When Nollywood actress Regina Daniels became a senator’s wife at 23 in June 2023, her millions of fans and those who disagreed with her choice of husband were excited about her growth, fierceness and wisdom.
When Mrs Nwoko again rose to the ranks as social secretary of the senatSenator’s association and began to show off her lifestyle as the youngest and favourite wife of an elected Nigerian senator, many people took back their words to her five years ago when she had just married then-59-year-old billionaire lawyer and politician Ned Nwoko. While admiring her journey and success, many people declared that subsequently, it is only Regina Daniels who can advise them, and they take it.
It looked like the 24-year-old mother of two considered that and decided to advise Nigerians on the heels of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest. In several viral videos, the soft-spoken, stunning actress advised her 14.9 million Instagram fans and Nigerians against protesting violently, making it clear that if they protested peacefully, the government would hear all their cries of hunger in the land.
But many Nigerians are taking it the wrong way and, in the process, call her insensitive to the plight of everyday Nigerians. Many also fired back at the gorgeous Senator’s wife, demanding she drink water because they are not taking advice from someone like her. “If no be for hunger, you for marrying your grandfather? Abi you and your mama sef go dey protest with empty pot. Rest,” an Instagram user wrote.
Was Regina Daniels’s advice to Nigerians insensitive to the poor masses? Is the Senator’s wife punching above her weight? And how is her husband, Ned Nwoko, reacting to the backlash?
Watch The Video Version of This Script
For over a year, Young Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has enjoyed all the perks of being a senator’s wife. She did not only become a fashion connoisseur. Regina Daniels gets invited to high-profile political events and meetings. Sometimes alone, other times with her husband. She has also become the face and spokesperson for the Anioma community in Delta State, and many see her becoming a governor’s wife in a few years with the way she carries herself. Although Regina Daniels speaks out sometimes and gathers thousands of accolades, she never to the point of advising Nigerians on governance.
Shockingly, on August 1, 2024, the billionaire’s wife went out of character for the first time, addressing the Nation against violent protest on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance Protest. In this video, where she looked more stunning than ever, Gina advised everyone to protest peacefully and shun all forms of violence. Otherwise, the purpose of the protest would be defeated.
She said that once violence is involved, protests lose their purpose, and she demanded that everyone try to make this protest as peaceful as possible.
Before the protest, the government, politicians, and friends of the government tried to dissuade Nigerians from protesting. Celebrity politicians like Seyi Law and Nollywood actress Tonto Dike also advised many against protesting. Tonto Dike stressed that the poor masses should make a smarter choice by finding other ways to air their grievances rather than taking to the streets.
So far, Regina is the only celebrity affiliated with a politician who has stood behind Nigerians and urged them to protest. In her video, she tried to educate the poor masses on how the government operate, and her advice is to ensure their voice are heard. But many didn’t see it this way. Though well intended, her video was met with disapproval from countless Nigerians, who told her to take the video down.
“Take the video down, you’re too young to advise your elders, if the country was good you wouldn’t marry your grandfather,” said an outraged Instagram user in her comment section.
“Talk to your husband first. He’s part of the bad governance”, another added, followed by thousands of others.
But as we all know from experience, the Senator’s wife has tough skin as much as she is soft-spoken. So, not only did she refuse to take down the video and apologise to those she offended, but Regina Daniels made another video on the second day of the protest to further push her point.
The 2018 Igbenedion University Graduate educated her fans about the importance of protest. But she suggested that the protests escalated into something else due to widespread violence, particularly in the Northern States. Again, she begged that this was not the original plan of the protest and that people should try to protest peacefully to avoid further loss of lives and properties. Her caption read: “WE ALL WANT A BETTER NIGERIA UNITED WE CAN ” She said.
Supporting the Nation’s cry for help, she said;
Again, even though the mother-of-2 appeared natural, Nigerians labelled her as one of the “privileged few” and pointed out that her senator husband is part of the bad governance they are trying to end. Some went as far as hurling profanities at the actress.
“Your father failed. That is why you marry Abraham’s senior brother ” One Instagram user wrote in the comment section of her post.
