Nigerian actor and social commentator Adebowale Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained why he has reduced his public criticism of government, citing fatigue, public backlash and threats he faced over his activism.
Mr Macaroni was reacting to a video shared by Wazobia FM on Tuesday, in which he spoke about threats to his life 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 another post, Mr Macaroni referred to a statement he made in March 2026 in which he criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu in strongly worded terms.
He said the day he made the statement marked the point at which he decided to take a break from sustained political commentary.
The actor also expressed frustration that, in his view, a relatively small number of politicians could have a significant impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians without sufficient public resistance.
He argued that Nigerians needed to move beyond what he described as a “survival mentality” and demand an environment that enables citizens to succeed.
Addressing perceptions about his reduced public commentary, Mr Macaroni said he had faced persecution, vilification and threats since he began speaking publicly about government.
“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,” he wrote.
He added that he would be ready to speak up again when Nigerians were prepared to demand change, while saying he wanted to use his break to focus on redefining himself and his art.
The Wazobia FM interview featured earlier remarks in which Mr Macaroni discussed the personal cost of his activism.
He said his public interventions sometimes 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,” he said.
Mr Macaroni, who said he had no interest in joining politics, also spoke about people he had admired during his secondary school and university years who later entered politics.
He said some of them, in his view, damaged the legacies they had built.
Reflecting on his experience during the #EndSARS protests, he said he continued speaking out despite receiving threats to his life and 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,” he said.
He recalled that his family even considered having him leave the country because of the threats, but said he refused to leave.
Mr Macaroni also said he remained politically vocal during the 2023 general elections, encouraging Nigerians to vote wisely and publicly stating the candidate he intended to support.
He stressed that he did not instruct other Nigerians to vote for the same candidate.
According to him, his political position attracted insults and abuse from some members of the public.
He said the outcome of the 2023 election also contributed to his decision to become more reluctant to repeatedly engage in political commentary.
Despite his reduced public interventions, Mr Macaroni said his decision should not be interpreted as an abandonment of his concerns about governance or the country’s affairs.
