Lalude Accuses APC of Betrayal, Curses Those Who Diverted Campaign Payments

Veteran Nollywood actor Fatai Odua, popularly known as Lalude, has accused members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using and abandoning him and fellow Yoruba movie stars after they campaigned for President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking during an appearance on Behind the Fame, a talk show released Saturday on YouTube, Lalude alleged that despite spending over a month working on the campaign, he and others have not received any payment for their efforts.

“We campaigned for Tinubu; we campaigned for Sanwo-Olu. Until this very moment, we have not been paid a dime. Is that good?” the actor lamented.

Best known for playing herbalist roles in Yoruba films, Lalude claimed funds were allocated by the APC to compensate them but were diverted by unnamed individuals. In a furious outburst, he cursed those he believes are responsible for withholding their payments.

“All those behind our not being paid after working for one month and three weeks for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, they will never prosper or succeed in their lives till death,” he declared.

Lalude specifically called out APC stalwart and Lagos transport boss, Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, for allegedly mobilising them with empty promises.

“It was MC Oluomo who invited us. He promised Alapini and me that whatever we demanded, he would give us. We did. But to date, we haven’t got a kobo,” he said angrily. “That debt they owe us for our work will not be forgiven. Curse will kill robbers.”

Lalude’s remarks add to a growing list of Yoruba actors expressing regret over their support for Tinubu. His colleague, Ganiu “Alapini Osa” Nofiu, recently shared a similar grievance on the same show, saying they campaigned out of admiration for Tinubu but were left unrewarded and vilified by Nigerians facing economic hardship.

“We were over 100. We campaigned with all joy, hoping our messiah had come because we love Tinubu… Now people curse us every day,” Alapini said.

Earlier, another veteran actor, Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya Igwe), had to publicly beg Nigerians to stop blaming him for the country’s struggles after his infamous beachside video praying for Tinubu went viral during the campaign season.

Bukky Raji, widely known as Aminatu Papapa, has also expressed regret and issued a public apology for her support of the president.