Popular gospel artiste, Yinka Alaseyori, has tendered an apology following public criticism of her comment regarding President Bola Tinubu administration’s response to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
In a video posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, the singer acknowledged the concerns raised by Nigerians and expressed regret that her earlier remarks were perceived as insensitive to the plight of the victims and their families.
The minstrel had on Monday uploaded a video on her Facebook page, showing an organised prayer session held in solidarity with the plight of pupils and teachers kidnapped from schools in Oyo State on May 15.
The video captured her urging Nigerians to channel their energy into prayer rather than venting their frustration at President Bola Tinubu over the country’s persistent security concerns.
She further maintained that prayer remains a potent force and challenged the growing notion that it has lost its effectiveness in addressing the nation’s problems.
“You can’t say the president or vice president is not working. The security personnel might have gone to rescue them, and a charm could have covered their face so they would not see anything. That is the place of prayer”, the “Arojinle” crooner said in the video.
However, Alaseyori’s call for prayers and her remarks that the government was taking action sparked widespread backlash and criticism.
Critics online interpreted her remarks as advocating that Nigerians outsource to God what should be their valid expectations from the government of the day. Many Nigerians insisted that tackling insecurity demands decisive government action rather than religious appeals.
Alaseyori addressed the backlash in a video she posted on her Instagram on Wednesday, clarifying that people misunderstood her. She expressed regret over the reaction, stressing that it was never her intention to make anyone feel ignored or dismissed.
Her heartfelt apology goes thus: “Two days ago, I made a video of about one hour and thirteen minutes in which I prayed for the kidnapped children, grieving families, government officials, the military, the land of Nigeria, and everybody in pain as a whole. But when I woke up yesterday, I discovered that some well-meaning Nigerians felt offended because I made them feel unseen or their voices unheard.
“You know me too well to think I would ever make anybody feel that way. I also discovered that the video had been cut from the original, which was one hour and thirteen minutes long. Mothers, please don’t be upset with me. I beg you in the name of Jesus, you will not bury your children, you will not fast in sorrow. I beg you in God’s name, please forgive me if I ever made you feel offended, unseen, or if I spoke insensitively.”
