Nigerian cinema veteran Bimbo Akintola has disclosed that her high-profile endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the contentious 2023 general elections was largely a retaliatory stand against the “toxic” culture of online political harassment.
Speaking in a recent interview on the “WithChude” podcast, the actress condemned the widespread cyberbullying targeting public figures, citing a distressing incident involving a colleague, Joke Silva, as the catalyst for her public declaration of support.
“Somebody annoyed me. Nigerians annoyed me. Do not bully other people. We have our rights to different opinions,” Akintola stated, emphasizing the need for mutual respect in democratic discourse.
She detailed how the intense backlash against other celebrities pushed her to take a defiant position, framing her endorsement as an act of resistance against online aggression.
“But then someone bullied Aunty Joke to a point that it was so deeply (offensive). And I made a video saying I will be going for the same person, kill me. Let me see you kill me. Let me see you change my mind with your bully,” Akintola asserted, challenging her detractors.
The actress stressed that the core issue was the inability of Nigerians to tolerate political diversity, arguing that respectful disagreement is essential for societal progress.
“We need to understand that we can never agree with everybody. That is what makes us great. If we were all the same it would be a boring life,” she said.
Akintola concluded by reiterating her personal right to political choice, despite ongoing criticism. “Till tomorrow you might not agree that he was the best person for the job, but at that point that is who I wanted. And that is who I voted for. (You will not take my voice away). It is mine,” she affirmed.
