Olaide Olabanji criticises Nigerian actors supporting politicians for personal gain, urging celebrities to speak up on healthcare, hardship and poor governance

Nollywood actor Olaide Olabanji criticised some Nigerian actors for supporting politicians for personal gain on Thursday, September 3, 2026, urging entertainers to use their public influence to challenge poor governance and demand better conditions for citizens.

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Olabanji made the comments in an Instagram video while discussing the difficulties facing Nigerians and the condition of the country’s healthcare system, particularly amid reports of ailing celebrities seeking public assistance.

The actor, who did not identify the colleagues or politicians he was referring to, questioned the decision of entertainers to remain silent about government failures when their own families could eventually face the same challenges confronting millions of Nigerians.

Olabanji argued that celebrities with large public platforms have a responsibility to speak truth to power rather than prioritise immediate financial benefits.

“Don’t destroy people’s lives because of what you are benefiting from bad leaders,” he said, arguing that Nigerians had collectively contributed to the country’s current difficulties by continuing to support ineffective leadership.

The actor also turned his attention to the healthcare system, saying the recurring practice of celebrities appealing for financial assistance when colleagues fall ill reflected deeper institutional problems.

“If we had good governance, Nigeria should have different hospitals capable of treating various illnesses without people travelling abroad for treatment,” Olabanji said.

He argued that Nigeria should have reliable hospitals, electricity, roads and security capable of meeting the basic needs of its population.

His criticism was particularly pointed towards politicians who, he claimed, travel abroad for medical treatment while ordinary Nigerians struggle to access adequate healthcare at home.

“Where can we travel to when we fall sick?” he asked, highlighting what he described as the unequal access to quality healthcare between political elites and ordinary citizens.

Olabanji also criticised entertainers who allegedly participated in political campaigns by distributing food items such as rice and beans on behalf of politicians.

He questioned whether the money some actors allegedly received for campaign activities during the 2023 general elections had provided any lasting benefit.

“Is the money they paid you in 2023 still useful to you today?” he asked, citing the rising cost of living and fuel prices as evidence of the pressures facing households.

The actor warned that short-term political benefits should not outweigh the long-term interests of entertainers and their families.

“Can the money you received for the campaign build your children’s future?” he asked.

Olabanji’s remarks reflect a recurring debate within Nigeria’s entertainment industry over the relationship between celebrities, political campaigns and public accountability.

Nigerian entertainers have increasingly become visible participants in political mobilisation, with some openly endorsing candidates while others have used their platforms to criticise government policies.

The controversy became particularly pronounced during the 2023 presidential election, when several prominent entertainers publicly supported competing political candidates.

Celebrity endorsements brought considerable visibility to campaigns, although they also generated criticism when entertainers were perceived as defending politicians despite concerns about governance and living standards.

Olabanji did not argue that entertainers should remain politically neutral.

Instead, his central appeal was for actors to place the public interest above what he described as “stomach infrastructure”, a Nigerian political expression referring to immediate material benefits offered in exchange for political support.

His comments also came at a time when Nigeria’s healthcare challenges remain a major public concern.

Medical tourism by wealthy Nigerians and public officials has repeatedly attracted criticism, particularly when citizens face shortages of equipment, specialist services and adequately funded healthcare facilities.

For Olabanji, the issue extends beyond celebrities. He suggested that poor governance eventually affects everyone, including those who initially benefit from political patronage.

The actor’s intervention was framed as a warning to his colleagues that political support carries consequences beyond an election cycle.

While he did not name specific actors or politicians, he urged entertainers to consider the conditions their children and families could inherit.

His remarks are likely to fuel further discussion about the responsibilities of public figures in Nigeria, particularly celebrities whose visibility gives them an unusually powerful platform to influence public opinion.

At the heart of Olabanji’s argument is a simple proposition: political support should not come at the expense of accountability.

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For an entertainment industry whose stars increasingly command large audiences both online and offline, he believes that influence should be used to demand better leadership, functioning public services and a more secure future for Nigerians.