Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Actor Seyi Awolowo criticises Tinubu, other politicians for politicking while Oyo schoolchildren, staff remain in captivity

He also condemned his friends for campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections rather than holding the government to account.

• June 2, 2026
Seyi Awolowo
Seyi Awolowo

Actor and BBNaija Star, Seyi Awolowo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu and other politicians across the country for failing to rescue the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In a video on Tuesday, Mr Awolowo lashed out at Mr Tinubu and other politicians for preoccupying themselves with political activities instead of making efforts to rescue the victims.

He said, “Mr President, this is not how it’s supposed to go. You have finally got to the seat of power, one that you confidently criticised. Now I can hear you and your people saying they are trying to humiliate your regime. No, this is a failure. Instead of you to tell you how this can be done, you’re busy doing politics and bureaucracy for the people.

“The political class doesn’t even think they are lazy, wicked individuals. Just because you’re guarded, I can’t imagine the situation happening to my own children. You’re so stupid and don’t realise the circle of doom you’re creating just because you want power through wicked means.”

The actor, who expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of the victims, decried killings and kidnappings across the country, accusing the government of depriving the suffering masses of their right to defend themselves.

He added, “I am doing this because I am a parent. So this thing hits different. What if it’s me in this case? How am I going to act or react? The past few days were meant to be festivities. But the video of a parent or a guardian appealing for help broke me. Watching the beheading of a parent was sad.

“Every state where insecurity is transpiring is a failure. To every one of you campaigning, you’re a failure. It seems these killings and kidnappings are systemic. From the previous regime, you took away the right of people to defend themselves. What kind of common sense is that? You don’t want to defend us, and you say defending ourselves is a crime.”

He also condemned his friends for campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections rather than holding the government to account.

“And to all those my friends campaigning, it shall never be well with you. If I see you campaigning and you don’t have the effrontery or the self-human discipline and respect to say the truth now so that the right thing can be done, it cannot be well with you,” he stated. 

Recall that gunmen stormed communities in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 and abducted teachers and pupils from three schools.

The gunmen killed a teacher and one other person before leaving the scene of the abduction.

They also beheaded one of the abducted teachers and shared the video online.

The incident has stirred outrage from Nigerians.

On Monday, residents of Ibadan staged a protest at the Mokola Roundabout, demanding the safe return of hostages.

Irate youths, in a recent video, also threatened to stage a protest and block all access roads to Ogbomoso if the victims are not safely rescued by the weekend.

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