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Nollywood and the lure of party politics

8 Min Read

“Being an actor does not stop us from doing other things. All over the world, it is normal for people in any field of life to go into something different when they get to a certain level. So, let’s not look at it (in Nigeria) as abnormal. People can always choose to express their talents in other areas.”

–Zack Orji, veteran / Nollywood actor 

This is not another thrilling scene from a thought-provoking Nigerian movie. No. The characters are real. So are the locations, actions and of course, the drama that evolves with its thematic interpretations. What may not be so obvious however, are the crew members, complete with the directors and the producers. Simply put, Nigerians are intrigued by the wave of our popular actors, actresses, music stars and one or two comedians of repute dumping the razzle-dazzle make-believe world for the murky waters of active politics.

While some trace this new development to the choice of musicians at the expense of actors for juicy endorsement, by big-spending telecoms as well as food and beverage companies, others say Nollywood is currently facing some hard times.

But this is not the first time such is taking place. Elsewhere in the world, we have had top-rate entertainers following that trend. One of the most notable was Ronald Reagan, Hollywood actor, who took the plunge and eventually became the president of the United States of America. Years later, Arnold Schwarzenegger, unarguably one of the hottest action movie heroes ever followed suit and became the governor of California.

Once upon a time, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Abami Eda himself walked the talk when he formed his party, Movement of the People,( M.O.P.) and dreamt of ruling the country, though it never saw the light of day. The duo of Charly Boy and Tunde Obe once had a television programme with political content focused on big players such as state governors, ministers and heads of government parastatals. We have had Onyeka Owenu trying to become a local council chairperson in her home state, to no avail. The One Love crooner had to retrace her steps back to Lagos, with the speed of light because she could not swim with the sharks of party politics. Now, she has been handsomely rewarded with a political appointment, as the Executive Director of National Centre for Women Development, by our amiable President Goodluck Jonathan. So has another notable actor, Kanayo O.Kanayo, a.ka. K.O.K. appointed as the chairman of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies.

With award-winning actor, Richard Mofe Damijo doing his bit as the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta state, Yomi Shodimu in Ogun state and ace comedian Okey Bakassi having tasted the apple of political appointment in Imo state, not a few other entertainers have since caught the bug. Indeed, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the fuji music czar has not put his political ambition at bay. The list is getting longer as the months tick towards 2015 general elections.

Our ever smiling, leggy and talented Kate Henshaw is one of them. The Onga ambassador in her recent interview with SaharaTV has her bright eyes firmly fixed on the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency. She wants a shot at the Federal House of Representatives slot. And this was her catchy political phrase to shoot up her ambition: ‘if you want to continue sharing money, it will never stop. If you want a true change, then vote for me.” Her political party? The People’s Democratic Party, PDP of course. Can you blame her? Not just yet.

Not when not -so- tall popular comedian, Julius Agwu has the tall ambition to become the next governor of his troubled Rivers state. This is not a laughing matter. Just as gospel artiste, KSB has joined the fray, more are gearing up to up the ante in Nigeria’s political re-engineering. But that throws up the expected question; what are their motives? To serve the self or the state? Only time would tell.

But that brings us back to the highly engaging romance between President Goodluck Jonathan and Nollywood top shots. More than any other president in our recent history, his forward-looking administration has financially empowered the sector to the tune of billions of naira. He has also given national honours to several of them, including glittering stars such as Olu Jacobs, Patience Ozokwor alias Mama Gee, Genevieve Nnaji, and of course, one half of the duo of diminutive Akin and Pawpaw. While the closeness of Stephanie Okereke to Aso Rock is not in doubt, the recent screening of Omoni Oboli’s flick, ‘Being Mrs.Elliot’ has further confirmed the feeling in some quarters that the liaison between Nollywood and those who call the shots at the corridors of power may not be over soon. More so, if GEJ gets re-elected for a Second Term.

That is it! That is the carrot end of the political stick. Some of them are tacitly endorsing him with performances at TAN Rallies, releasing group songs with a tinge of patriotic fervor, ending of course with the name ‘Goodluck’. Others are playing prominent roles in paid averts for the same reason.

Before you read more meanings to all of this, remember that even the US President Barack Obama has a synergetic relationship with the likes of the highest paid couple in the entertainment scene, Jay Z and Beyonce. Entertainment sells because it has mass appeal.

Beyond this however, one’s passionate appeal to all the Nolywood stars vying for juicy political positions is to bring in the breath of fresh air that the stifling political climate has lacked for eons. They should be the exception rather than the rule, as currently characterized by mass corruption, hazardous impunity and barefaced robbery of the people’s will. They should articulate their vision to drastically reduce the twin evils of ignorance and poverty.

Anything short of that would not only dent their image forever but be a great disservice to the people’s will. Politics is not a make-believe world.

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