Nigerians on social media have roundly condemned a social media user for harshly criticising Afro-house singer Niniola Apata for publicly mourning her late husband, Michael Ndika. Ndika, aged 44 and CEO of NaijaReview, passed away on May 19, 2026.
The couple had been married for 13 years in a relationship they kept largely private, with Ndika serving as her longtime manager.
Niniola announced the devastating loss on Instagram Stories with raw emotion: “God took him… My husband died… 13 f***ing years,” sharing couple photos for the first time publicly. She has continued posting heartfelt tributes, calling him her “engine,” the air she breathes, and expressing deep anguish, such as “You should have taken me instead.”
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The backlash began after X user posted: “Niniola let Michael rest in peace, you did not post him for 13 years but he’s always posting you,” urging his fellow men to away with women who can’t post them on social media.
Netizens swiftly slammed the user, accusing him of policing grief and lacking basic empathy. Supporters emphasised that couples have the right to privacy, grief manifests differently for everyone, and no one should dictate how a widow honours her husband. Defenders flooded replies urging the critics to “let her mourn in peace.”
Below are comments of netizens knocking the user over his comment:
