Why I Told Nigerians to Stop Making Enemies Over Politics — Timi Dakolo
Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has explained why he advised Nigerians not to turn political differences into personal hatred, saying ordinary citizens sometimes fight over politicians who continue to maintain friendly relationships behind the scenes.
The singer’s message sparked debate on social media after he posted, “Stop making enemies because of politics,” on X on Thursday, October 15, 2026. While some Nigerians supported his call for peace, others criticised him and questioned whether the advice adequately recognised the frustrations citizens experience over governance and political leadership.
In a follow-up response to the reactions, Dakolo said his advice was based on his personal experiences of seeing politicians from different parties interact privately despite their public political differences.
According to the singer, he had been in rooms with politicians when cameras were switched off and witnessed them exchanging greetings, embracing one another and asking about their families, projects and businesses.
He said he was initially surprised by what he observed, particularly because their supporters could be engaged in heated arguments and hostility over the same political figures.
Dakolo maintained that his message was not intended to make him an enemy of Nigerians who hold strong political opinions or to suggest that citizens should ignore poor leadership.
“Dear Nigerians, I can never be your enemy or take the side of oppressors,” he said while clarifying his position.
Dakolo argued that political disagreements can create unnecessary divisions among Nigerians, particularly when supporters begin to treat people with different political views as personal enemies.
He expressed concern that citizens sometimes engage in verbal confrontations and physical clashes over politicians, even when those politicians may maintain cordial relationships with their political opponents outside public view.
The singer said such divisions could benefit political actors while damaging relationships among ordinary people who share communities, workplaces, friendships and family ties.
According to Dakolo, Nigerians should be cautious about allowing political loyalty to determine how they treat one another.
He further warned that political alignments can change over time, with politicians who once competed against each other sometimes moving to different parties or working with former opponents.
His argument was that citizens should consider the consequences of political hostility before allowing disagreements to escalate into lasting personal conflicts.
Dakolo also pointed to the human cost of political confrontations, noting that people can lose their lives over political disputes while the politicians at the centre of those disputes may later change their political affiliations.
The singer’s comments attracted different responses from social media users.
Some Nigerians agreed with his position, describing it as a reminder that political disagreements should not destroy friendships, family relationships or peaceful coexistence. Supporters of his message argued that citizens can disagree about political parties and candidates without resorting to insults, threats or violence.
Others, however, questioned the message. Some critics argued that political disagreements are not always simply about personal loyalty to politicians but can reflect genuine concerns about governance, economic hardship, public services, accountability and the direction of the country.
Some social media users also questioned Dakolo’s political neutrality, pointing to his previous performances at political events. The singer has faced criticism over his involvement in political functions, including a performance at the 2022 presidential declaration event for then-Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The different reactions demonstrate the challenge of discussing political unity in a country where many citizens have strong views about leadership and public accountability.
In defending his position, Dakolo stated that he was not affiliated with any political party and presented his comments as a warning against unnecessary hostility among citizens.
He stressed that his observations of politicians interacting privately had influenced his decision to speak out.
His message was that Nigerians should not automatically treat people with different political preferences as enemies. Instead, citizens can challenge political opinions, question government decisions and demand accountability without resorting to personal attacks or violence.
The distinction is important because discouraging political hostility does not necessarily mean asking citizens to abandon their beliefs or stop criticising public officials. Nigerians can continue to debate policies, assess political records and express dissatisfaction with leadership while respecting the rights and safety of others.
Dakolo’s intervention comes as political discussions gather momentum ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. As political parties and their supporters prepare for another election cycle, disagreements over candidates, policies and government performance are likely to remain part of public debate.
His comments have renewed discussion about the relationship between political loyalty and personal relationships, as well as the importance of maintaining peaceful engagement during election periods.
For Nigerians, the central issue raised by the singer is whether political disagreements must lead to personal enmity. His position is that citizens should be able to hold different views without turning those differences into hatred or violence.
While reactions to his comments remain divided, Dakolo has made his position clear: Nigerians should be careful not to sacrifice their relationships or safety over political figures who may not share the same level of hostility towards one another.
Ultimately, political participation and accountability remain important, but citizens can pursue both without making enemies of one another.
