Nollywood actor Aremu Afolayan has apologised to Nigerians following widespread criticism over comments he made while endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid at a recent political gathering.
The actor gave a speech at an EKO57 campaign event on Sunday, where a number of Nollywood celebrities, including Adams Kehinde, Remi Surutu, and Yomi Fash-Lanso, gathered to rally support in advance of the 2027 general election.
Afolayan publicly supported the president’s reelection during the event and seemed to downplay worries about the growing cost of living, claiming that he was unaffected by the financial difficulties that many Nigerians were experiencing.
He also downplayed reports of insecurity, describing them as exaggerated in a video that later went viral.
The remarks triggered outrage on social media, with many Nigerians accusing the actor of insensitivity and alleging he had been paid to make the statements.
In a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday, Afolayan apologised, saying his comments had been misunderstood.
“I’m sorry. The curse has been too much, and I didn’t offend anyone but just went wrong. I picked what I shouldn’t have picked,” he said.
“My heart is heavy because I’ve hurt a lot of Nigerians. The second narration concerns insecurity, and it’s obvious that insecurity is in town and everywhere in Nigeria, and the government isn’t doing anything about it.”
He explained that his intention was not to deny insecurity but to emphasise the seriousness of the situation, adding that his words were taken out of context.
“What I was trying to say in the video was that if you saw anybody shouting ‘they’re coming from this side’ and someone on the news was saying ‘don’t worry, nothing is happening,’ that was all I was trying to say,” he said.
The actor further disclosed that insecurity had affected him personally, revealing that a close family acquaintance had been kidnapped and released only after a ransom was paid.
Amid the backlash, Afolayan also announced his withdrawal from partisan political activities, stating that he would no longer publicly support any candidate.
“Due to this heat and curse I have received, I’m saying I’m at my lowest stage… I’m withdrawing from everything to do with politics and standing with my people. Please forgive me,” he said.
The controversy continues to generate debate online, highlighting growing sensitivity around public commentary on economic hardship and insecurity in Nigeria.
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