Iyanya tracks down mocked nurse, stands his ground amid backlash over N500K gift

Pop star Iyanya has doubled down on his decision to gift N500,000 to a nurse who was publicly mocked by her colleagues for showing up to work during a nationwide strike, and he’s not backing down, even as critics accuse him of “rewarding bad behavior.”

In a series of heated posts on X, the Yebo hitmaker stood firmly in defense of the nurse, now identified as Mrs Guobadia, who went viral earlier this morning after a video showed her being ridiculed for not joining the nurses’ strike.

“Can someone find her for me, I want to give her 500k,” he first tweeted. “She is not a health care worker for the money but for human lives.”

The post triggered a wave of mixed reactions online.

One user challenged the gesture, asking: “Why do some Nigerians love rewarding bad behavior???” Iyanya fired back sharply:

“What’s your definition of bad behavior?
A nurse decided not to go on strike so she can save lives being at work is bad behavior to you? She is an essential worker and she deserves some compensation. The way she was humiliated was wrong.
Find her for me, I have 500k for her immediately.”

Another X user, trying to find middle ground, said:

“You can actually give her the money without justifying her behavior. What they are fighting for, does it not affect her? Join your colleagues to fight for your right, ma. Na who dey alive go fit save another.”

But Iyanya wasn’t having it:

“But who gave them the right to embarrass her the way they did tho?
Is that still a way to fight justice or their rights?
Is he the government? No.
Their behavior towards her was totally wrong, let’s accept that and stop justifying clear bullying.”

Hours later, the singer confirmed he had found the nurse.

“I found her. Her name is Mrs Guobadia and she has told me her own side of the story.
I’ll give her the money. It’s my money and I felt led to gift her. I don’t care who agrees with me or not. Do have a great day.”

His stance has ignited an online dragging. While some hail Mrs Guobadia as a heroine who stayed true to her oath, others say individual action shouldn’t undermine collective struggle.