Nigerian rapper Erigga has criticised internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, accusing them of contributing to the growing transactional nature of relationships in society.
Speaking in an interview with Yanga FM, Lagos, the rapper claimed that the extravagant spending habits of Yahoo boys have set unrealistic standards for women, making it difficult for genuine relationships to thrive.
“Yahoo boys don kill romance. [Genuine] romance no longer exists. When last did you see two lovers holding hands together in the street? It has been long we saw such,” Erigga lamented.
“The problem now is that we are raising weak men who feel their entire value is in their pockets.”
He recalled that relationships were once simpler and more sincere, saying that affection used to be expressed through modest gestures rather than money.
“Nowadays, relationship is expensive. It used to be meat pie, Mr Biggs, Fanta — very affordable back then, and the women were very appreciative. But men also share in the blame; weak men are the ones who set the standards — women took and raised the bars,” he said.
Erigga urged men to cultivate emotional intelligence and other personal qualities that could spark genuine affection, emphasizing that relationships should not revolve solely around financial capability.