Veteran Actor Alapini Criticizes Seyi Tinubu, Expresses Regret Over Support for Tinubu’s 2023 Campaign
Veteran Nollywood actor Ganiu Nafiu, popularly known as Alapini, has expressed disappointment over what he described as neglect by the Tinubu administration, particularly highlighting the actions of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Behind the Fame – African A-List TV, Alapini voiced his frustration, claiming that despite Yoruba actors’ visible and committed support during the 2023 presidential campaign, they have been largely forgotten since the election victory.
According to Alapini, he and several other Yoruba movie veterans invested over two months campaigning for President Tinubu, driven by a belief that the President had long been a patron and admirer of the arts, particularly Nollywood. “We thought he was one of us,” Alapini said during the interview, speaking in Yoruba. “We put in our time and effort, thinking we’d be remembered.”
However, the veteran actor lamented that since the election, not only has their contribution gone unacknowledged, but President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has allegedly channeled most of his philanthropic activities toward Northern Nigeria, leaving the Yoruba region behind.
“That Seyi is now running around the North paying their hospital bills,” he said with visible displeasure. “Aren’t there sick people here in Yorubaland too? How many hospitals has he visited here to pay bills for sick people?”
When asked whether he would support President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027, Alapini appeared hesitant and disillusioned, suggesting a deep sense of betrayal over what he views as unfulfilled promises and sidelining of those who championed the Renewed Hope agenda from the Yoruba film industry.
The emotional interview also touched on his acting journey, health issues, and family life, but it was his reflections on political involvement that stood out — offering a rare glimpse into the sentiments of cultural figures who played active roles in the 2023 election campaign.