With Abuja on lockdown on Tuesday, November 11, as President Goodluck Jonathan publicly announced his bid for re-election come 2015, few people were aware of another political declaration going on in Odogbolu, Ogun State. While the president’s event was front page news at home and abroad, the other barely made the bottom corner of most dailies. Were it not for bloggers and entertainment news channels, Dayo Adeneye’s outing would have gone without anybody knowing about it.
Adeneye, popularly known as D1 on the entertainment scene and beyond, is however not one to be ignored. Neither are the many other artistes who have openly declared their intention to run for various posts in the 2015 general elections on different parties’ platforms.
How can anybody ignore Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot, Bob Manuel-Udokwu, Abolore Akande (aka 9ice), Kenny Saint Best (KSB), Mumma Gee, Kenneth Okonkwo, Tony Tetuila and Funke Adesiyan among others? Julius Agwu, whose pronouncement that he was running for the governorship of Rivers State sounded like a teaser for his Crack Ya Ribs: The Declaration show which took place in Abuja in October has – to the relief of all serious contenders – stopped the joke. His announcement a few weeks after the show that he was no longer in the race only confirmed that the thing was one expensive jest. Granted, the political ambition of some artistes is comic at best, Nigeria will do well with serious entertainers-turned-politicians who are committed to the public good.
Predictably, there have been criticisms and abuse of the entertainers who have thrown their hats in the ring. The sheer number of those eyeing different seats alone is, with due respect to Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, uncommon. You may therefore be forgiven to think this is the usual bandwagon syndrome often associated with Nollywood and other branches of Nigerian entertainment.
Actress, Clarion Chukwurah, spoke the mind of many critics when she said in an interview with Punch: “The motive of those who are embracing partisan politics is purely monetary.”
Not one to shy away from controversy, and with scars from some of her past battles very visible, the veteran thespian added: “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?”
There are also those who argue that entertainers go into politics to rescue a career in decline. With revenue from acting and singing on the decline for those whose career is in a state of suspended animation, politics, it is argued, is seen as a meal ticket and escape from poverty.
Like politicians from other sectors of the Nigerian social and economic backgrounds, some entertainers probably see the naira sign every time politics is discussed. Yes, there are those whose careers are on life support, and politics may be the lowest hanging fruit. But that is not enough reason to condemn everybody as sinners and reprobates. There are entertainers with halos around their head, and some of them are on the list of aspirants for different political offices come 2015. It is left for their different parties to decide on their suitability.
Entertainers are held to higher scrutiny because they are almost always in the public view. We see them at their best and worst moments. Their lives are an open book to anybody with the slightest interest in what they do. That familiarity has often bred contempt. That is why questions are often asked about their suitability for anything considered “serious”. But what can be more serious than growing a multi-billion dollar industry with little or no government intervention?
D1 and his partner, Kenny Ogungbe, founded Kennis Music in the late 90s and lit the fuse that exploded into Nigeria’s present thriving pop music culture. The revolution they kicked off with Remedies’ ‘Sakomo’ song has produced stars from 2face Idibia to Tiwa Savage. With names like Tony Tetuila, Eedris Abdulkareem, Paul Play Dairo, Azadus and Wale Thompson, the Kennis Music conveyor belt produced hit after hit. The success of artistes on Kennis Music label did not only inspire others to go on a hip-hop ride, it gave rise to an industry that now provides content and role models for others like telecommunication, banking and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods). Another by-product of a thriving music industry are entertainment channels like HipTV, SoundCity, MTV Base and Trace who feed on Nigerian content. D1 will be a steal for Odogbolu in the Ogun State House of Assembly.
I must confess I have always admired Kate Henshaw. The Samsung and Onga ambassador is an actress after my heart. She has managed to navigate the minefield called Nollywood with her honour and impressive portfolio intact. The 43-year-old has obtained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to represent the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency of Cross River State at the House of Representatives. With over 50 movies and the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) honour for Best Actress in a Leading Role on her CV, this medical biologist-turned-actress has earned her stripes.
I can wax lyrical about Desmond Elliot, Kenneth Okonkwo and some others too. The ones whose ambition, like Julius Agwu’s, is an unfunny joke are all too obvious they know themselves. Their antics should not take away from those who are eminently qualified for what they aspire for.
Politicians with entertainment backgrounds deserve our vote because, like Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) Chairman, Tony Okoroji, said, “They understand our aspirations for the Nigerian nation and speak our language.”
People who have failed as lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers and others have over the years found their way into the executive and legislature. It is time we give our artistes a chance. Their participation in politics should not stop at singing, dancing and endorsing other politicians at campaign rallies.