90% of Protests in Nigeria Are Politically Sponsored, Not Driven by Public Interest— DeeOne

 

Nigerian comedian DeeOne has alleged that a significant majority of protests in the country are not genuinely driven by public concern, claiming that about 90 per cent are instead politically sponsored.

He made the statement during an appearance on Vanguard’s podcast, The Nigerian Meter, where he criticised what he described as the increasing lack of authenticity in Nigeria’s activist and protest space.

According to him, many demonstrations that appear to be grassroots movements are actually supported by political figures who use them to push personal or strategic agendas. He argued that this kind of sponsorship weakens the credibility of protests and erodes public trust in activism.

“In Nigeria, 90 per cent of protests are sponsored,” he said, insisting that most agitations are backed by politicians. “The day we have a genuine protest in Nigeria, we will all know.”

DeeOne further claimed that some individuals who identify as activists are connected to political parties or influential figures, and often choose to speak only on issues that benefit their interests while remaining silent on others.

He maintained that when activists or protest movements receive backing from interested parties, it compromises the integrity of the cause they claim to represent.