Nigerian comedian and social commentator Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has explained why he stepped back from regularly criticising the government, saying he became exhausted by repeating the same concerns while Nigerians appeared to move quickly from one national problem to another.
The entertainer said his reduced public commentary should not be mistaken for fear or a decision to abandon advocacy. Instead, he said years of speaking about governance, facing criticism and receiving threats had left him wanting to focus more attention on his art and personal development.
Mr Macaroni made the clarification on Wednesday after Wazobia FM shared an old interview in which he discussed threats he had received following his involvement in the #EndSARS protests.
He said the interview was recorded more than two years ago, although he maintained that many of the concerns he raised at the time remained relevant.
According to him, one of his biggest frustrations is what he sees as a tendency for Nigerians to express anger about national problems but move on before sustained pressure produces change.
“There is nothing I will say now that I haven’t already said,” he wrote, arguing that repeatedly raising the same concerns had become exhausting.
Mr Macaroni says he is taking a break, not giving up
Mr Macaroni stressed that threats were not the main reason for reducing his political commentary.
He said he had faced hostility and criticism for years because of his public positions on government and national issues, adding that such reactions had become familiar to him.
“I am only tired of saying the same thing over and over again,” he said. He later added: “When Nigerians are finally ready, I will be ready too!”
The actor said he now wants to use the break to redefine himself and concentrate on his work as an entertainer.
His latest explanation also provides more context to earlier comments about his political involvement. In a separate report by NewDailyPrime, Mr Macaroni said he had no interest in seeking political office and would rather continue commenting on public issues from outside government.
He argued that remaining outside formal politics gives him greater freedom to speak about issues affecting Nigerians without becoming part of the political structure he has criticised.
#EndSARS activism brought threats and family pressure
Mr Macaroni became widely associated with civic activism during the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations, which began as protests against police brutality and later developed into broader demands for accountability and police reform.
Reflecting on that period, he said his activism brought threats to his safety and caused concern within his family. At one stage, relatives wanted him to leave Nigeria, but he chose to remain in the country.
He also remained politically outspoken during the 2023 general election period.
Mr Macaroni said he encouraged Nigerians to vote carefully and disclosed his own preferred presidential candidate, while making clear that he was not instructing others to support the same person. He said his position nevertheless attracted insults and criticism from some members of the public.
The comedian has continued to comment on national issues since then. In March 2026, NewDailyPrime reported that Mr Macaroni joined other Nigerian entertainers in raising concerns about insecurity following deadly violence in the country. His comments about the government’s response were his own political assessment.
His wider influence has also extended beyond comedy. NewDailyPrime has examined Mr Macaroni’s role in Nigeria’s digital civic conversation, including how he has used social media to discuss accountability and public affairs.
Why he says Nigerians must take greater responsibility
At the centre of Mr Macaroni’s latest comments is his argument that change cannot depend only on celebrities, activists or a small number of outspoken citizens.
He said Nigerians must be prepared to sustain demands for accountability rather than relying on prominent individuals to repeatedly raise the same issues.
That position is consistent with earlier comments in which he argued that public figures should not automatically be expected to become activists simply because they have large audiences.
For Mr Macaroni, the current period is therefore a reduction in political commentary rather than an announcement that he is permanently leaving public advocacy.
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