When comedian, Julius Agwu, declared his intention to run for the governorship of Rivers State come 2015, many of his fans thought it was a joke reminiscent of his annual Crack Ya Ribs show. However, that is not the case, and the comedian is not the only entertainer that intends to run for political office next year, as the number climbs daily. Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot, Bob-Manuel Udokwu and Funke Adesiyan are from Nollywood, while Abolore Akande (9ice) and Kenny St. Best eke their living from music.
Julius Agwu
While some politicians, including incumbents, have continued to footdrag over whether to declare their intention to contest in the 2015 elections, Agwu announced in August that he was venturing into politics. Not only that, he also declared his ambition to govern Rivers.
The Ikwerre-born Agwu made his declaration in a campaign poster titled: “Our moment of Change! Julius Agwu for Governor – Rivers 2015” uploaded on social media.
He explained in the post that his decision to run came after a consistent pressure from his people to lead them. He was, however, silent about the political party whose platform he intends to run on.
Agwu has followed the social media post with a couple of interviews in the press confirming that he is indeed running for office.
Kate Henshaw
Nollywood star, Kate Henshaw, also went the social media way to declare her intention to venture into politics. What is different in her declaration is that she will fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She will be contesting the Calabar/Odukpani Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
Henshaw said she is motivated by a strong interest and desire to serve her people and especially show that there is a better and more humane way to do things when you are in a position of leadership.
Great motivation, but the actress still has to win the primaries in October before she can get the ticket, which not a few feel she can get without batting an eyelid.
Desmond Elliot
This is surely the social media age, as actor and director, Desmond Elliot, also declared his political ambition online by releasing his campaign posters early this month. Elliot, who reverted to his little known Yoruba name, Olusola, during the declaration, intends to run for a seat in Lagos State House of Assembly. The name change for the campaign style he adopted is perhaps the oldest trick in the book for politicians who intend to run in Lagos.
Elliot has starred in over 200 films and a number of television shows and soap operas. He won Best Supporting Actor in a drama at the second Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) and was nominated for best supporting actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
Bob-Manuel Udokwu
Nollywood actor and anchor of Gulder Ultimate Search reality show, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, like some of his colleagues in the entertainment industry, who hails from Idemili North Local Government Area in Anambra State, intends to contest the House of Assembly seat for Idemili North next year.
His intention was declared in a statement recently sent to the media, which said his decision to contest is to help develop and transform the state in line with the vision of the present administration. He also wants to help develop Idemili North and make it the constituency to beat in the state.
Bob-Manuel, onetime aide to former Governor Peter Obi, called for prayers and support to enable him achieve his ambition to serve his people.
Funke Adesiyan
For Funke Adesiyan, it is a seat at the Oyo State House of Assembly. The actress sent out a BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) broadcast informing contacts of her political ambition.
The actress’ friends and fans have since flooded social media with her campaign posters announcing her intention to represent the Ibadan South-East constituency at the assembly.
She may be yet to pick a party platform, but Adesiyan, who has featured in Yoruba movies and several television soaps, is resolute about her decision.
Abolore Akande (9ice)
9ice, who intends to contest the House of Representatives seat next year, has since hit the road campaigning. He declared his intention to go into politics early in August.
He was in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, on Tuesday, September 10 for awareness campaign and to identify with the electorate.
Making a powerful speech to the crowd at the Town Hall in Oja Igbo, the singer promised to use his salary for developmental projects in the constituency, if he is elected to represent Ogbomoso Federal Constituency 1.
His first album, Certificate, did so well with songs like: ‘Little Money’, ‘Ganja Man’, ‘Make Dem Talk’ and ‘Music Daddy’. But Gongo Aso, his second album, surpassed the buzz from the first and made him very famous. Not many heard about him after that effort until he declared his intention to join politics. He was seen clutching a broom during the campaign, an indication that he would run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kenny St. Best
Popular as Kenny Saint Brown, but now known as Kenny St. Best, the motivational singer has also declared her political ambition and is desirous of running for a seat in the Lagos House of Assembly representing Ikeja Constituency 1.
The younger sister to Kennis Music CEO, Kenny Ogungbe, and ex-wife to Eddy Brown of the defunct Remedies pop group is serious about her intention.
She has since unveiled her campaign poster and is running on the APC platform.
Showbiz and politics
All told, many more entertainers will still declare for political office before the year ends. It does not matter that some of the ones who have so far declared have met with some resistance, particularly on social media where people are divided over whether entertainers have any business in the corridors of power.
But who says entertainers will not do well, considering that they have done just that all over the world and even in Nigeria?
Singer and actor, Tony Muonagor, otherwise known as Tony One Week, made history in 2011 as the first entertainer to win an elective position in Nigeria when he won an Anambra State House of Assembly seat.
Former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and writer, Wale Okediran, as well as actor and producer, Rotimi Makinde, have stellar performances as politicians at the House of Representatives.
As it happened abroad…
In other climes too, entertainers have done well as politicians. In India, Bollywood actor, Amitabh Bachchan, got a seat in parliament. In England, the actress, Glenda Jackson, ended up in the parliament. Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian-born American actor, who served two terms as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011. Then the biggest of them all was actor, Ronald Reagan, who became president of the United States of America (U.S.).
Some people hold the view that there is therefore no harm in entertainers testing their popularity in politics. They may just do better than the politicians who have been around since Nigeria’s First Republic.