‘I’m Sorry For Saying Nigeria Is Safer Now Than 10 Years Ago’, Comedian Seyi Law Recants

Popular Nigerian comedian, Seyi Law, has apologised for saying that Nigeria is safer now than it was 10 years ago, admitting that the remark was insensitive to victims of kidnapping and insecurity.

In a video shared on his social media platforms on Thursday, the pro-Tinubu entertainer addressed backlash trailing his appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, where he had stated that Nigeria is safer now than it was 10 years ago. The podcast episode was published on Monday.

“I’ve looked at that statement and I discovered that it was very insensitive to people who have had issues with kidnapping, relatives being killed and all that. And I want to sincerely and unreservedly tender an apology to all those who that statement has hurt.

“A lot of people have drawn my attention to a statement that I made in The Honest Bunch where I said, ‘Is it today that they’ve been kidnapping people from their homes in Nigeria? That Nigeria is safer now than it was 10 years ago,’” he said.

Responding to the criticism that followed, Seyi Law acknowledged the sensitivity of the subject, particularly for families who have suffered from insecurity.

“I am not someone that will be too proud or very insensitive to apologise when he makes a mistake,” he stated.

The comedian stressed that although his intention was not to trivialise the security challenges facing the country, he now recognised that his words conveyed insensitivity.

“I believe that statement was very insensitive even though that it is not what I was trying to say,” he admitted. “That doesn’t mean I should be insensitive to other people’s plight. I’m very sorry, deeply sorry. I should not have made that statement.”

While explaining his position, Seyi Law referenced what he described as ongoing government efforts to tackle insecurity, including collaboration with the United States and increased military funding.

“I believe that we should be able to hold the government that I support accountable, and that is why I am happy that this government is partnering with the United States to tackle insecurity and they have given the military the highest budget ever,” he said.

However, he noted that despite the increased budgetary allocation, security operatives remained overstretched.

“Even though it is not enough because I have spoken with military personnel and I know what they are going through and they are overstretched, and I don’t want their effort to be in vain,” he added.

Seyi Law also used the opportunity to highlight his track record of admitting errors publicly. He cited a moment during the same podcast where he incorrectly stated that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, was in the All Progressives Congress at the time he hosted his fundraising event.

“Even in the podcast when I said I had the opportunity to host Governor Alex Otti’s fundraising and I said it was while he was in APC, I made a mistake because he was in APGA. At some point he went to the APC before he finally joined the Labour Party. You could see that as soon as that error was called out in the programme, I apologised. I don’t waste time to apologise,” he said.

His initial comments had sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians accusing him of downplaying the country’s worsening insecurity crisis.