
“I am suffering from a partial stroke and need assistance,” Odunsi said, alleging that his son had abandoned him after achieving success.
The controversy deepened when Asake’s alleged baby mama, Adijat, also claimed that the singer had neglected her and their daughter, Zeenat, despite her support during his early struggles. The claims sparked widespread backlash online, with fans and some celebrities urging the artiste to reconcile with his family.
Within days, however, reports emerged that Asake had reached out to address the situation. Odunsi later confirmed in a follow-up video that his son had agreed to cover his medical bills, provide support for his daughter and even purchase a new house for him.
“Asake said he will do everything that I want. We have settled; no more problems,” Odunsi said, signalling an end to the dispute.
However, his father’s silence following the recent car gift to his mother reignited speculation online. The conversation quickly shifted to why Asake appears to prioritise his mother, who some unverified reports claim raised him largely on her own amid alleged paternal absence.
A viral post on X by Omo Akin captured the sentiment, “Asake bought his mum a house and today surprised her with a G-Wagon, but they were begging him last time to help his father. As a man, please spend on yourself and enjoy life to the fullest; women own children.”
The comment echoed a broader debate online. In another widely shared thread, an X user, JeGBe, argued that many fathers become distant figures due to the pressures of providing for their families.
“Men really need to make time to be present in their children’s lives. A lot of kids barely see their dad because he’s always out grinding to provide for the family, and it’s tough. Being a man comes with heavy pressure. I only truly understood that after losing my own father,” he wrote.
Others, however, pushed a counter-narrative, labelling Odunsi a “deadbeat father.” An Instagram user, comedian_kod, wrote, “Once you are a deadbeat father, don’t expect anything. Tomorrow if I’m doing things for my mum and someone tries to bring my dad into it, I will definitely respond.” Another user, dannie_ex, added, “His dad was most definitely absent. Go and do your research.”
