Why I Supported Tinubu in 2023 — Morayo Brown

Former Your View host and TVC Entertainment Managing Director, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, has opened up about her decision to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections, highlighting past family connections and the opportunity she saw in being part of his campaign.

Speaking on With Chude Podcast, hosted by Chude Jideonwo, Afolabi-Brown revealed that her family’s longstanding relationship with Tinubu played a role in her support.

Chude noted that he expected Afolabi-Brown might join the government after her participation in the elections, mentioning that she was close enough to the First Family to even call the First Lady for advice.

Responding, she said, “So then, 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.”

She was quick to clarify that her career success was not due to Tinubu’s influence. “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.

On why she chose to join Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, Afolabi-Brown explained that the decision was personal and deliberate. “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 drew a parallel to a famous moment in U.S. politics, adding, “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 sceptical, 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.”

Addressing concerns about her impartiality as a journalist, she acknowledged the perception but defended her professionalism. “Well, the truth is that it’s a perception. The perception is always reality. Because the truth is that I think TVC is probably one of the most objective stations. It’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth.”

Afolabi-Brown also reflected on the success of her talk show, Your View, which she created and stepped down from on August 29. “We were 12 years in May. Honestly, I’m proud of where we are 12 years after. I’m really proud of the work the entire team has put in to make an awesome show. And I love the fact that many more people have replicated the format, which is really great.”