Actress Tonto Dikeh responds to criticism trailing her support for Tinubu amid protest

Tonto Dikeh, an actress and politician, has written an open letter to Nigerian youths, calling for peaceful protests and imploring the federal and state governments to address their condition.

Tonto, the African Democratic Congress’ deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Rivers State governorship election, revealed this in an Instagram post on Thursday, following criticism from some for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Tonto Dikeh writes:

“My heart goes out to the entire nation on a day like this. We have come a long way from where we started. The sadness associated with the travails of the average individual cannot be overemphasized,”

“My heart goes out to everyone in a position where he or she cannot put food on the table for themselves or their families at this time and have to cry out in protest for their voices to be heard.”

The actress, who joined the All-Progressives Congress last October, added:

“Please know that your voices have been heard and your position noted with the nationwide protest achieving its goals by adherence.

“The nationwide protest became a national discussion because the leadership in the centre, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR @officialasiwajubat, is a leader who means well for grassroots development, youth empowerment, and inclusion. He feels the pain and anguish of the average man.

“I hereby call for peaceful co-existence, peaceful protest, and dialogue. I also charge the Federal and State government to attend to the plights of Nigerians especially the youth.”

Her statement comes after she was chastised for supporting Tinubu and releasing an infograph with facts since the president took office.

In a subsequent post, she informed her supporters that they were free to block and unfollow her.

Her message comes as Nigerians begin a 10-day protest against bad leadership.