Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, has slammed critics of celebrities who have decided to join the Nigerian political scene.
In a video making rounds on the internet, Blessing tagged those mocking her colleagues for joining politics as hypocrites.
According to her, whenever a tragedy happens in any part of the country, Nigerians usually call on celebrities to lend their voices to the situation.
She said that although celebrities are no longer merely lending their voices but also getting active in politics, many Nigerians are mocking them for the move.
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 further stated that she is “super proud” of her colleagues joining politics, especially women contesting as deputy governors.
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?’”
With the upcoming 2023 elections, several Nollywood entertainers have thrown in their hats for various political positions.
While many Nigerians on social media have applauded their decision to step into the political arena, many others are skeptical of their ability to provide solutions to Nigeria’s numerous problems.
Entertainers joining the political train include singer, Olubankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, who is contesting as a member of the House of Representatives under the People’s Democratic Party.
Actresses Tonto Dikeh and Funke Akindele are both running as deputy governorship candidates in Rivers and Lagos State respectively.
Caroline Danjuma, also announced on Monday, that she had been chosen as the running mate for Iboro Otu, Akwa Ibom governorship candidate under the African Action Congress