Workers and marketers of Ero-Arike herbal balm have publicly appealed to Nigerians not to stop buying the product because of the political controversy surrounding its owner, Falilat Oyetunji, widely known as Ero-Arike. The appeal followed growing calls for a boycott of the brand after Oyetunji's involvement in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election drew criticism from sections of the public.
Video Shows Workers Pleading With the Public
In a video that has since spread across social media, a group of women were seen holding containers of the balm, singing and appealing directly to members of the public. The women described themselves as beneficiaries and marketers of the business, arguing that the livelihood of many families depended on the brand's continued success.
The marketers made clear that a boycott would not only affect Oyetunji but would also hurt the women who earn their income through the product. They said the business had supported households and provided a means of sustaining families, urging Nigerians to separate the owner's political activities from the product itself.
Political Backlash Threatens Brand Reputation
The Osun governorship election has been at the centre of considerable controversy, and Oyetunji's role in events surrounding it appears to have sparked anger directed at the brand among some Nigerians online. The workers' video was a direct response to calls for the public to stop purchasing the herbal balm as a form of protest against Oyetunji.
No official statement from Oyetunji or the Ero-Arike brand had been issued at the time of this report.
Owner's Distribution of Rice During Election Draws Scrutiny
Previously, Legit.ng reported that an Osun businesswoman identified as Alhaja Falilat Yusuf, widely known as Ero-Arike, drew widespread attention after a video captured her giving out bags of rice to residents while explicitly asking them to cast their votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The video showed her dressed in a customised outfit bearing the APC logo alongside a photograph of the party's governorship candidate while distributing rice packed in transparent polythene bags printed with APC stickers.
The workers' appeal highlights the economic stakes involved, as the brand supports numerous families. The outcome of the boycott calls remains uncertain, but the workers are clear in their plea for Nigerians to continue purchasing the product.
