Former Your View host and Managing Director of TVC Entertainment, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, has opened up on why she chose to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking on the With Chude podcast, Afolabi-Brown said her family’s long history with Tinubu influenced her decision.
“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,” she said.
She also noted that Tinubu played a role in her brother’s political career, adding, “He helped me, held my brother’s hand in politics. He was somebody that stood with us.”
The television host, however, stressed that her career achievements were not handed to her by 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 clarified.
On why she joined Tinubu’s campaign, she explained that it was a deliberate 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,” she said.
Afolabi-Brown recalled weighing the risks of openly showing her support, comparing it to when Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama. “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,” she said.
She admitted that critics questioned her neutrality as a journalist but dismissed the claims, insisting her track record proved 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,” she said.
Reflecting on her long-running show Your View, which she created and recently exited after 12 years, Afolabi-Brown expressed pride in its impact. “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,” she added.
