While Olubankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W will not be the first and last musician to contest for political office in Nigeria, the announcement of his candidacy for a seat in the House of Representatives has continued to generate reactions among Nigerians, especially the youth.
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One of the reasons Banky W’s announcement generated so much furore on social media is because the pop star is seen as being a beacon on his own; one of the few sane heads in an industry filled with a degenerate generation of entertainers who call themselves musicians.
Thus while some people view him as ‘sensible enough’ to hold political office, some others do not think he truly represents the common Nigerian, given his middle-class background and his celebrity status.
Whichever camp you belong to however, this open letter may further shape or mar your opinion.
A young Nigerian identified as Peppy Chidinma Akaniro wrote an open letter to the superstar after his declaration to run for office. See what she has to say below;
Peppy Chidinma Akaniro
Open Letter to Banky W. on his declaration to run for House of Rep. under MDP
Dear Banky,
Congratulations on choosing to step up to play your part in building a better Nigeria.
While I am truly excited about your candidacy, I have some reservations about you being in touch with the travails of the ordinary Nigerian. You see it’s easy for a celebrity to ride on their celebrity status and demand for change and ask everyone to get their voters card to vote the right candidates but most celebrities do not understand the struggles of everyday Nigerians.
On Monday 28th May 2018, I went to get my voters card at a school around Maruwa, in Lekki, Lagos State. I had been there for almost an hour, standing under the hot sun. People complained they had stood there for over 3 hours too. The queue was moving very slowly and the INEC official in charge treated people with blatant disrespect.
Around 11am, You arrived at the school with dark shades on and walked past the queue into the school. You neither acknowledged anyone on the queue nor ask to be given priority access. You simply used your celebrity status to jump the hoops and hurdles. After a while your wife, Adesua arrived and you came out to lead her in. When you were done, the INEC officials momentarily
paused the registration process and started doing a mini photo shoot with You, Adesua, Ebuka, Cynthia and Tunde. The picture was posted on the INEC social media handles.
People grumbled under the hot sun while this photo shoot went on. Others left out of frustration.
If you don’t understand the travails of the voters, how can you change it?
It will be great if you use your status as a celebrity and a leader to let other celebrities understand that such behavior is unacceptable.
What could you have done differently?
1) Acknowledge the people who had been standing under the hot sun for hours and crave their indulgence to allow you priority access. Although some of us left our lectures, our jobs or business to be in the queue for hours, we understand that what you left is more important and we won’t mind letting you go first if you ask nicely.
2) Arrange with the INEC officials to have a special time when you and your friends can go and process your voters card without disrespecting the struggles of the ordinary Nigerian.
3) Come early, pick a number and join the queue. Because then, we will believe that you understand and appreciate our struggles and frustration.
The events of May 28th are long gone but it left a sour taste in my mouth and that of all others who felt greatly disrespected and frustrated.
I sincerely hope that in future, you will act differently in such situation. I wish you the best in your political endeavor and your career.
Signed
Chidinma A.
Ordinary Nigerian playing her part