They Threatened To Kill Me For Criticising Tinubu Govt So I Stopped, Says Actor Mr Macaroni
Nigerian Skit Maker And Actor, Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has revealed that he faced threats to his life over his activism and criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regimes of President Muhammadu Buhari and successor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said that the threats became so constant and intensive that his family panicked and proposed sending him abroad to keep him safe.
Mr Macaroni made the disclosure in an interview with Wazobia FM, excerpts of which resurfaced online on Tuesday.
Speaking about his activism and involvement in the #EndSARS movement in 2020, the Actor said he received serious threats and that his family was constantly worried about his safety.
He said his mother would call him in tears over the situation, while his family eventually considered flying him out of the country.
“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 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.
Mr Macaroni also spoke about the backlash he received from Nigerians while speaking on issues concerning the government, saying he sometimes felt that the people he was trying to represent turned against him.
He said the experience made him question his continued involvement in political discussions, especially as he was not seeking any personal benefit from his activism.
He said he continued to speak out at different points, including during the 2023 election, but eventually decided to take a break from repeatedly commenting on political issues.
In a series of posts on X on Wednesday, the Skit Maker clarified that the interview was more than two years old but maintained that the points he raised remained valid.
“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 a follow-up post, he pointed to a March 2026 statement in which he described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as “the Most Useless Government in the history of Useless Governments” and said that day marked the moment he decided to take a break.
He lamented that a small number of politicians continued to ruin the lives of over 200 million Nigerians “so brazenly without any resistance.”
Until Nigerians abandon “survival mentality” that kept citizens operating in survival mode rather than demanding an enabling environment for success, “then we are truly not ready,” he added.
In another post, Mr Macaroni addressed perceptions around his reduced commentary.
He tweeted: “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.”
He recalled how some people he looked up to from his secondary school and university days entered politics and, according to him, damaged the legacies they had built.
Speaking about his activities after #EndSARS, Mr Macaroni said he continued to speak out despite threats to his life and concerns raised by his family.
He said he also remained active during the 2023 election, encouraging Nigerians to vote wisely and stating his preferred candidate without asking others to vote for the same person.
“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 said the response to his position included insults and abuse.
“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 said the outcome of the election also contributed to his reluctance to repeatedly speak on political matters.
“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.
