Why I Stepped Back from Criticising Government, Mr Macaroni

Actor and activist Mr Macaroni says he reduced his public criticism of government because he became tired of repeating the same concerns while facing threats, backlash and resistance from some Nigerians.

Daniel Momodu · September 16, 2026 · 55

Nigerian actor and social commentator Adebowale Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained why he scaled back his public criticism of government, saying he became tired of repeatedly raising the same concerns without seeing the response he hoped for.

Mr Macaroni spoke after Wazobia FM shared a video on Tuesday in which he discussed threats he received during the #EndSARS protests.

He later clarified on X that the interview was more than two years old, but said the issues he raised remained relevant.

The actor said he had repeatedly spoken about problems affecting Nigerians and had become exhausted from making the same arguments over and over.

He said his decision to take a break was also influenced by the backlash he received from some Nigerians whenever he criticised government policies or expressed political views.

Mr Macaroni recalled that he continued speaking out after the #EndSARS protests despite receiving threats to his life and concerns from members of his family.

He said his family had at one point considered sending him out of Nigeria because of the threats, but he refused to leave.

He also recalled his involvement in the 2023 elections, when he encouraged Nigerians to vote wisely and publicly stated the candidate he intended to support without asking everyone to vote for the same person.

According to him, the reaction included insults and attacks from people who disagreed with his position.

Mr Macaroni said his criticism of government eventually became tiring because he felt that Nigerians often complained about their circumstances but quickly returned to their normal routines without sustained demands for change.

He said he took a break from political commentary in March 2026 after publicly criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The actor said he was now using the period away from political commentary to redefine himself and focus more on his artistic work.

He added that he remained concerned about Nigeria but would be ready to speak up again when he believed Nigerians were prepared to collectively demand change.