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.
For popular Nollywood actor, Desmond
Elliot, whose eye is set on the Lagos State
House of Assembly, the bone of contention
has been on the name ‘Olushola’ which he
has adopted.
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.”