Social commentator Solomon Buchi has sparked fresh debate after taking aim at content creator Carter Efe, arguing that comedy is increasingly being used to distract Nigerians from confronting the country’s growing social and political challenges.
Buchi made the remarks in response to Carter Efe’s recent akara-themed skit, expressing concern that many issues that should provoke public outrage are now being repackaged as entertainment.
According to Buchi, content creators with the influence to mobilize young Nigerians are instead turning painful national realities into viral comedy, making it easier for people to laugh at problems rather than demand solutions.
He did not mince words as he criticized Carter Efe, describing him as:
“An established olodo.”
Buchi added:
“I don’t think Nigeria will change anytime soon because the people who are meant to mobilize young people to protest and hold their government accountable are making comedic skits out of sad realities.”
The social commentator argued that the trend has become increasingly disturbing, claiming that even tragic events are now being turned into comedy to boost online engagement.
“Things that should provoke young people are now driving them to make skits and make money from comedy content. Five hundred people can be killed in Nigeria, and the next day, there is a content creator using it to make content.”
According to him, the constant need to entertain has gradually replaced meaningful conversations about governance and accountability.
While acknowledging Nigerians’ resilience and ability to find humour during difficult times, Buchi questioned whether that optimism has evolved into a coping mechanism that discourages action.
“I know Nigerians are very unusually happy people. In the midst of pain and hardship, Nigerians always find a reason to laugh and smile. But it gets to a point where we have to ask ourselves, are we not cowards?”
He suggested that laughter may have become a way of avoiding uncomfortable truths rather than confronting them.
“Maybe we laugh a lot because we are cowards, because we lack the courage to face our fears and confront the things threatening the peace and stability of our country. Maybe we laugh so much because it’s our way of distracting ourselves from the elephant in the room.”
Buchi further argued that Nigerians have become too accepting of hardship, claiming that almost every national crisis is quickly converted into social media entertainment.
“It becomes a problem when a group of people are so spineless that, no matter what the government throws at us, we always find something to laugh about. There is really no breaking point. Every new breaking point comes with comedy. It comes with laughter.”
He also claimed that politicians may interpret this attitude as a sign that citizens are unlikely to hold them accountable.
“And I know that, in the chambers of these politicians, they’re probably looking at us and laughing because they know we are clowns. We will always laugh at whatever they throw at us.”
Concluding his remarks, Buchi urged Nigerians to rethink how they respond to the country’s challenges, insisting that humour should not replace civic responsibility.
“They probably can’t even believe how lucky they are to be ruling over people like Nigerians. We need to do better…”
His comments have since generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing that social media has normalised serious national issues through comedy, while others defended content creators, arguing that humour has become one of the few ways people cope with the country’s harsh realities.
