Nollywood actress Bukky Raji, popularly known as Aminatu Papapa, has publicly expressed deep regret over her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections, apologizing to Nigerians and citing economic hardship and misplaced trust as her reasons.
In a candid interview with Oyinmomo TV on YouTube, the Yoruba movie star said her endorsement of Tinubu was motivated by business interests and regional loyalty, particularly in hopes that border closures under the previous administration would be reversed under Tinubu.
“What I regret in my life is that they said they wanted to renew hope,” Raji lamented. “I use this moment to beg Nigerians, those I love, that love me and don’t love me. The only thing I regret… I wasn’t told, I later saw it. That was where I made mistake.”
According to her, the apology is not in response to online backlash but rather the result of personal reflection and lived experience amid Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions.
“It’s not because people bashed me on my page but because I sat down and reflected… ‘Oh God, I’ve made a mistake,’” she explained. “It was the campaign that I did for Tinubu that I am pained about. The masses are hungry.”
Raji noted that her once-thriving rice business was heavily affected by the 2019 border closure under former President Muhammadu Buhari. She had hoped that Tinubu, as a fellow Southerner, would reopen those borders.
“My thought was that when Jagaban gets into office, he will reopen the borders in our region,” she said. “I began this business with 20 bags of rice, then I became someone that was offloading trailers of rice. Now, tell me, didn’t I also take part in the suffering?”
The actress became emotional as she pleaded with Nigerians: “Don’t be angry, I’ve offended you. That’s my regret in life, not because people bashed me. If you come for me, I will come for you.”
Raji also revealed that her expectations were shaped by campaign promises made by some unnamed politicians, based on Tinubu’s legacy in Lagos and assurances during strategic meetings.
“When we were in a meeting, some politicians said they were going to make impact on citizens,” she said. “If you are assured of their manifesto, won’t you speak to people about their mandate as an ambassador? You will definitely go.”
On whether she received financial compensation for her campaign efforts, Raji denied receiving any money, blaming internal disunity and greed among her fellow campaigners in the industry.
“I can boldly say I did not receive a dime, and it was not as if they did not offer us money,” she said. “We were told to share the money equally but some disagreed… that was the genesis of the disunity. At the end of the day, we did not get anything.”
Reflecting on personal challenges, she recalled a downturn in her business and how her husband’s support helped her recover. The actress had previously engaged in a public spat with fellow actress Adunni Ade, who had mocked celebrities for accepting meagre payments during the election season.
Adunni had alleged that some entertainers were paid just N90,000 after two months of campaigning. Raji fired back in a video, saying their actions were driven by loyalty, not money.
“Adunni Ade or what are they calling you? Are you crazy? You said some people went to work for 40 days and at the end of the day the money they were given is peanut. Did they tell you we went there because of money? Or the love we have for Asiwaju?”
Now, reflecting with hindsight, Raji admits the consequences of that decision weigh heavily on her. “It’s all of us that’s suffering it, including those that campaigned and those that didn’t,” she said.