Veteran Nigerian actor, Alapini Osa, has publicly expressed deep regret over supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign, revealing a sense of betrayal and disappointment felt not just by him, but by several of his colleagues in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Alapini recalled the passion and energy with which he and over 100 Nollywood actors threw their weight behind Tinubu’s candidacy, hoping for a new era of transformation, inclusion, and opportunities for the creative industry.
“We thought our messiah had come. We campaigned hard for Tinubu. But in return, we got nothing.”
His disappointment was especially evident as he referenced fellow actor and comedian, Olaiya Igwe, who famously went stark naked at a beach in a controversial video to show support for Tinubu during the heated campaign season. The act, which attracted heavy backlash online, was seen as an extreme display of loyalty.
“My friend Olaiya Igwe, who went stark naked by the beachside for Tinubu, got nothing but curses from people online,” Alapini lamented.
He further questioned the recognition of their efforts by those in power, particularly by Seyi Tinubu, son of the President.
“Will Seyi say he is blind, that he didn’t know we campaigned for them? We were over 100 actors then.”
With the current administration preparing for a second term, the actor made it clear that he personally would not be part of any future campaign efforts.
“Me, I don’t think I want to campaign for him again.”
For celebrities like Alapini and Olaiya Igwe, who risked public ridicule and professional backlash to endorse the President, the silence from the corridors of power feels like a slap in the face