Former Managing Director of TVC Entertainment, Morayo Afolabi-Brown has revealed why she supported President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections.
Speaking in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, she said her decision was driven by a combination of gratitude and calculated opportunity.
Afolabi-Brown cited her family’s long-standing relationship with Tinubu as a key factor in her choice.
She recounted how Tinubu had shown support for her family during difficult times, particularly when her father, a human rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) fell ill.
Tinubu, who was then governor of Lagos, helped with medical bills and stood by her mother.
Afolabi-Brown said, “So then, yes, and because we have a history.
“My father was president of the Nigerian Bar Association and he was a human rights activist. When he was very ill, the Governor at the time, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, stood by my mother. I mean, he cared for my dad.
“He helped with medical bills. And then the things were really tough for the family. And he was there for us.
“And then my brother came back home. He helped me, held my brother’s hand in politics. He was somebody that stood with us.
“It wasn’t through him I got my job at TVC. It had nothing to do with Asiwaju. It was a fact. I didn’t get my job through him. And I went there purely on merit.”
She said the gesture of kindness left a lasting impression on her and influenced her decision to back Tinubu in the elections.
Afolabi-Brown also emphasised that her involvement in the campaign was a calculated move, allowing her to gain valuable experience and build her professional network.
Afolabi-Brown said: “I got a letter from the women’s arm of the campaign saying that I’ve been selected to work.
“Now, I had two choices. Say no or support him, because I actually did support him. Because I believed in his candidacy.
“So it was my job. And it was my own personal decision. So I said, you know what, I’m going to support him openly. And that’s when I accepted.
She also drew inspiration from Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama, deciding to openly support Tinubu despite initial skepticism.
“I mean, I always remember when Oprah held up Obama’s hand when he was running for office. And I had to go back and check morale.
“Are you sure it’s something you want to go public about, that you’re supporting this guy? And yes, I was skeptical, no doubt about that. But there’s nothing wrong with me having a personal view.
“So I said, you know what, I’m going to support him openly. And that’s when I accepted. And again, it’s not every day you get an opportunity to work on a campaign. I mean, I was working closely with the media team. And I thought it was a good opportunity. So yeah, I took the job. And it was really worth it.”