As her videos and savage reactions from Nigerians went viral, Regia Daniels returned on Wednesday, August 7, furious. Rocking a signature Muslim women’s hijab and Jalabiya, she showed fans a video of some protesters hoisting the Russian flag amidst the chaos. The actress said that this is not what other parts of Nigerians want and that whatever happens in the North that Southerners think they are shielded from can still reach them.
In response to the criticisms, Regina Daniels acknowledged that those who labelled her privileged were not entirely wrong. However, she argued that they were ignoring the broader context of the country’s current challenges because they were ignorant. The 24-year-old billionaire’s wife said her privilege does not stop her from empathising with those who are less privileged than her, like her nannies, cooks and gatemen. The mother of two understands the need to provide her workers with security and other extra bills. But she also believes Nigeria as a country can’t be changed in a day or by a man.
The Nollywood star said she is not speaking for the government or people to love her, but she is totally against the violent protest in the north. “I speak as a proud citizen of this Great Country! WE ALL WANT A GREAT NIGERIA”, she wrote in the caption.
Even though Regina wants the same thing as Nigerians, many people double down by dragging her for calling them ignorant. Some said the actress was shouting at them in her video, which was very disrespectful. Others didn’t want to hear the Senator’s wife’s opinion about the protest.
Reacting on Instagram, a user wrote, “Making good and valid points.”
One wrote, “You know when a small girl begins to see the nakedness of an older man, she sees herself as “Mother of all”. Talk to us first lady, we are your children ” — Another added.
One asked, “You? Advise Nigerians??Omorrr No be your fault sha….If no be Ned, you for still Dey do Spider-Man for Asaba,” commented another user.
One wrote, “Regina, if Nigeria is normal and working, you should have attended university & be working. NOT given to your grand father like BAG OF GARRI because of your family poverty. Foundation is the root of all matters and SOLUTIONS should be at that level.”
One asked, “You again? You took a bold step in ur life, let the youth take theirs.”
One wrote, “Na Nigeria u blame wey no dey take child abuser seriously.”
Also reacting, an Instagram user added, “So 7th wife Regina Daniel buy new ring light to tell us that she is now paying her cook and gate-man the 70k new minimum wage. Ned Nwoko na man you be.”
One asked, “Did you watch this video before posting it ? I guess u did not. Your speech made me speechless. What is our business with us and your workers ? People are protesting for their rights and you’re here splitting nonsense. Are you sure you’re okay?”
One pointed out, “We don too praise this girl na why she dae shout for us. If no be bad government shei pikin suppose dae shout for elders.”
Also reacting a user asked why Nigerians took back their words. “Why are you people angry? I thought you said na “Only Regina Daniels fit advise you”
Amidst all the backlash, Regina Daniels’s lawmaker husband has come to her rescue. In an Instagram post, Senator Ned Nwoko praised his youngest and favourite wife for her wisdom and strength of character and for sympathising with Nigerians even though they don’t seem to appreciate the kind gesture. The billionaire lawyer further reiterated his beautiful wife’s advice to Nigerians to protest peacefully.
He wrote: “I commend Gina’s wisdom and strength of character in deciding on her own to sympathize and support Nigerians who are showing bottled-up frustrations with the apparent hopelessness in the country. I must add that the current economic and insecurity problems in Nigeria are as a result of decades of bad governance. Please let everyone be peaceful with the protests as there cannot be any justifications for more loss of lives. I have also decided that in the next few days, I will speak and write on a few realistic immediate solutions especially on economic and insecurity problems facing our nation. As a senator, my bills and motions have been about the people. This is really my passion.”
Hmm, is her husband right, or do you think he is the one pushing her for his political gains, as many are speculating?
We ask again, Was Regina Daniels’s advice to Nigerians insensitive to the poor masses?
Was she disrespectful in her video, as claimed?
Do you agree with Regina Daniels that those criticising her are ignorant? Or is the Senator’s wife doing more than she is required to?
Finally, what do you think about Ned Nwoko defending his wife?
