TikToker Habeeb Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, has claimed that he has been receiving death threats for calling for an end to the #30DaysRantChallenge on the platform.
TheNewsGuru reports that thousands of Nigerian youths have taken to social media, particularly TikTok, to express their frustration over the difficult living conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The #30DaysRantChallenge, was first initiated by Youth Corper Rita “Raye” Ushie Uguamaye who openly criticized President Tinubu, calling his administration, “terrible.”
Reacting to the challenge, Peller had warned his followers that the federal government might ban TikTok if the challenge continued.
“If they shut down this TikTok, Nigerians, I will get angry. Please let us calm down. You people should stop ranting on TikTok… In no time, some government officials will call for a ban on TikTok over the ranting challenge. Nothing must happen to TikTok. God will not allow the enemy to take over the application,” he said.
“All of you saying we should unfollow all celebrities who are not joining the #30daysrantchallenge are out of your mind. You know you are hidden while the celebrity’s face is out there. What are you going to do if they arrest the celebrity? You are wicked. When you become a celebrity, you can also speak out.
“Some people even told me to rant in the presence of the Lagos state governor. I know we are all suffering. In fact, some people on this live session are even richer than me. You are also joining this video because you want to become popular.
“Go and rant in the market and leave TikTok.”
His stance did not sit well with many who have called him out for giving such command on TikTok.
Deji Adeyanju, the Human rights lawyer and activist, called out the internet sensation for making such insensitive comment. He wrote: “Who’s this boy saying people should not rant on TikTok? Is TikTok your father’s house? Shouldn’t you be in school instead of on TikTok? Are you not too young to be doing TikTok? You have no right whatsoever to tell Nigerians how to express their frustration!”
Another X user Dave wrote: ”I hate this guy called Peller, maybe when you guys stop gifting him he will know people are suffering.”
In a recent TikTok live session, Peller claimed that someone threatened to shoot him around Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
“Someone was telling me if I am moving around Phase 1 they are going to shoot me like they shot Salo. What is my offence? Anytime I want to pass around that place I am always putting my phone on central lock,” he said.
Peller said his video about discouraging Nigerians from participating in the challenge was “misrepresented”.
He clarified that he didn’t suggest that people should rant in markets, but rather that celebrities should not be forced to participate.
Peller also claimed that someone blamed him for getting their TikTok account banned after calling out celebrities over the rant challenge.
“You guys misinterpreted the video. I did not say the people should go to the market to rant. Some people are also saying I am only concerned about making money on TikTok,” he said.
“There are other people making money on TikTok. TikTok has also served as a platform to help other people.
“What I am saying is we should all go out together to fight the bad leadership in this country instead of fighting me. I only suggested that celebrities should not be forced to rant.
“A TikToker had called out for the ban of celebrities that do not join the challenge. His account was later banned. The person mentioned that I caused his account to be banned.”
