2015: Entertainers in Politics

The political bug spreading across the country has definitely bit­ten some Nigerian artistes. It all began like a joke when a couple of entertainers took to social media to de­clare their intentions to contest the 2015 elections. However, as the days rolled by, it assumed a life of its own as more enter­tainers signalled their interest to run for office. Kate Henshaw, Julius Agwu, KSB, 9ice and Desmond Elliot among a host of others have joined the race.

And they have attracted both praises and condemnations. While some argue that having succeeded in entertainment and by extension helped in laundering Nigeria’s image, they have a great deal to offer Nigerians and suc­ceed where politicians have failed. Others argue that the mere fact that they have suc­ceeded in entertainment does not guarantee success in politics, and describe them as political jobbers out to get their own share of the national cake since they have become irrelevant in entertainment.

However, a closer scrutiny will reveal that most of those vying for office are actually tested and proven entertainers who have successfully built brands that resonate across the continent and even Europe and America.

While advancing reasons why entertain­ers should go into politics, Tony Oneweek, an accomplished politi­cian/musician recently said: “We are like children. An enter­tainer does not keep anything in his mind. We are not very rigid. We are jolly fellows and this is the kind of mindset we need in the leadership of the country. If you have an en­tertainer that has the basic educational qualifica­tion and is exposed, then you can get your perfect leader.”

Cor­roborating him in a chat recently, Larry Ijaoola, Re­gional Director, Ben TV UK, had declared during the press conference to unveil the Ben TV Entertainment Awards in Nigeria that if there is anything good coming out of Nigeria, it is entertainment. Now the ques­tion is, could these artistes use this awesome goodwill to transform the fortunes of our country if they win? Only time will tell. The Entertainer presents the top artistes in the race for elective office in 2015.


Julius Agwu

Talk about building a brand from the scratch and taking it to the world, that’s exactly what rib cracker, Julius Agwu, has done with his annual Crack Ya Ribs comedy/music show, a platform that has discovered and empowered dozens of artistes. Over the years, Crack Ya Ribs has morphed into a global brand as it has trav­elled to major capitals of the world includ­ing major US and UK cities. However, when word hit town that he had an eye on politics and he was running for the gover­norship of Rivers State, it was construed as just one more joke from the rib cracker. However, as the days rolled by and the pressure mounted, his wife, obviously cracking under pressure was reported to have pleaded with the comic to stop the joke. However, Julius D Genius is set to prove crit­ics wrong when he finally declares his ambition tomorrow, Sunday October 5, during the Independence edition of Crack Ya Ribs tagged: The Declaration, which holds at the Nicon Hilton, Abuja.




KSB

Successful gospel artiste and mother of three, Kenny Saint Best has come a long way. The singer opened a new front in her career when she became a show presenter last year and now she is seeking political frontiers to conquer. When she unveiled her ambition, it was just like another joke as nobody took her serious. However, her posters have since gone viral online and it is becoming obvious that the Ijebu-born singer knows her onions. She will be run­ning for a seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent the Onigbongbo area. So what are her political anteced­ents? She says she has contributed to education in Onigbongbo Local Govern­ment Area and was active during the 2007 elections. KSB is a card-carrying member of the All Progressive Congress (APC)


Desmond Elliot

From humble beginning, Nollywood hunk and father of two sets of twins, Des­mond Elliot, has emerged one of Nigeria’s hottest actors. A couple of years back, Elliot, having conquered the silver screen as an actor veered into movie production and directing and within a short while carved another niche for himself. Obviously emboldened by his meteoric rise and success, the actor has announced his decision to contest for office. However, the actor is beginning to discover that politics is a different ball game entirely. As soon as his posters hit the internet, he became a laughing stock! Reason, Olusola suddenly popped up on the poster as his name. His critics are angry that he never identified with the Yoruba race until it was time for politics and the actor has become the butt of jokes online. However, Olusola is sticking to his guns and is poised to run for the Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of APC.


Kate Henshaw

Divorced mother of one, Kate Henshaw, is not left out of the 2015 political race. The star declared she will be contesting the seat for Calabar/Odukpani Federal Constituency at the House of Represen­tives on the platform of PDP during celebrations to mark her 43rd birthday. And she is making it clear she is not ready to ‘settle’ to get the slot. In a recent chat with Sahara Reporters, Henshaw had declared: “I am going with God and my heart. I’m not sharing money. If you continue sharing money, it will never stop. If you want true change, then vote for me and you will see the change. But if you want money, go for money and stay where you are and don’t even complain.”

Naive she might sound considering the challenges of running for political office in Nigeria. However, she seems determined and her eyes remain fixed on the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency slot.



Bob Manuel-Udokwu

Anybody who says government office isn’t sweet should take a look at Bob Manuel -Udokwu. He has been there, seen it all and done it all and now he is not only contesting but he is also calling on his fellow entertainers to take a shot at politics.

