Gospel singer Busola Oke has revealed that she became so overwhelmed by depression that she had to start taking antidepressant medication.
She said the drugs made her sleep for long hours, sometimes as much as two days at a stretch, and left her feeling worried about their effect on her body.
Oke explained that her struggles were driven by loneliness, frustration, financial hardship and a feeling that she had been abandoned despite years of work in the music industry.
She said she had battled mounting debts, could not afford a car since 2020 and sometimes struggled to pay her rent and feed herself, all of which worsened her mental state.
The Eleyele crooner, however, stressed that she never had suicidal thoughts, saying her emotional outbursts online were a cry for help, not an attempt to harm herself.
Oke appealed to fans and the public to show more understanding to people going through depression, adding that many sufferers hide their pain because they fear judgement or mockery.
About the author
Will more defence funds make Nigeria safer
Nigeria has spent about 32.88 trillion naira on defence in the last 15 years, roughly 12.5 percent of total national budgets of 262.834 trillion naira in that period, yet insecurity remains widespread across the country . Despite these rising allocations, many communities still face insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and oil related violence, raising doubts about whether more money alone can make Nigerians safer . Security trackers estimate that over 100,000 people have been killed in violent incidents since 2012, with thousands abducted and about 3.726 million citizens displaced and living in roughly 3,900 camps nationwide . The trend has continued into 2026, with at least 1,091 deaths recorded from violent attacks in just the first 41 days of the year, underscoring the scale of Nigeria’s security crisis despite years of increased defence spending . Against this backdrop, the National […]
Witness details Malami wife hotel account transfers
The trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on alleged money laundering charges resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja with fresh testimony on how funds were moved through a hotel account linked to his wife . A prosecution witness, Daniel Simon Kwayil, a bank compliance officer, told the court that large sums were repeatedly transferred from the account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, where Malami’s wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, is the sole signatory, to the former minister and his law firm . Kwayil, testifying as the second prosecution witness, identified Malami’s wife in the dock and confirmed that the hotel’s account profile and board resolution listed her as the only signatory, with her identification documents attached to the account opening file . Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November […]
Zulum condemns deadly Maiduguri bomb explosions
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has strongly condemned the multiple bomb explosions that rocked Maiduguri on Monday evening and urged residents to remain calm and vigilant . The explosions occurred almost at the same time at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Monday Market and the Post Office near the State Specialist Hospital shortly after Muslims broke their fast, causing panic across the city . As of the time of reporting, the exact number of casualties was still unknown, but ambulances and emergency workers were seen evacuating the wounded from the different locations . Police spokesperson for Borno State, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nahum Daso Kenneth, said police explosive ordnance disposal teams and other joint security operatives had been deployed to the affected areas to secure the scenes and support rescue efforts . He advised residents to stay away […]
Tinubu and wife begin historic UK state visit
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Tuesday depart Abuja for a historic state visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. He will be accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, with the British monarch scheduled to host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18 to Thursday, March 19, 2026. The visit is the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years, the last having been undertaken in May 1989 by then military president General Ibrahim Babangida, who was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace and the United Kingdom Mission in Nigeria confirmed the visit, noting that President Tinubu and the First Lady have accepted the King’s invitation for the two day engagement at Windsor Castle. Tinubu’s Special […]
EU rejects Trump request on Strait of Hormuz
European Union leaders have rejected a request from United States President Donald Trump for military help to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss soaring oil prices caused by the US Israeli war on Iran . Trump had urged the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other NATO allies to send naval ships to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would be very bad for NATO’s future if partners did not help secure the vital waterway . US officials spent the weekend trying to build support for a new coalition to patrol the strait and said they hoped to announce it in the coming days, although it remains unclear which countries will join or when any operation would start . Many close US allies are reluctant to send […]
Actress Remi Surutu declares support for Tinubu’s 2027 re election bid
Veteran Yoruba actress Remilekun Oshodi, popularly known as Remi Surutu, has publicly declared her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re election in 2027.She made the declaration at the launch of EKO57, a Lagos based pro Tinubu group formed to mobilise grassroots support for the president’s second term campaign. Surutu told attendees that she stood firmly with Tinubu despite the backlash she has faced since openly supporting him before the 2023 elections.According to her, some people even went as far as blaming the president for her personal tragedy, including the death of her child. The actress said critics who attack supporters of the president are being unfair, insisting that everyone has a right to their political choices.She explained that her support for Tinubu is rooted in long standing personal conviction, not financial inducement. Surutu urged Nigerians to be patient with […]
