Mr Macaroni Says Nigerian Politics Corrupts the Best

Mr Macaroni says he will not go into politics because Nigeria’s political space can corrupt even the most respected people

Nigerian comedian and social commentator Adebowale Adedayo, known as Mr Macaroni, said he was not interested in going into politics because the country’s political space can corrupt even people who were once widely respected.

Also read: BBNaija S11: Yusuf Ends Intimate Relationship With Bells

Mr Macaroni spoke in a video about the cost of speaking up for Nigerians and the backlash that often follows. He said advocates can be branded troublemakers by the same public they try to defend.

“I’m so happy about how things have been, and you keep talking, and it seems like you’re the troublesome person. The same Nigerians that you speak for turn against you,” Mr Macaroni said.

Watching politics at close range, he said, had put him off a career in it. “I look at Nigeria, and I don’t think I want to get into the political space because it seems like the political space in Nigeria corrupts the very best of us.”

He said some men he once looked up to entered office and damaged the reputations they had built. “Men that you have looked up to and you have respected, they got into politics and ruined their legacy. I look at the political space in Nigeria, and I’m not thrilled.”

Mr Macaroni also said ordinary Nigerians move on quickly after bursts of anger, pointing to fuel prices. “Even we, the people, the average Nigerian, move on. Okay, look at fuel price now, the wahala wey everybody dey shout. Everybody will just talk, one, two days, next thing, e don go, we don move on.”

Also read: BBNaija S11: Yusuf Ends Intimate Relationship With Bells

He questioned the habit of treating hardship as a badge of honour. “Nigerians take pride in telling you, ah, if you can survive in Nigeria, you can survive anywhere. It’s not something to brag about.”