Actress Bimbo Akintola Says She Was Bullied to Back Tinubu
Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola revealed on a recent episode of With Chude that she was “bullied into supporting” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during Nigeria’s last presidential election.
Akintola, who publicly backed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, said an opposition supporter’s intimidation prompted her to intensify her endorsement as a form of defiance.
“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last election because somebody annoyed me with their bullying,” the actress said, urging Nigerians to respect differing political views.
She added, “Nigerians are annoying. Don’t bully other people. We have the right to differences of opinion. You don’t like this man Tinubu, cool, you have the right not to like him. You prefer this person, good for you. But don’t bully others.”
Akintola referenced a recent incident involving veteran actress Aunty Joke Silva, noting that online harassment had escalated to inhumane remarks, which motivated her to post a video declaring, “I’m also supporting Tinubu, kill me, let me see if you can change my mind.”
She emphasized the need to curb bullying, stating, “We need to stop bullying. We need to agree that we can never agree with everybody. That’s what makes us great and beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be a boring life.”
In concluding remarks, Akintola affirmed her right to vote as a personal choice, saying, “Till tomorrow, you might not agree that he was the best person for the job, but at that point, that was who I wanted, that was who I voted for. You can’t take my voice away from me; it’s mine.”
The actress’s comments echo ongoing debates across West Africa, including Ghana, where political discourse also grapples with social media bullying and the importance of respecting diverse opinions.
Stakeholders in both countries are urged to foster civil dialogue, recognising that vibrant democracies thrive when citizens can express preferences without fear of intimidation.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
