Nkechi Blessing, a Nollywood actress, has criticized those who have criticized famous people who have chosen to enter politics in Nigeria.
Blessing called out those who were making fun of her colleagues for entering politics in a video that was becoming viral online.
She claimed that anytime a catastrophe occurs anywhere in the nation, Nigerians regularly ask celebrities to give their voices to the cause.
She claimed that even while celebrities are now actively participating in politics in addition to simply contributing their voices, many Nigerians are making fun of them for the change.
The actress said, “Some of you Nigerians are hypocrites. If anything goes wrong in the country, maybe it is a case of kidnap or killing, you all will be clamouring, ‘where is our celebrities?’, ‘they are not talking now’, ‘they’ve paid them,’ blah blah blah.
“But now these celebrities you people call all the time to come to your rescue. They’re are not only lending their voices, they’re also getting involved. Then you guys changed the story. ‘Eh, do you think this is Nollywood?’, ‘Is this a joke to you?’, ‘Is politics a joke to you?’
“What exactly do you people want? You that you can use your own voice, your own hand and speak to the government to listen to you, you’re not coming out to participate in any of the political activities going on in Nigeria. The celebrities you’ve been calling for years are now getting involved, and you’re making it a joke.”
The actress went on to say that she is “super proud” of her colleagues who have entered politics, particularly the women running for deputy governor.
She said, “I am super proud of every celebrity out there, especially the females coming out to be deputy governors because they want to tackle the problem from where you think it pains.
“Forget the fact that they are entertainers. All of the people that are coming out, the likes of aunty Funke Akindele, Tonto Dikeh, and Caroline. These people are educated.
“They are respected people in their society. The same people that have been calling them over the years are now saying, ‘shey you think say na Nollywood we dey do for here?”
A number of Nollywood celebrities have declared their candidacy for various political offices in light of the forthcoming 2023 elections.
While many Nigerians on social media have praised their choice to enter politics, many more are dubious about their capacity to address Nigeria’s numerous problems.
Singer Olubankole Wellington, better known by his stage as Banky W, has joined the political fray and is running for the House of Representatives on the People’s Democratic Party’s ticket.
In Rivers and Lagos States, respectively, actors Tonto Dikeh and Funke Akindele are both running for deputy governor.
On Monday, Caroline Danjuma revealed that she had been selected as Iboro Otu’s running mate for the African Action Congress’ Akwa Ibom governorship.
