Controversial Nigerian singer, Speed Darlington, has expressed frustration over his unmarried status and lack of children, saying he wants more from life than just American citizenship.
The artiste, whose real name is Darlington Okoye, made the remarks in a video shared on Instagram, where he reflected on his life and questioned whether his current situation was what he truly wanted.
Speed Darlington said despite having American papers, he still longs for family, freedom and respect.
“I am almost 60, I have not gotten married neither do I have children. Every time I see a girl I like, handcuff rings in my head. Is it like this I want to live my life? All I have to show for it are American papers. I do not want American papers out of life. I want family, freedom and respect,” he said.
The singer’s emotional outburst has since stirred reactions online, with many social media users debating marriage, fatherhood and the pressures that come with ageing without a family.
Speed Darlington renews concern over family life
His latest remarks come months after he publicly announced that he was willing to give N5 million to any woman between the ages of 20 and 24 who would have a child for him.
At the time, Speed Darlington made it clear that he was not interested in marriage but wanted to become a father.
The singer, popularly known as Akpi, has often attracted attention for his controversial comments and unconventional lifestyle, but his latest statement appears to reveal a more vulnerable side.
In 2025, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, declared him wanted over alleged rape, cyberbullying and cyberstalking.
The agency’s action followed his failure to honour an invitation for questioning over a public statement in which he allegedly claimed to have had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl.
Following backlash over the statement, Speed Darlington later denied that the claim was real, insisting that it was fictional.
He also filed a suit against the agency, arguing that declaring him wanted without a court order was unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.
Despite the controversies surrounding him, his latest comments have shifted attention to his personal life, with fans and critics weighing in on his desire to have a family.
