Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has opened up on why she strongly supported comedienne Princess during the high-profile rape case involving actor Baba Ijesha and a minor.
Speaking on her talk show The Goldroom with Iyabo, the actress revealed that her personal history of being sexually molested multiple times played a major role in her emotional response and decision to publicly advocate for the victim.
Ojo recalled being deeply disturbed by the way some adults twisted the narrative and targeted both the victim and Princess, who had brought the matter to light. She described the experience as a wake-up call that exposed how far society still has to go in supporting survivors of sexual abuse.
"I was outraged," she said. "I didn’t hold back my emotions then because I could relate. I’ve gone through similar experiences, even more times than the young girl involved. It made me feel like enough is enough—we must start speaking out for both the girl and boy child."
She expressed disappointment in some of her colleagues and other public figures who, instead of supporting the victim, tried to defend the accused or downplay the seriousness of the case.
"What really got to me," she added, "was seeing grown adults manipulate the story and even attack the child and Princess. That’s when I realised we still have a very long way to go in Nigeria."
Iyabo Ojo also emphasized the responsibility that entertainers carry as role models, saying they must live by the values they promote on screen.
"We are not just entertainers; we’re also like evangelists. If we portray bad roles in movies, we always show that bad deeds come with consequences. That means we’re preaching something—so we can’t preach one thing and live another," she said. "That’s why I’m quick to call out my fellow entertainers when they do wrong. We’re supposed to set the right example for society."
Ojo's stance during the Baba Ijesha case drew both praise and backlash, but she maintains that standing up for what is right, especially in matters involving abuse and justice, will always be her priority.
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