‘I Was Receiving So Many Threats’ — Mr Macaroni Explains His Political Silence

Nigeria’s loudest voices do not always go silent because they have nothing left to say. Sometimes, the cost of speaking becomes too personal.

That is the explanation Nigerian comedian and social commentator Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has given for his reduced public criticism of government and political affairs.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Mr Macaroni recently addressed questions about his reduced political commentary after excerpts from an earlier Wazobia FM interview resurfaced online.

In that interview, he spoke about threats he said he received following his involvement in the #EndSARS protests and the effect those threats had on his family.

He recalled the fear that followed the protests, saying, “End SARS came at risk to my life, threats here and there, serious threats.”

He said the situation became particularly difficult for his family, especially his mother.

“My family, no time, they were every time calling me, crying, ‘Debo, please. Debo, please.’ Every blessed time, my mother,” he said.

‘They Wanted to Fly Me Out’

According to Mr Macaroni, the threats became so serious that members of his family considered getting him out of Nigeria.

“It was so bad they wanted to fly me out of the country. I said, ‘For what? I’m not running anywhere,’” he recalled.

He said the experience left his family worried about his safety, while he remained unwilling to leave the country simply because he had spoken publicly about issues affecting Nigerians.

The actor later became particularly outspoken around the 2023 general elections, urging Nigerians to vote wisely.

He said he also disclosed the candidate he personally intended to support, but was careful to distinguish his personal choice from an instruction to other voters.

“I said this is the person I will vote for. I did not say everybody should go and vote for this person,” he explained.

He said his position attracted insults and abuse from some Nigerians.“See curse, see insult,” he recalled, before acknowledging that the election produced a president and that the country had to live with its political outcome.

‘What Will I Say Again?’

The resurfaced interview, however, does not tell the entire story of why Mr Macaroni has become less vocal.

After the video began circulating, he clarified that the interview was recorded more than two years ago. He said the issues he raised remained relevant, but stressed that fatigue had also influenced his decision to step back.

“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,” he wrote.

He argued that repeatedly raising the same concerns without sustained public action had become exhausting.

Mr Macaroni also said his reduced commentary should not be interpreted as fear or an abandonment of his convictions.

“I have been persecuted and vilified since I started speaking up against Government. Threats are a usual occurrence,” he wrote.

He added that he was “only tired of saying the same thing over and over again” and would be ready to speak again when Nigerians were prepared to demand accountability.

A Different Kind of Silence

Mr Macaroni’s explanation places his current silence at the intersection of two pressures: the personal risks he says accompanied his activism and his frustration with repeatedly discussing problems without seeing the response he expected.

His comments also highlight a difficult reality for public commentators. Speaking on political issues can attract influence and attention, but it can also expose individuals and their families to abuse, threats and intense public pressure.

For Mr Macaroni, stepping back appears to be less about abandoning public issues than choosing when and how to engage with them.

His own account leaves one point clear: the comedian says he still cares about Nigeria, but does not believe repeating the same criticisms indefinitely will, by itself, produce change.

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“I love Nigeria” remains part of the sentiment behind his decision to redefine his work and take a break from political commentary, ValidViewNetwork reports.