Nigerian actor and social commentator Adebowale Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained why he has scaled back his public criticism of the government, citing exhaustion from repeating the same messages, backlash from citizens and threats to his life.
Mr Macaroni was reacting to a video shared by Wazobia FM on Tuesday in which he spoke about threats he received during the #EndSARS protests.
In a series of posts on X on Wednesday, the skit maker clarified that the interview was recorded more than two years ago but said the issues he raised remained relevant.
“Forget about the threats. My issue with us as Nigerians is how we move on quickly. We complain and move on. There is nothing I will say now that I haven’t already said hundred times over. Until we as a people are ready to fight for what is ours, saying the same thing over and over again is just TIRING,” he wrote.
In a follow-up post, Mr Macaroni referenced a statement he made in March 2026 in which he described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as “the Most Useless Government in the history of Useless Governments.”
He said that statement marked the point at which he decided to take a break from his regular political commentary.
According to him, a small number of politicians continue to affect the lives of more than 200 million Nigerians “so brazenly without any resistance.”
He argued that Nigerians must move beyond a “survival mentality” that keeps citizens focused on getting by rather than demanding an environment that enables them to thrive.
“Until Nigerians abandon survival mentality that keeps citizens operating in survival mode rather than demanding an enabling environment for success, then we are truly not ready,” he added.
Addressing perceptions about his reduced political commentary, Mr Macaroni said his decision was not driven solely by the threats he had received.
“I have been persecuted and vilified since I started speaking up against government. Threats are a usual occurrence. Please don’t mix things up. I am only tired of saying the same thing over and over again. When Nigerians are finally ready, I will be ready too! But till then, please let me continue enjoying my break by redefining myself and Art, which I love as dearly as I love Nigeria.”
The Wazobia FM video featured earlier remarks in which Mr Macaroni discussed the personal cost of his activism.
He said his criticism of government policies often made him appear to be “the troublesome person,” while some Nigerians he sought to represent turned against him.
“Nigeria is a very funny country. Nigerians are also very funny. And I say this with all seriousness, because I’m not so happy about how things have been. And you keep talking, and it seems like you are the troublesome person. It seems like na you be the—the same Nigerians that you speak for turn against you. They start to fight you,” he said.
Mr Macaroni, who said he was not interested in going into politics, also expressed concern about the impact of the political environment on people he once admired.
He recalled that some individuals he looked up to during his secondary school and university years later entered politics and, in his view, damaged the legacies they had built.
Speaking about his activities after the #EndSARS protests, Mr Macaroni said he continued to speak out despite receiving threats and facing concerns from his family.
“So, you know, End SARS came at risk to my life, threats here and there, serious threats. My family, no time, they were every time calling me, crying, ‘Debo, please. Debo, please.’ Every—every blessed time, my mother. Every blessed time. It was so bad they wanted to fly me out of the country. I said, ‘For what? I’m not running anywhere,’” he said.
He said he also remained politically active during the 2023 election, encouraging Nigerians to vote wisely while making his own preferred choice clear without directing others to vote for the same candidate.
“And I didn’t—I didn’t go silent after End SARS. I still came out. I said, ‘We must vote wisely.’ I did series of videos, series of tweets, series of—and not only me, a lot of other people too did, saying, ‘Vote wisely. Do this, do that wisely.’ And I said, ‘Okay, this is the person me I will vote for.’ I did not say vote—everybody should go and vote for this person,” he said.
He said his position attracted insults and abuse from some Nigerians.
“See curse, see insult. ‘You are a omo ale, you are this one, you are that one.’ Now, everybody—people vote. Whether, uh, rig, I no know, there no rig, e—e no concern me, but president dey, yes or no? E dey,” he said.
Mr Macaroni said the outcome of the election also contributed to his reluctance to repeatedly comment on political issues.
“Now, everything don dey as e be. Is affecting me too. But what—okay, okay, oya, what should I come and say again now?” he said.
