Workers and marketers associated with the Ero-Arike herbal balm have appealed to Nigerians to continue patronising the brand despite backlash against its owner, Falilat Oyetunji, popularly known as Ero-Arike, over her political activities.
The appeal was made in a video circulating on social media, in which a group of women holding containers of the herbal balm pleaded with members of the public not to allow the controversy surrounding Oyetunji to affect the business.
One of the women, speaking in Yoruba, said she had been widowed for five years and claimed that Oyetunji had helped her build a house, stock her business and pay for her children’s education.
“Do not ruin Ero-Arike’s business. Do you want to take away our livelihood?” another woman said in the video, as the group appealed to Nigerians in places including Oyo, Ibadan, Lagos, Owo and Agbara, where they said the business had workers and beneficiaries.
The women also appealed to members of the Hausa and Muslim communities, saying the business catered to their needs and provided a source of livelihood.
The development comes amid renewed criticism of Oyetunji following her involvement in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Oyetunji, an Osun-based businesswoman and APC grassroots mobiliser, campaigned for the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who was defeated by the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke. She had also distributed rice bearing APC branding during the campaign while urging residents to support Oyebamiji.
Her political activities have subsequently generated criticism online, with the backlash extending to the Ero-Arike brand.
Oyetunji has been politically active in Osun for some time. In 2025, she publicly backed Oyebamiji ahead of the 2026 governorship election and also became involved in controversies surrounding APC affairs in the state.
The businesswoman has also previously attracted media attention outside politics. In August 2022, she was abducted in Iragbiji, Osun State, but was rescued by police officers shortly afterwards. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, according to the Osun State Police Command.
With the latest appeal, the women sought to draw a distinction between Oyetunji’s political activities and the livelihoods they say depend on the Ero-Arike business.
They ended the video by praying for the continued success of the business and its customers.
