Regina Daniels fires back at critics of her comment on #EndBadGovernance protest

Regina Daniels, the Nollywood actress, has fired back at critics calling her out over her remarks on the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.

Many Nigerians took to the streets on August 1 to protest against poor governance and the increasing cost of living in the country.

But in a nationwide broadcast on August 4, President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the protest “so we can create room for dialogue”.

The film star earlier came under intense criticism on social media after she condemned acts of “violence carried out by some protesters”.

“Today is August 1, the first day of the national protests in Nigeria. We all know that the masses are suffering and want a better living, hence the protest. There is nothing wrong with protesting, but there is everything wrong with violence,” she said in a video shared on Instagram.

“Once violence gets involved, it defeats the whole purpose of the protests. I urge everyone to try and make this protest as peaceful as possible.”

Some critics, however, tackled the actress for making such remarks on the protest.

They also argued that the movie star was speaking from a “privileged position,” adding that she does not understand the suffering of the masses.

However, in another footage, Daniels, who is married to Ned Nwoko, the billionaire businessman and senator, fired back at her critics.

The actress acknowledged her privileged position but stressed that it does not prevent her from protesting against the economic challenges in Nigeria since her domestic staff “need to be catered for”.

The 23-year-old also shared a video of some protesters in the north waving a Russian flag, implying that the protest was “becoming difficult to control”.

“Hoisting the Russian flag! Is that what we want? Mind you, whatever happens in the north can get to you,” she said.

“I preached against violence and ignorant Nigerians said it’s because I am privileged and opportune. Yes, the fact remains that I am privileged and opportune.

‘‘But that doesn’t stop me from understanding that my nanny needs to be paid extra or that my gate man or my cooks need to be catered for because of insecurity and extra bills to be paid in Nigeria.

‘‘The point remains that Nigeria cannot be changed in a day and not by one man. I am not speaking for the government, neither am I speaking for you people to love me because I don’t need it. I am just stating the obvious fact and that is the truth.”

 

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The Kano police command recently arrested several foreign nationals suspected of being the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.