‘I was sad but never had suicidal thoughts’ – Busola ‘Eleyele’ Oke

2026-02-26 - 11:17

By Enitan Abdultawab Gospel artiste Busola Oke has dismissed reports suggesting she contemplated suicide, clarifying that her recent emotional live video was misunderstood. According to the singer, her appearance online was driven by frustration and loneliness, not suicidal intent. Speaking on a recent Talk To B Podcast, Oke explained that at no point did she state she planned to take her life. She described the backlash as a misconception that spiralled beyond her control. “I never said I was going to commit suicide. It was a misinterpretation,” she said, stressing that her words were taken out of context. The singer recounted that she had been overwhelmed and emotionally drained when she decided to go live. She described feeling unusually low, isolated, and exhausted, as though she had no one around her. In that moment, she said, she simply wanted reassurance and connection. “I felt very strange and lonely, like nobody was there. I was exhausted, so I went live,” she explained. During the session, Oke said she asked whether anyone cared about her and requested that friends share the video and tag others, not for attention, but to see expressions of love and support. “And I said, I was saying, is there anybody out there that cares about me? I just want to see people that love me. And I started talking to my friends. They started reaching out. I said, ‘Please share this video and tag.’ Just show me you love me. I’m here. These people started talking to me. I’m so glad they’re here for you and all that. They started sharing the video. However, she noted that somewhere along the line, the narrative shifted. What she intended as a private emotional outlet among friends turned into public speculation about her mental state. “And all of a sudden, I don’t know what,” somebody said. I never planned to expose myself. I’ve always been someone who doesn’t like to talk.” However, she noted that somewhere along the line, the narrative shifted. The gospel singer further revealed that she has endured significant challenges since 2020 but deliberately chose to remain silent about them. Her reluctance to speak out, she said, stems from a dislike for being pitied or treated as a charity case. “I don’t want people to treat me like a pity party. I prefer people to be natural around me,” she said, explaining that this desire for normalcy kept her from sharing her story earlier. Oke concluded that while she was deeply sad at the time of the live video, it should not have been interpreted as a declaration of suicidal thoughts. For her, it was simply a moment of vulnerability and an attempt to reach out for emotional support rather than a signal of self-harm.