Veteran Yoruba actor Fatai Adekunle Adetayo, popularly known as Lalude, has publicly expressed deep frustration and regret over the treatment he and fellow entertainers received after campaigning for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections. Speaking in a widely shared interview, Lalude disclosed that he and his colleagues were given only N10,000 daily for feeding during their month-and-three-weeks-long campaign efforts, with no additional payment for their work.
Lalude lamented that the initial daily allowance was reduced and sometimes withheld for days, despite the physical and logistical demands of the campaign. More significantly, he revealed that after the campaign concluded, they were refused any further payment or rewards, even two years into Tinubu’s presidency. He warned that those withholding their financial benefits would face misfortune.
The actor also accused Musiliu Akinsanya, known as MC Oluomo the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who mobilized the entertainers for the campaign of breaking promises to pay them substantial sums. Lalude claimed that both he and fellow actor Ganiu ‘Alapini’ Nofiu were promised N1.5 million each, which they never received.
Lalude’s revelations come amid growing dissatisfaction among Nigerian celebrities who supported Tinubu’s campaign, many of whom have publicly expressed regret over their involvement without compensation. This controversy has sparked debate on social media, with some fans criticizing the celebrities’ decision to back Tinubu amid the country’s economic hardships and insecurity challenges under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
Other notable Nigerian entertainers who campaigned for Tinubu include Saheed Balogun, Bimbo Akintola, Toyin Abraham, Eniola Badmus, Olaiya Igwe, and Seyi Law. The issue has highlighted concerns about accountability and transparency in political campaign financing and the treatment of artists who engage in political endorsements.
Lalude’s candid disclosure underscores the frustrations of many campaign supporters who feel neglected after dedicating time and effort to political causes without adequate recognition or reward.