Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has revealed that her public support for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections was partly in response to the online bullying directed at her and other entertainers.
Speaking on the “WithChude” podcast shared on Instagram on Saturday, Akintola criticized what she termed widespread cyberbullying during the election period, noting that celebrities were often attacked for expressing their political preferences. She specifically mentioned veteran actress Joke Silva, who faced severe online abuse due to her political stance. This incident motivated Akintola to openly declare her support for Tinubu.
“Somebody annoyed me. Nigerians annoyed me. Do not bully other people. We have the right to different opinions. If you don’t like this man, that’s your right. If you prefer another candidate, that’s great for you,” she stated.
Akintola further explained that she recorded a video at the time to affirm her political choice. “But then someone bullied Aunty Joke to the point where someone wrote something deeply offensive. I made a video saying I would support the same person; go ahead, try to change my mind with your bullying.”
She called for greater tolerance of diverse views in a democratic society. “We need to stop it. We must understand that we can never agree with everyone. That diversity is what makes us great and beautiful. If we were all the same, life would be boring,” she continued.
Despite disagreements about who was best suited for office, she stood by her decision: “You may not agree that he was the best person for the job, but at that moment, he was the candidate I wanted and the one I voted for.”