VIDEO: Ero-Arike workers beg Nigerians not to boycott brand over owner’s politics

Workers of the Ero-Arike herbal balm brand are appealing to Nigerians to continue supporting their product, urging them not to let the owner's political activities lead to a boycott. In a social media video, a group of women holding the balm pleaded with the public, emphasizing the livelihoods the business provides.

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I, standing here, my husband died five years ago. She helped me build a house, helped me stock goods, and helped me train my children in school. That business will not fail. Do not ruin our mother’s work. We are pleading with you.

These women, who identified themselves as beneficiaries and marketers of Ero-Arike, shared personal stories of how the business has impacted their lives. One woman, a widow for five years, claimed that the owner, Falilat Oyetunji, popularly known as Ero-Arike, helped her build a house, stock her business, and fund her children's education. They stressed that the business is crucial for their survival and appealed to Nigerians not to "ruin our mother’s work."

The appeal comes in the wake of backlash against Oyetunji, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) grassroots mobilizer in Osun State. She actively campaigned for the APC candidate in the recent Osun governorship election, which the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, won. Oyetunji had distributed APC-branded rice during her campaign and faced criticism after a video emerged showing her issuing spiritual warnings to those who accepted the rice but did not vote for the APC candidate.

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Do not ruin Ero-Arike’s business. Do you want to take away our livelihood?

Oyetunji is the CEO of Olokemeji Nigeria Limited, the company behind the popular Ero-Arike herbal balm. The workers' plea highlights the potential economic consequences for ordinary people when a business owner becomes embroiled in political controversy. They extended their appeal to various communities across Nigeria, including Oyo, Ibadan, Lagos, Owo, and Agbara, and specifically addressed the Hausa and Muslim communities, stating that the business caters to their needs and provides a source of income.

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Peace be upon you, Muslim community. We are Hausa people, and we have a place with Ero-Arike. We are eating here, we are drinking here. She caters to many of our needs.