Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has explained why she publicly declared her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, saying the backlash faced by veteran actress Joke Silva over her political choice influenced her decision.
Akintola made the disclosure during an interview with Chude, where she spoke about political differences and what she described as the bullying of Nigerians over their political preferences.
The actress said she initially felt compelled to speak out after seeing the treatment meted out to Silva, who had also expressed support for Tinubu during the election period.
According to Akintola, the criticism directed at Silva went beyond ordinary political disagreement and became personal.
She said the reaction, particularly what she described as an inhumane comment directed at Silva, contributed to her decision to openly identify with Tinubu and challenge those who sought to intimidate people over their political choices.
“I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last election because Nigerians annoyed me with their bullying. They bullied Aunty Joke to the point that someone wrote something that was so inhumane. So, I made a video and said, ‘I’m also supporting Tinubu, kill me, let me see if you can change my mind,’” she said.
Call for tolerance
Akintola used the interview to appeal for greater tolerance of differing political opinions, arguing that Nigerians should be able to support different candidates without being subjected to harassment or intimidation.
She stressed that political choices are individual decisions and that disagreement should not translate into attacks against people who hold opposing views.
“Nigerians are annoying. Don’t bully other people. We have our rights to differences of opinion. You don’t like this man, cool, you have the right not to like him. You prefer this person, good for you. But don’t bully others,” she added.
Her comments come in the context of the highly contested 2023 presidential election, during which public figures and celebrities openly aligned themselves with different political parties and candidates.
The election generated intense debate across social media, with entertainers, actors and other public figures frequently facing criticism over their political endorsements.
Akintola's account highlights the personal dimension of such political disagreements, particularly where public figures become targets of online criticism because of the candidates they support.
The actress's position, however, was that political disagreement should remain within the bounds of individual choice and that Nigerians should respect the right of others to hold views different from their own.