Nollywood's Silence Is Costing Nigeria - Olaide Olabanji

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Nollywood actor Olaide Olabanji has taken a firm stand against colleagues in the entertainment industry who continue to align themselves with politicians he describes as having done little to improve conditions in Nigeria. 

In a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, the actor expressed deep frustration over the state of the nation's healthcare system and the wellbeing of Nigerian celebrities, many of whom he says are currently battling illness without adequate medical support at home.

Without calling out specific individuals, Olaide directed his criticism at entertainers who remain silent in the face of poor governance despite having platforms that could influence public discourse. 

He cautioned that the consequences of this silence would eventually extend to their own children, urging his colleagues to join the broader Nigerian population in demanding accountability from those in power.

The actor did not stop there. He also took aim at colleagues who, in his view, lent their support to political campaigns by helping distribute food items such as rice and beans to voters ahead of elections.

 He questioned the long-term value of the money these actors were paid during the 2023 election cycle, suggesting it had done nothing to shield them from the current economic hardship.

Speaking passionately, Olaide argued that entertainers who prioritize personal benefit over collective progress bear some responsibility for the difficulties Nigerians face today. 

He pointed out that numerous Nollywood personalities are currently unwell, a situation he attributed to widespread indifference toward pushing for better governance. 

According to him, had more voices from the industry spoken honestly to those in leadership, Nigeria might already have functional hospitals capable of treating a wide range of illnesses without citizens needing to seek treatment overseas.

He further lamented the absence of basic infrastructure Nigerians deserve, including reliable healthcare, steady electricity, functional roads, and adequate security. 

Olaide noted the irony that many of the same leaders being defended by entertainers do not use Nigerian hospitals themselves, often traveling abroad with their families for even minor ailments, funded by public resources.

Turning his focus to the entertainment community itself, Olaide pointed to the recurring pattern of celebrities turning to social media fundraising whenever a colleague falls seriously ill, questioning why this has become normalized instead of demanding systemic healthcare reform. 

He urged actors to stop shielding political figures and instead confront them with the realities Nigerians are living through.

He closed his remarks by reflecting on the diminishing value of political patronage, noting that with fuel prices now sitting at 1,400 naira, whatever financial gains actors received for campaign support in 2023 have long been outweighed by present-day hardship. 

He challenged his colleagues to consider whether such short-term payments could genuinely secure a better future for their children.

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