Peller, the popular TikTok personality, has alleged that he has been receiving death threats for calling for an end to the #30DaysRantChallenge on the platform.
The challenge began when Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a serving corps member, criticised federal government policies and President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
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.”
However, his stance was met with opposition, with Deji Adeyanju, the human rights lawyer, questioning Peller’s audacity to tell Nigerians how to express their frustration.
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.”
Discussion about this post