Nollywood actress Biola Adebayo don dey collect serious wotowoto from Nigerians after she feature convicted actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, wey dem sabi as Baba Ijesha, for her podcast ‘Talk To B‘. The interview wey she do with Baba Ijesha don cause plenty wahala for social media as many pipo dey vex say she give platform to man wey court don sentence for sexual offence with minor.
Baba Ijesha wey dem sentence to five years imprisonment for indecent treatment and sexual assault of one pikin, don come out for the podcast to talk say dem set am up and say pipo no understand wetin happen. The actor even talk say some part of the mata concern ‘movie preparation’, but many Nigerians no gree for that kain talk.
Actress Iyabo Ojo wey Baba Ijesha mention for the interview don quickly reply say the man no suppose drag her pikin into the mata. Ojo talk say Baba Ijesha need to face the law and no try to change the story wey don dey.
For social media, pipo dey pour their anger on both Baba Ijesha and Biola Adebayo. One user wey dey call #oluwatobinihami talk say, “If na this year or last year dem arrest that man, so many pipo for talk say the CCTV footage na AI generate am”. Another user #TheChibuogwu talk say, “Biola Adebayo really mess up. She dey ruin her goodwill for some clicks and views? She think am well before she decide to platform him.”
User #thewriterchic add say, “Biola Adebayo want to rewrite history. People like this make us take one step forward, and three steps backward.” For Facebook side, Marufah Muhammed write long post wey many pipo share, wey she talk say the timing of the podcast no good at all.
Marufah talk say, “Just few days ago, the disturbing news about the Ozoro incident surface, and Biola no talk anything, but now for this sensitive time, she choose to release podcast with man wey court don convict based on strong evidence of misconduct with minor. E dey raise questions, are views and engagement now more important than the values your platform claim to stand for?”
She continue say, “If this mata involve your own pikin or someone close to you, you for still give am platform to talk? That’s something to really think about. I no go lie, this one dey pain me well well coming from woman. E dey disheartening. For trying to chase monetization, we no suppose lose our sense of responsibility and conscience.”
Many pipo dey wonder why Biola Adebayo wey be mother herself go give platform to man wey don commit sexual offence against pikin. Some dey talk say she just dey find content to make her podcast blow, but she forget say some mata no suppose dey for public discussion like that.
The case of Baba Ijesha don dey court since 2021 and dem finally sentence am for 2022. The evidence wey dem bring for court include CCTV footage wey show wetin happen. Now say Baba Ijesha dey try to change the narrative through podcast interview, many Nigerians dey see am as attempt to manipulate public opinion.
Some legal experts don talk say even though Baba Ijesha don serve him sentence, him attempt to downplay the offence fit affect him future for Nollywood. The industry don dey try to clean their image from bad behaviour, and this kind interview fit set them back.
For her own side, Biola Adebayo no talk anything about the criticism wey she dey collect. Her podcast ‘Talk To B’ don interview many celebrities before, but this one with Baba Ijesha don become the most controversial. Some pipo dey ask if she go apologize or explain why she carry the interview.
The mata don show how sensitive Nigerians dey about cases wey involve children and sexual abuse. Many pipo still remember the case well well, and dem no want make anybody try to rewrite the history. The backlash against Biola Adebayo strong well well, and e don make many celebrities dey careful about who dem dey give platform for their shows.
As the talk dey spread, e don become clear say even though Baba Ijesha don serve him time, the public no ready to forgive or forget easily. And for those wey dey give am platform to talk, dem go collect their own share of the criticism. The lesson for all content creators na to think well before dem feature controversial figures, especially when the mata concern crimes against children.
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