Lizzy Anjorin reacts as Tope Alabi refuses to perform at her birthday party
A surprise birthday celebration for actress Lizzy Anjorin took an unexpected turn when singer Tope Alabi refused to perform.
Abdul-Lateef Lawal, Anjorin’s husband, was said to have planned the surprise party with the help of Anjorin’s fan club, The Warriors.
The gospel singer and Soji Alabi, her husband, arrived at Anjorin’s clothing store in Lagos, but declined to perform when they discovered the purpose of their visit.
Anjorin later addressed the incident on Instagram, stating that she couldn’t blame the Alabis for their decision.
She also criticised her fans for spending money on the failed surprise party instead of supporting her business.
“I don’t celebrate birthdays—only a wicked person would claim I do. I’m not in a position to judge their reaction, but if I had invited them myself, I wouldn’t have paid them anything,” she said.
Filmmaker Oreofe Williams, who acted as a middleman in the transaction, clarified that the Alabis received N2.5 million from the organisers and chose not to perform because they felt deceived and manipulated.
According to Williams, the Alabis were not informed that the surprise was for Anjorin, and they only discovered the identity of the celebrant when they arrived at the venue.
“Some weeks ago, a filmmaker contacted me because he needed Evang. Tope Alabi. The filmmaker told me that he wanted to surprise ‘someone he cherishes a lot’. No name was mentioned and I assumed it could be his wife or anybody,” he said via his Instagram page.
“This conjecture is not far-fetched as he did create an impression that he was personally funding the surprise. No impression was given that it was a joint contribution by any team.
“I contacted Uncle Soji Alabi and, after that, released his number to the filmmaker. It was supposed to be the birthday surprise of a public figure,e and I still marvel till tomorrow about why her name was conspicuously hidden by the filmmaker who contacted me.
“Uncle Soji informed me that day would be very busy, and I pleaded with him to attend, having considered any possibility for a rescheduling.
“He also mentioned the amount was low for a birthday surprise, but I prevailed on Uncle Soji and he eventually honoured my plea to receive the agreed amount (after giving a 70% price reduction due to my intervention).
“However, the requirement of N2.5m was met for the birthday ‘SURPRISE’. Nonetheless, the identity remained hidden until they got to the venue.
“It was at this moment I received a call from Uncle Soji who had already made up his mind to leave the venue.
“Nobody loves to be manipulated. I can tell you authoritatively that he is the President of Gospel Vibes and he takes decisions. He told me on phone he was leaving.
“The reason they returned the money and left was not particularly because of the celebrant or anyone around the venue as I have read in some articles. They felt deceived and were not given the endeared privilege of a choice by conscience.”
