Former TVC Entertainment Managing Director, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, has shed light on why she openly supported President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections. In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, she explained that her decision was influenced by a blend of personal gratitude, family history, and career considerations.
Afolabi-Brown highlighted her family’s longstanding relationship with Tinubu as a key factor. She recalled that when her father, a prominent human rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), fell seriously ill, Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos State, personally assisted her family, including covering medical expenses and supporting her mother.
She said, “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.”
Clarifying that her professional achievements were independent of her political involvement, Afolabi-Brown stated, “It wasn’t through him I got my job at TVC. I went there purely on merit.”
She further explained that her participation in Tinubu’s campaign was also a strategic move to gain experience and expand her professional network. “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… It was my own personal decision,” she said.
Afolabi-Brown admitted initial hesitation but drew inspiration from international examples like Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama, which encouraged her to publicly back Tinubu. “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… 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.”
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