Yoruba movie actress, Bukky Raji, otherwise called Aminatu Papapa, has caused a stir after expressing regrets campaigning for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, and apologised to Nigerians for doing so.
Speaking in an interview that went viral on Saturday, the actress lamented the sufferings and hardship bedevilling Nigerians, including her, since Tinubu took over.
Mrs Raji stated, “I regret it in my life because he said he wanted to renew hope. I use this moment to beg Nigerians, those I love, that love me and don’t love me. The only thing I regret…one wasn’t told, I later saw it. Don’t be angry, your eating and drinking won’t be difficult. It’s someone that’s not been seen in a long time that they greet, “it’s been a while,” not vouching for the person. That’s where I made mistake.”
Clarifying that she isn’t apologising because people came for her on social media for supporting Mr Tinubu, she explained that her rice importation business crumbled since former president, Muhammadu Buhari closed Southern borders in October 2019, but not in the North, and hoped Mr Tinubu would reopen them but hasn’t done so.
“It’s not because people came for me on my page but because I sat down and said “Oh God”, I’ve made a mistake. What have I done? People are hungry. What I thought was that in the North, the borders were opened during Buhari’s administration. My thought was that when Jagaban gets into office, he will reopen the borders in the South.”
“I’ve taken part in the suffering because it’s the business I’m in. I started with 20 bags of rice. I was someone trailers of rice were brought to. Now, tell me, didn’t I also take part in the suffering? I felt if he gets there, things will be better but it’s all of us that’s suffering it, including those that campaigned and others that didn’t. Don’t be angry, I’ve offended you. That’s my regret in life, not because people came for m0e,” she pleaded.
Her comment has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians; while some have forgiven her, others have not.
One follower commented: “We won’t forgive you yet we wait till 2027 and see may be u won’t repeat the same class.”
Another user added, “Are you sure you won’t still do it again in 2027? Till then sha.”
Another user, “There is no shame in it, you picked a candidate!!”
One user noted: “So you think if you vote for the rest of the candidates they will open borders?”
the.uncle.ho wrote: “Because he will open border? I am sure he was not the only person who ‘we’ hoped will do that.”
