Ubi Franklin Defends Seyi Vodi's Luxury Fashion Pricing
Nigerian music executive Ubi Franklin has publicly defended celebrity tailor Seyi Vodi against criticism regarding the exorbitant prices charged for his fashion creations. The controversy erupted after an old video resurfaced online where Seyi Vodi discussed his remarkable business journey, from earning as little as N3,600 to securing transactions worth over N400 million.
The N1.7 Million Agbada Revelation
Franklin joined the heated debate on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, by sharing a photograph of a traditional Agbada outfit he purchased from Seyi Vodi. According to Franklin, the Agbada originally carried a price tag of N2 million, but he received a N300,000 discount, bringing the final cost to N1.7 million.
"That's Agbada wey I wear alone na 1.7m unto say me and am Dey attend wedding and I no bring Agbada come Abuja and I had to buy urgently. He gave me discount of 300k if not ma 2m I for buy am," Franklin wrote in his tweet, explaining the circumstances of the purchase.
Franklin's Testimony of Seyi Vodi's Business Success
In subsequent tweets, Franklin provided further insight into Seyi Vodi's lucrative fashion enterprise. He claimed to have personally witnessed the tailor sell clothing worth N30 million within just two hours. Franklin also revealed that he has made purchases totaling N5 million from the celebrity designer.
"I have been there, in just 2 hours he sold cloths worth 30 million Naira. One thing people don't know is, most of his customers who pay well aren't even the politicians," Franklin stated. He emphasized that Seyi Vodi maintains strict payment policies, noting that even friends cannot owe him money for services rendered.
Mixed Reactions from Social Media Users
The revelation sparked significant backlash and debate among Nigerian social media users, with many questioning the justification for such high prices:
- User RawZone147 criticized: "Make the material even be 150k, embroidery 50k. What again dey this agenda? You simply wasted money or u dey lamba us."
- User _noexcusez commented: "For your mind now, you dey do advert for him, but you are doing exactly the opposite cos no way that thing you are putting on is worth 1.7m. No way!"
- User Jide_93 suggested: "This material, we know it in the market. And you paid the price because they know you're famous and you can afford it."
Background of the Controversy
The current debate follows earlier reports about Seyi Vodi's business achievements and another incident where lawyer Deji Adeyanju rejected a cap featuring President Bola Tinubu's insignia that was offered by the fashion entrepreneur. Seyi Vodi had shared video footage from the event with the caption: "adeyanjudeji collect cap you dey run Better come and collect 10 different colors."
The ongoing discussion highlights the growing divide between luxury fashion pricing and public perception in Nigeria's entertainment and business circles, with Seyi Vodi's clientele reportedly including high-profile individuals beyond just political figures.
