Former Your View host and current Managing Director of TVC Entertainment, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, has shed light on why she chose to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections, pointing to her family’s history with him and the unique opportunity the campaign presented.
Speaking in an interview on the With Chude podcast hosted by Chude Jideonwo, she admitted that her family’s long-standing relationship with Tinubu influenced her decision.
Chude remarked that he thought her level of involvement might have led to a political appointment, adding that she was close enough to the First Family to even reach out to the First Lady for guidance.
Responding, Afolabi-Brown explained: “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, however, clarified that her professional career was not tied to Tinubu. “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 openly joined Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, Afolabi-Brown emphasized that it was a deliberate and personal choice. “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 went on to compare her choice to a significant moment in U.S. politics. “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.”
When asked about her neutrality as a journalist, she acknowledged the doubts but defended her record. “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.”
Reflecting on her time as creator and host of Your View, which she exited on August 29, she expressed pride in the show’s success. “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.”
