Branch noted that children in Nigeria have suffered enough, arguing that the quality of education they receive is nothing to write home about.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian movie star and film director, Femi Branch, has appealed to politicians in Nigeria to desist from playing politics with the lives of children in the country.
The 56-year-old Nollywood actor made the plea on Saturday in a video shared on his Instagram page, which has since gone viral.
He was reacting to comments made by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, after security agencies freed 46 kidnapped school children and teachers in Orire, Oyo State, from their abductors.
The victims, who were kidnapped on 15 May, eventually regained their freedom on Friday, 10 July 2026, after spending 56 days in captivity.
Reacting to remarks made by Governor Makinde after the rescue, Branch urged him and other politicians to leave children out of their political games.
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The thespian reminded them that the “innocent children were in the bush for 56 days” and “must be traumatised by now.”
He added that children in the country have suffered enough, noting that the quality of education they receive is nothing to write home about.
Speaking via his verified handle, Branch said, “I just want to make an appeal and beg us in this country. I’m not directing this to anybody, but I’m begging all of us that whatever dirty politics that we’re all playing, can we just leave the innocent children out of it? The children in this country are suffering enough; they are suffering enough.
“The so-called schools they are attending, the quality of the education, and everything is scrambled—they are suffering enough. Can we just leave them out of this dirty politics that we’re playing? Innocent children were in the bush for 56 days. Those kids must be traumatised by now and need to be attended to.
“The governor came out and said he declared to be president at 4 pm and by 9 am the next morning is when they packed the children and the teachers away, thereby insinuating that it was a political game. Can we just leave these poor children out of our dirty politics? Please, I’m not attacking or calling out anybody; I’m just appealing to us to leave the innocent children out of our madness, please.”
