Actor Aremu Afolayan has apologised to Nigerians over remarks he made at a recent EKO57 campaign gathering, a political support group established to mobilise public support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
According to report, the group launched on Sunday and was comprised of several Nollywood figures, including Yomi Fash-Lanso, Remi Surutu, Adams “Lege Miami” Kehinde, among others.
Speaking at the event, which aimed to rally support among Lagos residents ahead of the 2027 general election, Afolayan openly endorsed Mr Tinubu’s re-election.
He also downplayed concerns over the rising cost of living, stating that he was doing well and not affected by the economic hardship that citizens complained about.
In addition, he dismissed reports of insurgency, calling them exaggerated and scripted.
In a viral video, Afolayan stated that reports of insurgency should not be taken seriously, describing them as scripted.
His comments sparked widespread backlash on social media, with many Nigerians accusing him of being paid to make the statements at the EKO57 event.
Reacting to the backlash, the brother of renowned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan said in a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday that his remarks were misunderstood.
The 45-year-old added that since the video went viral, he had remained sober, reflecting on the wave of criticism and harsh reactions directed at him.
He also apologised to Nigerians, his well-wishers, and everyone who genuinely desires a better country.
Afolayan admitted that he made a mistake and expressed regret over his actions, noting that he did not intend to offend anyone. He acknowledged that there were conflicting narratives online about whether he received money for his comments.
He stated that he felt deeply saddened for hurting many Nigerians and admitted that insecurity is widespread across the country, adding that the government has not done enough to address the situation.
The actor explained that his point at the event was that insecurity and insurgency were effectively waging war against Nigeria.
He added that, despite these growing threats, the government had done little to address the situation.
He clarified that his earlier comments were meant to caution against misinformation, explaining that he was referring to situations where warnings are dismissed as scripted. He reiterated that insecurity is a real issue in Nigeria and that any claim suggesting otherwise is misleading.
Afolayan also revealed that a close associate’s mother had been kidnapped, noting that a large sum of money was paid to secure her release, further underscoring the reality of insecurity in the country.
Additionally, Afolayan announced that he had stepped away from partisan politics and would not be supporting any candidate in the forthcoming general election.
He explained that his attendance at the event was purely driven by his admiration for the growing openness in governance.
The actor stated that the backlash had deeply affected him and placed him in a sober state, prompting him to seek forgiveness from Nigerians who have supported his career and businesses. He added that his intention at the event was to engage on governance issues at the local level and not to promote any political agenda, while announcing his withdrawal from political activities.
Source:- NAN
