“Leave these poor children out of dirty politics” – Femi Branch reacts to Makinde’s remarks

Nollywood actor Femi Branch has appealed to Nigerian politicians to stop politicising issues affecting the safety and wellbeing of children.

The actor made the call in a video shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, against the backdrop of the recurring abduction of schoolchildren across the country and the recent release of the 46 pupils and teachers kidnapped in Orire, Oyo State.

The Orire victims regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, 2026, after spending 56 days in captivity.

Reacting to remarks by Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde about the incident, the actor who accused politicians of politicizing the abduction, urged them to leave children out of their political games.

“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 school they are going, 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 traumatized by now and needed to be attended to.

“The governor came out and said he declared to be president at 4pm and by 9am 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 “, he stated.