Actor Alapini: I regret supporting Tinubu– we thought he’s our Messiah

Veteran Nollywood actor Ganiu Nofiu, popularly known as Alapini, has voiced deep regret over his involvement in the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.

The actor, in a recent interview on African A-List, opened up about the disappointment he feels following the unmet expectations and lack of recognition for entertainers who supported the president’s campaign.

Alapini revealed that he and over a hundred other actors actively campaigned for Tinubu across different parts of the country, temporarily abandoning their personal work to support the cause. He explained that their decision to back the former Lagos State governor was driven by Tinubu’s contributions to both Lagos and the Yoruba film industry.

“We had to abandon our work for two months to campaign for Tinubu in 2023,” Alapini said. “We led the campaign genuinely because of Nigerians’ well-being and not for personal gain. We supported and committed ourselves to the campaign thinking our Messiah had come.”

READ ALSO

Tinubu queries IGP over lack of arrests in Benue killings

Tinubu visits victims of Yelewata attacks amid public criticism

Tinubu cancels Kaduna trip, to visit Benue amid killings

APC North East meeting: ‘Only Tinubu can choose his running

However, nearly two years into Tinubu’s administration, Alapini lamented that they have neither been appreciated nor compensated. He expressed disillusionment over what he described as neglect of the very people who played a major role in mobilising grassroots support for the president.

Taking aim at Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, Alapini questioned the focus of his philanthropic efforts. He accused Seyi of concentrating primarily on the northern part of the country, while allegedly neglecting the Southwest, especially the Yoruba communities that played a crucial role during the campaign.

“Will Seyi Tinubu say he didn’t see the old actors during the campaign? We were more than 100, both old and young that campaigned for Tinubu,” Alapini stated. “But Seyi is running around the northern part of Nigeria to pay hospital bills. Aren’t there sick people in Yoruba land too? How many hospitals has he visited in Yoruba land?”

The actor’s candid remarks have sparked conversations online, reflecting the growing public frustration over economic hardship, insecurity, and perceived marginalisation under the current administration.