The ex-Gulder Ulti­mate presenter who is currently a Special Adviser to Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, on Nollywood and Entertain­ment, disclosed that his interest in repre­senting Idemili North Con­stituency at the Anam­bra State House of Assembly in the 2015 elections will be on the banner of the All Progres­sive Grand Alliance (APGA).

“Why are people raising eyebrow on it,” he queried in a recent interview. “A lot of people from other sectors have also gone into politics. There shouldn’t be an exception. In the US, a lot of entertainers are into politics. Why are journalists always asking this question? We are often called political actors. I don’t see anything wrong in entertainers going into politics. I am proud I put Nigeria on the world map as an actor. There is nothing bad it if I do that in politics as well,” Udokwu said, calling on his fellow actors to join the train. ­



9ice

Have you been wondering where Gongo Aso singer, Abolore Akande is? You need not search anymore, the singer is up to the hilt in politics. After years of hustling on the streets of Bariga, Lagos, the act known as 9ice suddenly found fame and stardom after the release of his second album, Gongo Aso, which catapulted him to stardom in 2008. The act would go on to release a couple of other albums and establish himself as one of Nigeria’s popular faces as far as music is concerned. However, he is ready to throw all that away and embark on a political gamble. That much he said in a recent interview with The Sun while unveiling his political ambition which is to represent Ogbomosho North/South/ Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State in 2015. According to 9ice, he believes he has achieved all there is to achieve in mu­sic. But there could be a stumbling block to his dreams as ex-wife, Toni Payne has been tweeting negative stuff about him.




Funke Adesiyan

Funke Adesiyan Popular Yoruba actress, Funke Adesiyan, is another entertainer vying for politi­cal office in 2015. She is running for the Ibadan South-East constituency slot in the Oyo State House of Assembly most likely on the APC platform. Friends and fans of the actress flooded social media recently with posters of the actress after she sent out a blackberry broadcast. Funke has featured in several blockbuster movies and a couple of soap operas.












Basket Mouth

What remains to be known is the serious­ness of the comedian known as Basketmouth (Bright Opocha). The comedian has circulat­ed posters of himself gunning for president Goodluck Jonathan’s job in 2015. However, to date he has not revealed on which party’s platform he is running and just like the others, he is considered not just another joker but the most bogus among the jokers.














Kenneth Okonkwo

Living in Bondage star, Kenneth Okonkwo, is not left out of the race for elective office in 2015. Though, he has not made an official declaration, insiders say the lawyer turned-actor and movie producer has wrapped up plans to join the race any time soon.

“My people have been yearning for this and 2015 is on my mind. We want to take it one step at a time so I am actually eying a seat at the Federal House of Representa­tives. You know we cannot continue to leave politics for those that don’t care about our people’s welfare,” the native of Nsukka, Enugu State told close pals recently.











Tony Tetuila

Having carved a place for himself in the annals of Nigerian music both as a member of the now defunct De Remedies and as a solo artiste, Tony Tetuila is poised to reinvent himself following a dormant period in his ca­reer. The singer is taking a shot at the Kwara State House of Assembly under APC.

In order to show how serious he is, the singer recently revealed in an interview that he was not going into politics with his tinted hair.












Clem Ohameze

Clem Ohameze is another actor geared to run for office in 2015; he is eyeing the Federal House of Representatives. In a chat with The Sun recently, he justified his deci­sion when he declared: “Yes, I’m gearing up for 2015. There is what is called mobility of labour in Economics. When you feel ful­filled in a particular area, you want to move to another level so what you gain from here you apply there.

“But I’m not leaving the industry perma­nently. I cannot leave the industry because my passion and life are in the industry. But then, like I said, I would like to apply what the industry has thought me over the years somewhere else.

“I am very prepared. I cannot learn the use of left hand at my old age. That is the problem with this country! People see the truth and damn it, usually for selfish reasons. But we cannot continue with this business as usual mentality.”


Jibola Dabo

Jibola Dapo is another actor warming up for 2015; he plans to contest for the Federal House of Representatives under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Making his declaration in an exclusive chat with The Sun, Dabo had declared: “First of all, I am someone who was born into a poor family. Regardless of the royalty in my lineage, I still grew up as a poor boy. So, I understand the pains of the people, the ills in the society and where the shoe pinches my people.

“I also understand that there are a lot of things that have been left undone, not just by the government but by successive govern­ments. An instance is in the arts and crafts where local raw materials can be used to create enor­mous wealth.

“I also understand the mistakes a lot of us made when we were young; running from the village to the city, forgetting that one could actually make it big back in the village, even better than those in the cities. From the experience I have gathered here and my years abroad, I know I can come back home and open the eyes of the youths.”