Mr. Ibu says drumming support for Bola Tinubu didn’t mean he abandoned Atiku Abubakar.
The comic actor, whose real name is John Okafor, was earlier at an event themed ‘South West Stands with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’ where he endorsed the former Lagos governor’s bid to contest for president in the 2023 elections.
The move stirred up remarks on how politicians leverage the fame of comedians to advance their campaigns.
It prompted allegations of duplicity claiming Ibu switched camps by ditching Atiku to support Tinubu for 2023.
Responding to the backlash in a video, the comedian said he had attended the Tinubu event on an invitation.
“People approached me on Tinubu’s involvement to contest for president. Anything that has to do with anybody and they want me to talk about it, they’ll come and address me on that and I’ll know directions,” he said.
“I don’t know why this thing is going round like this. I’ve never run sideways. It has been me and Atiku all this time and he has taken me to places. If Atiku is contesting, certainly [I’ll support him] because he has done a lot for me.
“There was a time he changed a house for me and said I should stay there for now. He’s like a father to me. He is contesting for president under PDP? Certainly, I have been working for him even in his own state.”
Ibu also reiterated his support for Atiku, stressing that he was only delivering on his mandate as a public figure.
“The world said is the world said. I’m not trying to pull him down. He’s a good candidate. I’m not his candidate. Atiku is my candidate. A lot of people helped me when I was sick. Why will I now disappoint them?” he asked.
“These are my people. Anyone I visited, probably on an invitation, is because I’m an actor. They want me to assist in one way or the other with regard to whatever they are doing. That doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned my fathers.
“I didn’t. Everyone is contesting. May God help them. Anyone who wins, let them win. It has been like that.
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