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,” -- Olushola Desmond Elliot

http://www.punchng.com/news/from-the-tube-to-politics-desmond-elliot-9ice-ksb-speak-on-controversies/

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?”

Ayekotoo: 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.

aryzgreat:

Akpamu!

double0seven:

You're wrong; his name is not the grouse. This guy has been in the lime light for like how many years now: at least , at least over ten years, and not once did he give any have hint or even the smallest clue, that he has Yoruba lienage.


That has to be a deliberate act by him. He definitely is not proud of his Yoruba Heritage. Almost everyone believes he is an Ibo guy. Those who think he's not Ibo will assume he is Niger Delta. This guy has been in interviews, he's been photographed with his beautiful family, and yet not once did anything came out even by mistake that he is a Yoruba man.

People will definitely have problem voting for him. There are Yourba Politicians with complete English names, but they've never being mistaken for anything other than a Yoruba man.

ola6: You all, keep deceiving him. This has nothing to do with tribalism but the truth. He NEVER identified with Lagosians, how then can he aspire for a political position meant for the representative of a people. How can you represent me if I don't know you

The people shouting tribalism are the real tribalist.

Ramnon2: Why are Yorubas so tribalistically petty? The point is, Olushola or not, is Desmond Eliot a Yoruba person? This is not difficult to figure out, no?

What makes him Yoruba? The fact this his father is Yoruba? Yes? No?
What makes him a non-Yoruba? The fact that his mother is not Yoruba, even if his father is? Or the fact that he has two English names?

bakynes:
Am sure if people know he would have been used for these numerous LASG adverts. Ramsey Noah sometimes includes his middle name "Tokunbo" so we all know he is Yoruba but in dis Desmond Elliot's case nobody knew @ all. The guy who talked about Tony one week dats quite different, coz the name is a stage name.

talktimi: once again I ask, has anyone you included tried to ask him where he's from ? I hardly read interviews concerning our naija celebs but I know the pattern of questions will surely contain something like tell us about yourself, where are you from etc so I believe many or most people didn't really bother to find out much about him.
Nigerians just like to scandalize even the most trivial of things sha

JuanDeDios:
He has been asked and he answered. He even revealed long ago his aspirations to be Lagos governor.

bakynes: I believe he shot himself on the foot because he should have just stick with the name people know him for and left people surprised that he is a Yoruba man,but he knew he hasn't identified himself as a Yoruba man and some people might not believe him so he decided to use the name "Olusola" to make people see reasons to vote him not knowing it would backfire in his face.

OneNaira6: Yoruba are the biggest tribalist yet ironically, they accuse others of that title.

Is Desmond the only Nigerian star that excluded his native name?
Ramsey Noauh middle name is Yoruba yet how many knows this.
How many Genevieve Nnaji's Igbo name without googling it
How about Rita Dominic, mercy Johnson, etc etc.
Hell Tonto Dike is not that bleached girl's name. How many can accurately know her real name without googling.

Omitting their native name is very common among Nollywood celeb. No body cares except well Yoruba. Why don't you guys go and carve tiger claws mark all over his face since una think his not "Yoruba" enough. Mtchewweee

JuanDeDios:
I agree with you to a large extent. People need to grow beyond this sort of politics - Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu, etc. I once saw a colleague dusting up a muslim name because he was writing to Atiku Abubakar.

talktimi: Gej's name is actually Ebele(mi) and Ike Nwachukwus name is actually Omar Sanda.
They're not nicknames at all though Azikiwe is a nickname

bakynes: I believe he shot himself on the foot because he should have just stick with the name people know him for and left people surprised that he is a Yoruba man,but he knew he hasn't identified himself as a Yoruba man and some people might not believe him so he decided to use the name "Olusola" to make people see reasons to vote him not knowing it would backfire in his face.

JuanDeDios:
I know. Ebele is GEJ's father's first name and Nwachukwu's mother was Fulani. Sola too is DE's real name. What I'm saying is that if you out it for purely political reasons people are going to notice and it can backfire. I always knew he is Sola but unluckily for him most of the people that matter now don't.

talktimi: you have a point sha though I don't see any reason why a sensible person would have issues with his name instead of his capability to deliver. It would be such a shame if a glorified thug is chosen over him just because of this issue

stevecantrell: Desmond's dad is from downtown Lagos, his mum is from Anambra state but he never cared to identify with the Yoruba in his nollywood career until he went into politics.

That aint cool.

He's better of contesting in Anambra.