Funsho Arogundade

An unprecedented number of entertainment figures join the political train ahead of 2015 general elections

It wasn’t a scene from a Nollywood movie but real life situation. Desmond Olusola Elliot, accomplished actor and director, walked into the Eagles Square in Surulere, Lagos amidst cheers by thousands of youths who had already converged there to welcome him. Like a politician that he has become, the actor waved to the excited crowd and reeled out his plans for the people.

“The current situation is very pathetic. The worst part of our national life is that the level of corruption has not allowed youths to understand what it means to live a meaningful life. Just because of lack of knowledge of what to do, we are being sidetracked. There are no jobs, and issues like these lead to frustration…There’s a lot that needs to be done and I feel God has helped me thus far and I want to give back through politics that will be favourable to the youths,” the actor said.

•Desmond Elliot

Elliot has proved his worth in the movie industry and this has earned him respect from his colleagues and also helped him build a huge fan base. He now wants accomplish same in a larger constituency through politics. The actor has just won the ticket of All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Elliot defeated the sitting lawmaker, Kabiru Lawal, by a wide margin at the state House of Assembly’s primaries held last week.

While Elliot will be battling candidates of other parties for the seat at the general election slated for next year, top actress Kate Henshaw aims higher.

Henshaw, who has equally made her mark in the movie industry, hopes to bring necessary change to public service. She is jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket to be the party’s standard bearer at the polls for the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

•Kate-Henshaw

“I have a strong interest and desire to serve my people and especially show that there is a better and more humane ways to do things when you are in a position of leadership. Putting the people first and being accountable to them as well as being accessible,” the actress said of her desire.

Angling to be in the same green chambers with Henshaw is music star Abolore Adegbola Akande, better known as 9ice. The multiple award-winning singer has also declared his intention to seek elective post since August. He is in contention for the ticket of APC, so as to vie for a seat at the House of Representatives for his native Ogbomosho North/South/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State.

On the motive for his interest in politics, the 37-year-old singer revealed that having attained certain height in his music career, he wants to try a new area, and politics fits that new challenge.

According to him, he joined politics to right all the wrongs he has noticed in his constituency. “I have passion for politics; I want to make changes in the society. I have noticed so many things are wrong in my community and constituency so I would want to change them,” 9ice said.

•9ice

Actor turned lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, who came to limelight via his sterling role as Andy in the 1990s movie, Living In Bondage, is also aiming for a seat at the green chamber.

Okonkwo, who has become more of a public commentator on many national television stations, declared his intention in September. He is angling for the ticket of PDP as candidate for the Nsukka/Igboeze South Constituency of Enugu State. “My chances are very bright. I also have the love of a lot of prominent members of my party because of my modest achievements in Nollywood,” said the 46-year-old Okonkwo.

Aside these notable entertainment figures, there are scores of their colleagues who have also caught the political bug.

•Kenneth Okonkwo to contest for a seat at Enugu National Assembly

Gospel music star, Kenny St. Best, KSB, is one of the few considered as being genuinely interested in politics. She contested in the primaries to represent Ikeja Constituency 1 but was not as fortunate as Elliot. She lost the bid to Folajimi Mohammed, son of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, national publicity secretary of APC.

Showbiz entrepreneur, Dayo Adeneye, popularly called D1, was also not that lucky. He lost his bid to represent his Odogbolu Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC. At the party’s primaries held last week, D1 lost the ticket to his main challenger, Adebowale Ojuri.

Also jostling for various parties’ tickets for elective posts ahead of 2015 general elections are actress Bukky Wright, who is seeking the ticket to represent Abeokuta South Federal Constituency of Ogun State at the House of Representatives on the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP, led by former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba; actor Bob Manuel Udokwu, who is at present a Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano. Udokwu is vying for the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for a seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Idemili North Constituency. Popular Yoruba movie actress, Funke Adesiyan, is also seeking to contest for the Ibadan South-East constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

•Bukky Wright

Prior to this new set of politicians, some entertainers have held – and some are still holding– political positions and made a credible impact while serving. They include Dr. Victor Uwaifo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Onyeka Onwenu, Okey Bakassi, Hilda Dokubo and Kanayo O. Kanayo. But this new generation of entertainers seems no longer interested in being directed by elected politicians. They want to be at the drivers’ seat. And with this rising number of entertainers in the loop for the race to the 2015 general elections, the question has been: what is their motive?

Some industry watchers believe that with the Nigerian entertainment industry in recent time suffering from some recession with very few breaking even, this begs the question if the new-found romance with politics is borne out of genuine passion to serve or the lure of filthy lucre that Nigerian politics presents. Seasoned actress, Clarion Chukwurah, aligned with the latter. She described the entertainers’ new-found love for service as ‘sheer hypocrisy’ and urge to make easy money.

•Clarion Chukwurah

“The motive of those who are embracing partisan politics is purely monetary. Let us call a spade a spade. If you tell me that you want to go into politics to serve the people, I would want to look at your record first. I want to see what you have done to better the lives of the people in your immediate community. How many boreholes have you sunk in the community? How many hours of community service have you given for free over the last four or five years? How well are you known as somebody who yearns for improvement in social development?” Chukwurah said.

Anthony Amenaghawon, a blogger, expressed doubt if these new politicians vying for elective positions can really give Nigerians the dividends of democracy if given opportunity. “Would they not just join the bandwagon of politicians who often make empty promises and when elected begin to amass so much wealth for themselves and their unborn generation?” Amenaghawon asked.

Adesina Oluwaseun, another industry watcher, was not really impressed with some of the entertainers who now don the toga of politicians.

“It is unfortunate that the younger generation in the Nigeria entertainment industry have got nothing to offer the youths but instead have polluted their minds with music and movies that lack moral values…[They] only celebrate immorality and give the youths a warped sense of success…With many of them not even able to keep their homes together, these are the people now finding their way into politics,” Oluwaseun said.

But Zik Zulu Okafor, president, Association of Movie Producers, AMP, said the entrance of more entertainers into politics will bring about change and stability to the country. He explained that actors have played various roles in movies that depict the realities of life, therefore they will be the best people among politicians.

•Zik Zulu-Okafor

Music-comedian Tony ‘One Week’ Muonagor, who is the minority leader in the Anambra State House of Assembly, posited that more entertainers are needed in Nigerian politics and they should be encouraged to participate more. “Entertainers do not keep anything in their mind. We are not very rigid. We are jolly fellows and this is the kind of people we need in the leadership of this country. If you have an entertainer that has the basic educational qualification and is exposed, then you can get your perfect leader,” Muonagor said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Rotimi Makinde, former actor and now member, House of Representatives representing Ife Federal Constituency, Osun State, has took to his Facebook page to welcome and encourage his former colleagues in the make-believe world into the political arena.

“My people, when I was stepping into politics and eventually won the seat as a member of the House of Representatives after several opposing forces, I was relatively unknown. Little attention was given as many saw me as unlettered and unworthy. Surprisingly, it included some of my professional colleagues…But today I feel proud that my colleagues are now encouraged and coming on board and I have absolute confidence that things can only get better with this development,” Makinde stated.

He however sent a note of caution to his colleagues: “Politics is murky and it goes beyond being popular. It requires sacrifice, energy and prayers. I wish them lucky,” the federal lawmaker admonished.