Nollywood producer Stanley Ontop has stirred controversy on social media by calling out Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey over alleged family issues concerning his father and the use of surnames.

The comments emerged amid discussions online about categorizing Super Eagles players by ethnic background, particularly those from the Igbo tribe.

In an Instagram post, Stanley questioned Bassey’s state of origin and surname, suggesting that the footballer replaced his father’s surname with his grandmother’s. He wrote:

“Calvin Bassey na Anambra boy or Akwa Ibom boy? How this fine boy go yank him papa name from him name and put him grandmother’s surname, Bassey? Who is Bassey? Who is Calvin? Who is Ughelumba? Who is Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba.”

According to Ontop, Bassey’s biological father is Mr. Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba, who has reportedly been estranged from his children for years. Stanley urged Calvin and his siblings to reconcile with their father, describing him as their “real father” and calling for forgiveness. He also criticized Calvin for allegedly denying his father access during a visit to Abidjan last year.

Stanley emphasized that Bassey’s mother had a formal marriage with full bride price paid, insisting that Calvin should acknowledge his roots in Ihiala, Anambra State, rather than Akwa Ibom, calling the surname change a “sacrilege” that brought shame to the family and community.

As of this report, Calvin Bassey has not responded to the allegations.

The post has drawn mixed reactions online, with many social media users condemning Stanley Ontop’s intrusion into Bassey’s personal family matters. Some comments argued that it is Bassey’s personal choice how to manage his family identity, while others stressed that the father’s alleged estrangement complicates the issue.

Examples of reactions include:

• “Mind your business, God 😌.”
• “You’re clearly trespassing; leave him alone.”
• “What’s your business with his name? Which kind problem be this?”
• “It’s their choice now; are you their dad or what?”

The controversy highlights the challenges of public figures navigating private family matters under intense social media scrutiny.