Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actress, Bukola Raji has openly expressed regret over her decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.
According to her, the promises made by APC politicians during the campaign have not been fulfilled, and the situation in the country has remained the same, if not worse.
Raji noted that her support for Tinubu was based on what she was told during several meetings with campaign leaders.
“When we were in a meeting, some politicians said they were going to make impact on citizens. If you are assured of their manifesto, won’t you speak to people about their mandate as an ambassador? You will definitely go,” she said. However, she later realized that nothing changed after the elections. “These people told us they were going to work. It is still the same as yesterday,” she added.
Reacting to claims that actors who campaigned were paid, Raji denied receiving any money. She blamed internal disagreements among entertainers involved in the campaign for the failure to distribute funds.
“I can boldly say I did not receive a dime, and it was not as if they did not offer us money. I told everyone that we did it together that it was Awolowo curse that had effect on every one of us,” she explained.
She went on to say that there was a plan to share the money equally, but some people refused.
“We were told to share the money equally but some disagreed. They said they are some elders somewhere. Yes, we had elders among us in the industry but that was the genesis of the disunity. At the end of the day, we did not get anything,” she said.
Speaking on the issue of disunity, Raji said she was only speaking for herself and not others. “I am speaking for myself, maybe others collected… He never said he was not going to give us money, he did, but disunity, lack of love, and greed followed…”
She also recalled how her husband played a key role in helping her recover during a tough time in her business, showing that her journey hasn’t always been easy.
The actress had earlier clashed online with fellow actress Adunni Ade shortly after the 2023 elections. Adunni had criticized unnamed celebrities for supporting politicians and reportedly earning “a meagre N90,000” for two months of work.
Raji fired back in a video, saying their efforts were driven by loyalty, not by money. “Adunni Ade or what are they calling you? Are you crazy? You said some people went to work for 40 days and at the end of the day the money they were given is peanut. What’s your on there? Did they tell you we went there because of money? Or the love we have for Asiwaju?”