Related
Actress Remi Surutu declares support for Tinubu’s 2027 re election bid
Veteran Yoruba actress Remilekun Oshodi, popularly known as Remi Surutu, has publicly declared her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re election in 2027.She made the declaration at the launch of EKO57, a Lagos based pro Tinubu group formed to mobilise grassroots support for the president’s second term campaign. Surutu told attendees that she stood firmly with Tinubu despite the backlash she has faced since openly supporting him before the 2023 elections.According to her, some people even went as far as blaming the president for her personal tragedy, including the death of her child. The actress said critics who attack supporters of the president are being unfair, insisting that everyone has a right to their political choices.She explained that her support for Tinubu is rooted in long standing personal conviction, not financial inducement. Surutu urged Nigerians to be patient with […]
Content creator raises alarm over long queues at Ikorodu BRT terminal
A Lagos based content creator has raised concern over the return of long early morning queues and severe delays at the Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit terminal.Her recent videos and posts have sparked fresh debate about the state of public transport on one of the city’s busiest routes. The creator, known on TikTok as darkskinnedella (@ella_the_fashionistar), has been documenting her daily commute from Ikorodu to Lagos Island since relocating to the city in late 2025.In her clips, hundreds of commuters are seen packed into long queues at the terminal before sunrise, waiting up to two hours or more for available buses. In one viral video, another user, @Teeniiola (Teniola), films the queue stretching across the terminal and laments that “waking up early is useless in Lagos” because the buses are not enough to meet demand.She appeals directly to the Lagos State […]
Why I once never wanted to give birth, says BBNaija star Queen
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Queen Mercy Atang has revealed that there was a time in her life when she never wanted to give birth because she was deeply afraid of childbirth.She shared this in an emotional Mother’s Day message reflecting on how her journey into motherhood has changed her mindset. Queen said that years ago she used to openly say she did not want children, as the idea of pregnancy and labour scared her.Looking back now, she said she laughs at those statements because her experience as a mother has been overwhelmingly positive. “Motherhood has been such an incredible journey,” she wrote on Instagram.She explained that becoming a mother has made her more focused, resilient and determined to work harder so she can build a future her children will be proud of. According to her, motherhood has also helped […]
I’m alive and well, Odun n lo sopin singer Deborah Fasoyin debunks death rumours
Veteran gospel singer and leader of the CAC Good Women Choir, Evangelist Deborah Adebola Fasoyin, has debunked viral social media rumours claiming she is dead.Her family and gospel music leaders have confirmed that the 86 year old, fondly known as Mama Fasoyin, is alive, hale and hearty. The false reports circulated widely online with her photos and “RIP” captions, prompting an outpouring of condolence messages from fans and churches.Her son, Korede Fasoyin, dismissed the claims as fake news, saying the family had been receiving calls from Nigeria and abroad since the rumour surfaced. “My mother is alive, the news of her death is fake,” Korede said, adding that the family was already preparing a video for her to personally address the public.He condemned whoever started the story without any attempt to verify it, calling the act mischievous and hurtful. The […]
One Battle After Another dominates Oscars 2026
The biggest names in cinema gathered in Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the Academy Awards, celebrating the most outstanding films and performances of the year. Political drama One Battle After Another dominated the ceremony, winning six awards including Best Picture and Best Director. The film’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, secured his first Oscar after several previous nominations. In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, while Michael B. Jordan took home the Best Actor award for his performance in Sinners. Both had been widely tipped as strong contenders throughout the awards season. The Best Supporting Actress prize went to Amy Madigan for her role in Weapons. Meanwhile, Sean Penn earned Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, adding another major honour to the film’s successful night. Among other major winners, animated film KPop […]
I left acting for music, not because of trauma, says Ray Emodi
Nollywood actor and singer Ray Emodi has clarified that he did not leave acting because of trauma or family pressure, but to fully pursue his passion for music.He said recent reports suggesting that his exit from Nollywood was driven mainly by traumatic experiences were misleading and did not capture his true motivation. Emodi explained that music has always been his first love and that he had been combining it with acting for years before deciding to focus on it completely.According to him, continuing to split his time between both fields was holding him back from reaching his full potential as an artiste. He confirmed that he had faced difficult moments on some movie sets, including unsafe locations and stressful work conditions, but insisted that these were not the main reasons for his decision.He also noted that while he has spoken […]
Be the first to leave a comment