Nollywood actress and podcast host Biola Adebayo, also known as Abiola Ayomide, has addressed the backlash surrounding her recent Talk To B interview with convicted actor Baba Ijesha. She posted a video to her audience and offered a genuine apology.
Biola began by stating,
“This is an apology video to everyone that feels offended. I am so sorry. I apologize.”
She then walked viewers through how the interview came together.
“When baba Ijesha got back from prison, he told me he was back and I asked him if he wanted to do an interview to apologize or to clear the air so he can continue his life but he said, no, he wasn’t ready. He had things he was doing at the time.”
Biola continued,
“He called me later that he was now ready for an interview, mentioning that Yomi Hamzat, Ayefele, and a few other celebrities have been requesting his audience but he wants to do the interview with her first. And then I thanked him for the honor.”
She explained her mindset going into the conversation.
“I thought I was just an interviewer and my role was just to interview him. I thought he’d apologize but he did not do so. It is not in my place to condemn him as an interviewer. The platform is for both good and bad. The platform is for both saint and sinners. It’s for people you like and the ones you don’t like.”
Opening up about her personal background and her mentality around the issue, Biola said,
“I’m a mother. I’m a Christian and I’m also a rape victim and it took me a lot of time, prayers, and confessions to get over it so I’ll never enable anybody.”
She gently pushed back on criticism about her interview style during the episode.
“Watch the video well, there was a part he was complaining about the way I was attacking him with questions but I apologized and said ‘it’s my job to ask you the right questions’ and I asked the right questions which I thought was the job of an interviewer.”
At the end of the video, Biola reiterated that,
“The interview was not to exonerate baba Ijesha or to agree with his statements. The interview was not to exonerate him or for him to come claim innocence on my show because it was a crime he’s been convicted for.”
Her words have already sparked fresh conversations across Nollywood social media. Many are noting how openly she explained her intentions and stood by her principles as a survivor, while others are adding fuel to the fire, saying she should’ve known better.