Ekiti TAMPAN Blows Hot on Actors, Skit Makers Over Viral Attacks Video on Gov. Oyebanji

…𝑼𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇-𝒃𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒔

The Ekiti State chapter of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), under the leadership of Mr. Dada Olasunkanmi, has condemned what he described as “unfounded and sensational” attempts by some skit makers to discredit the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji through a viral video making the rounds on social media.

In a strongly worded reaction issued in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Olasunkanmi said while creative expression and satire are part of the entertainment industry, it becomes unacceptable when such content is built on misinformation or deliberate falsehood.

“It is wrong to drag the image of any government into the mud without concrete facts. Criticism is healthy for governance, but it must be grounded in evidence, not on hearsay or half-baked claims. Our platforms as entertainers should be used to enlighten, not mislead,” he stressed.

Reacting specifically to the video which purportedly mocked the state of federal roads in Ekiti, the TAMPAN Governor acknowledged that while some Federal roads in the state are in deplorable condition, they fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, not the state.

“We must be fair in our judgment. The Ado–Iworoko–Ifaki road, for instance, is a Federal road which Governor Oyebanji, out of compassion for commuters, rehabilitated using Ekiti funds. Till today, there has been no refund from the Federal Government. That is the kind of sacrifice people should know before they pass judgments,” Olasunkanmi explained.

The Igede-Ekiti-born film practitioner noted that Governor Oyebanji has been proactive in engaging with the Federal Government on infrastructural matters and has also complemented Federal interventions with state resources to ease the suffering of residents.

He therefore urged content creators, especially skit makers with wide followership, to verify information before putting out politically sensitive material.

“Let us not allow the hunger for views and likes to push us into peddling false narratives. A simple background check or consultation with the right authorities could save us from misleading the public,” he advised.

Mr. Olasunkanmi reaffirmed TAMPAN Ekiti’s commitment to promoting responsible storytelling and using creative platforms to foster unity, development, and cultural pride, rather than being tools for mischief or political propaganda.