(The All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly primaries held last week with mixed fortunes for entertainers in politics. Photo: Filed)
The All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly primaries held last week brought up a bag of mixed fortunes for top Nigerian entertainers-cum-politicians as two prominent entertainers – Dayo Adeneye and Kenny Saint Best lost out in their election bids while popular Nollywood actor, director and producer, Olushola Desmond Elliot won.
On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, Desmond clinched the ticket to represent Surulere 1 Constituency come 2015.
The primaries in this constituency, according to eye reports, was a straight victory for the actor as all his main challengers led by the incumbent, Kabal Lawal, practically stepped down for him at the polls.
This ensured a unanimous victory for the elated actor who thanked everyone and repeatedly reiterated his promise to diligently uphold his mandate.
A Lagos State indigene born to a Yoruba father and Igbo mother, Desmond is a 2003 Economics graduate of the Lagos State University.
Gospel singer, Kenny Saint Best lost the Ikeja 01 Constituency ticket to Folajimi Lai Mohamed, the son of APC chieftain and National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
The singer had earlier this year declared her intention to go into politics, and subsequently announced her bid to run as a representative of Ikeja 01 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Unfortunately for her though, Folajimi got the majority votes at the primaries and won the ticket as the party’s candidate for the elections coming up next year.
Folajimi Lai Mohammed is presently the managing director of Knightsbridge Dredging Limited and he holds a LL.B Honours Degree from the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK; a LL.M at Fordham Law School, New York, USA and a B.L. with Honours at Council of Legal Education and Nigerian Law School in Nigeria.
Iconic music and media executive, Dayo Adeneye also lost the APC primaries to represent his Odogbolu Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2015.
The Ogun State indigene reportedly lost out to Adebowale Ojuri (former Special Adviser on Education to the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun) for the Odogbolu House of Assembly ticket.
Not deterred by the development, Dayo still continues to keep faith and is unrelenting in his resolve to bring change to the people of his constituency in Ogun State.
NET was able to track him down for an exclusive chat in Lagos after the primaries before he took off again to a political meeting in Ogun State. He described the primaries as very successful in spite of the outcome. According to him: ‘I’m very proud of the race we ran; we ran a very successful race. I reached out to my wards and constituency and made a lot of new friends, new connections and contacts. It’s an entirely different ball game for me, but I’m ready for it. It’s not different from what is obtainable in any other business or enterprise you enter into. You have to enter with total commitment, and this is one that I’m totally committed to.
‘I’ve always been an agent of change and that’s what I’ve done throughout my life, either through teaching or through the music industry. I’m all about transforming lives; encouraging and empowering people. So, I figured if I could do all that with my private resources in the private sector, then, if given the chance, I can do more for my people in government.’
He revealed further that he went into politics because of his desire to serve. ‘I was asked by my people to come and help make things better in my State. Like I said, my track record is there, and everybody knows that I’ve always been about making a positive contribution to Nigeria.
‘If the history of Nigerian entertainment is written today, they will dedicate at least one or two paragraphs to Keke and D1. And I figured that there’s a lot more to be done. Look at the state of the country today; we cannot all sit in our living rooms and keep saying politics is dirty and continue to leave people who are not capable to make decisions to lead us. So, that was why I decided to throw my hat in the ring and make a difference.’
On whether losing might lead him into quitting politics, the veteran broadcaster said: ‘Like I always say, just like in any business, if you are committed, you’ll fall and get up. Anybody that’s successful today would tell you that they tried and failed several times before they succeeded, and even in the entertainment business, we’ve tried so many artistes before one blows.
‘Like Winston Churchill once said: ‘Never ever give up’. I remain committed to the principles of my party APC. It’s a party to which I’m very loyal, and I remain committed to my amiable governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. I believe in the transformation and the mission to re-build Ogun State. His works are very clear and very glaring for everyone to see in Ogun State, so why won’t I want to be part of that change.
‘So, of course, I’m not discouraged because there are other ways that I can continue to contribute to the lives of my people in Ogun State, and I intend to continue to do that. As I speak, in a couple of days I will be going to Odogbolu for ‘Odogbolu Day’ and there are many other things I’ll be doing in my constituency to further let them know that it’s not a do or die affair for me. Mine is about change and changing lives.’
On what his next step would be, Dayo giggled and disclosed: ‘Well, I’m not one to come out and say I’ll do this or that, because man proposes but God disposes. I would rest for a minute and then decide on my next line of action. We’ll continue to see how it goes. I cannot tell you for a fact what will happen but we’ll take it one step at a time and see what transpires and may God preserve our lives and crown our efforts with success.’
Other entertainers-cum-politicians whose fates were not yet determined as at press time include Abolore Akande, aka 9ice (Ogbomosho North/South/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State), Kenneth Okonkwo (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency in Enugu State), Jibola Dabo (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State. PDP), Clem Ohameze (Ohaji/Egbema Federal Constituency, Imo State. PDP), Bob Manuel (Udokwu- Anambra State House of Assembly. APGA), Funke Adesiyan (Ibadan South-East, Oyo State House of Assembly. APC), Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye aka, Tony Tetuila (Kwara State House of Assembly. APC), Gift Iyumame Eke aka, Muma Gee (Abua/Odua and Ahoada Federal Constituency, Rivers State. PDP), and Ejike Methuselah (Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State. PDP).
Kate Henshaw (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River State. PDP) has since lost the PDP ticket for the House of Reps.
By ‘Dayo Showemimo and Tadeniowo Collins
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