Encomium
THE dream of almost all entertainers seeking elective offices in 2015 has crashed with only star actor, Desmond Elliot and singer, Tony One Week (Hon. Tony Muonagor) winning their party tickets to the House of Assembly in Lagos and Anambra States, respectively.
Both entertainers, who are members of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) really saved the faces of their colleagues who lost out in the fierce electoral battle fought across the states.
Desmond Olusola Elliot had the incumbent member representing Surulere I Constituency, Hon. Kabiru Lawal stepped down for him. He moved on to defeat his opponent, Fuad Laguda with 214 votes who trailed behind him with 44 votes.
Tony One Week, who is already the Minority Leader in Anambra State House of Assembly would fly the flag of APC in a second term, to represent Idemili North Constituency. Interestingly, it wouldn’t be an easy ride for the gyration crooner who would meet a strong candidate in his Nollywood colleague, Bob-Manuel Udokwu the likely candidate of the state ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Bob-Manuel, who is currently a Special Assistant to the Anambra State governor, Mr. Willie Obiano.
Still in the Southern part of the country, the dream of star actress, Offong Kate Henshaw to emerge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency was dashed on Saturday, December 6, 2014. Kate Henshaw was even the one who broke the sad news to her fans and colleagues through a courageous tweet.
Back to the West, it is no longer news that veteran actor and one-time husband of Binta Ayo Mogaji, Jibola Dabo didn’t realize his ambition to go to the House of Representatives in 2015.
The star of the controversial movie, Dirty Secret had months back flaunted his campaign posters, indicating interest in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in Ondo State.
A supposed candidate of the PDP, we are yet to hear how he fared at the election that has been contested and won.
Also in the league of losers in the 2015 electoral race is popular musician Abolore Akande, better known as 9ice. Alapomeji, as he is also fondly addressed couldn’t withstand the superior political fireworks of the son of Soun of Ogbomosho who circumvented his political aspiration.
9ice’s opponent, Prince Akeem Oyewunmi polled 270 votes while he cornered just 14 votes in the keenly contested APC primaries. The Gongo Aso creator is from Ogbomosho North Federal Constituency, Oyo State.
Running on the platform of the PDP, the Theatre Arts graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, didn’t win the party primaries.
Popular musician, Kenny Saint Best (KSB) also failed in her bid to clinch the APC House of Assembly ticket for Ikeja Constituency. KSB lost to the son of APC National Publicity Secretary, Folajomi Muhammed.
World famous Dayo Adeneye (D1) surprisingly lost to one Adebowale Ojuri. Contesting on the platform f the APC D1 would have represented Odogbolu Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2015.
-UCHE OLEHI
