Mr Macaroni explains why he has stopped criticizing the government

Nigerian actor and social commentator Adebowale Adedayo, known as Mr Macaroni, has shared why he has reduced his public criticism of the government. He mentioned being tired of repeating the same messages, facing backlash from the public, and receiving threats.

Mr Macaroni responded to a video from Wazobia FM on Tuesday, where he talked about the life threats he got during the EndSARS protests.

On Wednesday, he posted on X to clarify that the interview was over two years old, but he said the points he made are still relevant.
“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. Until we as a people are ready to fight for what is ours, saying the same thing over and over again is just TIRING,” he wrote.

In another post, he pointed to a March 2026 statement where he called President Bola Tinubu’s government “the Most Useless Government in the history of Useless Governments.” He said that was when he decided to take a break.

He mentioned that a few politicians keep making life hard for over 200 million Nigerians “so brazenly without any resistance.” He stressed that until Nigerians give up the “survival mentality” and demand better conditions for success, “then we are truly not ready.”

Mr Macaroni also addressed how people view his reduced commentary.
“I have been persecuted and vilified since I started speaking up against Government. Threats are a usual occurrence. Please don’t mix things up. I am only tired of saying the same thing over and over again. When Nigerians are finally ready, I will be ready too! But till then, please let me continue enjoying my break by redefining myself and Art, which I love as dearly as I love Nigeria.”

The Wazobia FM video shows earlier comments where Mr Macaroni explained the personal cost of his activism. He said that speaking out often made him seem like “the troublesome person.” Some Nigerians he wanted to represent even turned against him.

“Nigeria is a very funny country. Nigerians are also very funny. And I say this with all seriousness, because I’m not so happy about how things have been. And you keep talking, and it seems like you are the troublesome person. It seems like na you be the, the same Nigerians that you speak for turn against you. They start to fight you,” he said.

Mr Macaroni, who has no interest in joining politics, also shared worries about how the political scene affects people he once admired. He recalled how some role models from his school days got into politics and, according to him, ruined their legacies.

Talking about his activities after #EndSARS, Mr Macaroni said he kept speaking out despite life threats and worries from his family.
“So, you know, End SARS came at risk to my life, threats here and there, serious threats. My family, no time, they were every time calling me, crying, ‘Debo, please. Debo, please.’ Every, every blessed time, my mother. Every blessed time. It was so bad they wanted to fly me out of the country. I said, ‘For what? I’m not running anywhere,’” he said.

He mentioned that he stayed active during the 2023 elections, urging Nigerians to vote wisely and sharing his preferred candidate without forcing others to follow.
“And I didn’t, I didn’t go silent after End SARS. I still came out. I said, ‘We must vote wisely.’ I did series of videos, series of tweets, series of, and not only me, a lot of other people too did, saying, ‘Vote wisely. Do this, do that wisely.’ And I said, ‘Okay, this is the person me I will vote for.’ I did not say vote, everybody should go and vote for this person,” he said.

He faced insults and abuse for his views.
“See curse, see insult. ‘You are a omo ale, you are this one, you are that one.’ Now, everybody, people vote. Whether, uh, rig, I no know, there no rig, e, e no concern me, but president dey, yes or no? E dey,” he said.

Mr Macaroni explained that the election results also made him hesitant to keep voicing political issues.
“Now, everything don dey as e be. Is affecting me too. But what, okay, okay, oya, what should I come and say again now?” he said.