Different strokes for different folks. Ever since
some entertainers declared their intention to seek elective offices, the
decision has been welcomed with mixed reaction and several controversies.
The likes of Desmond Elliot, 9ice and KSB are
some of the entertainers who have gone under public scrutiny over their
political ambition.
Until recently, a lot of Nigerians did not know the
actor is a Yoruba man till his campaign posters surfaced online. In a chat with
Saturday Beats, the actor said that he has never denied his ethnicity. He said
that while growing up, the name everybody called him was Shola.
“Where I grew up in Surulere they know me by the
name Shola and that is what they call me. I use Desmond Elliot which is my
first and last name for my profession basically because I wanted to remain
neutral, you could not tell where I come from. It is not because I am ashamed
of where I come from. If I was, I would not be involved in Yoruba films or any
Yoruba events neither will my kids have Yoruba names,” he said.
For those who still doubt his roots, the dark
skinned movie producer said that his father is from Lagos Island while his mother
is from Delta State.
Elliot said, “In the interviews that I have done,
I have never denied that I am Yoruba, I always mentioned my names. People have
always guessed where I come from and I left it open because truthfully I am a
Nigerian. I am a Yoruba man and I would never deny other tribes that I have
come in contact with. I am Yoruba by birth, I schooled in the North, I married
someone from the South and my mother is from Delta State.
“I am from Olowogbowo in Lagos Island; it is not
something that is hidden. I tell people that say I don’t identify with the
Yoruba race that I do so because I have done several Yoruba movies. At what
point did the name become an issue, have I not been a worthy citizen of Lagos
State?”
Although the name Abolore Akande might not ring a
bell, when 9ice is mentioned, the song Gongo Aso readily comes to
mind. When the singer made public his intention to contest for a seat in the
House of Representatives, many thought it was because of his dwindling career.
But the singer told Saturday Beats that he had
not failed in his career having seven albums under his belt. He also debunked
speculations that his foray into politics is because he is going broke.
“If my music career failed, I would not have
seven albums under my belt. I am yet to see any of my colleagues that has seven
albums. If your music is not appealing, you cannot release seven albums because
there would be no marketer to buy them and there would not be any demand for
them. When there is no demand, there can be no supply. I think some people want
me to do what they want but I like doing what I want. If people in the industry
are going right, I would go left if I believe that is the way to go. I don’t
care if everybody is doing party songs, let them enjoy their party, I have my
own principle and I know what I want to become. I am stating for a fact that
there would be some of my colleagues that would not be remembered 10 years from
now because of the kind of songs they have released. I don’t want to be like
that. I might not be rich or popular but I would be a legend and that is my
priority. My music career has not failed and that is not why I ventured into
politics. “For those saying that I am into politics because I am going broke, I
tell them that I am not a rich man, neither am I from a rich family; poverty is
not far from me, I am close to it and I am not afraid of it. I have never been
an artiste that would flaunt wealth, I cannot be who people want me to be. I
would always be myself. I am neither hungry, rich nor poor, so that question
doesn’t apply to me. It should be directed at whoever says he is rich, I have
never said something like that. I am from a poor family,” 9ice said.
Shortly after his candidate’s last week, his
ex-wife, Tony Payne, tweeted advising people to be sure of their candidate and
not to vote based on the candidate popularity. The message soon went viral with
many people claiming that it was aimed at the singer.
Reacting to the remarks, 9ice said that as far as
his name was not mentioned in the message, it was not aimed at him.
“As far as my name, constituency and race was not
mentioned, I don’t believe it has anything to do with me. It might just be a
coincidence but if someone comes out and says, ‘People check Akande Abolore
very well before voting for him,’ then I would know it is directed at me. I
don’t take assumptions for a direct message,” he said.
Also, his colleague in the industry, Kenny Saint
Best, claimed that her venture into politics is not because of a failing
career.
She said, “What is the yardstick for measuring
success? If for 16 years I have been leading the pack; I have been part of the
revolution in Nigerian music, even in the gospel sector, where are the people
we started doing music together? You have to check my contemporaries. The
problem with Nigerians is that they believe when you are not the rave of the
moment, you are not successful and that is not true. You don’t have to always
lead the pack and also you don’t have to be at the tail end, it pays to be in
the middle and be consistent. I don’t have any other business aside doing
music; it is music that has sustained me. Everything I do revolves round music.
They say all this because I don’t make noise; if I want to make noise, Baba
Keke is there to make noise for me from now till eternity. But the kind of
platform I have would give others the opportunity to thrive, so I intentionally
allowed my brother to downplay me. Jaywon, Tuface have come and gone but there
is still KSB, it was his responsibility to give them the same platform he gave
his sister at a point in time. I am still consistent; I won best gospel artiste
of the year in 2010, 2011,2013. I was able to bring change to gospel music, a
lot of people cannot make such a change, I brought gospel music to the
forefront.”
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