Actors go into politics for gain, power, passion – Zulu Okafor

*•Abubakar Yakubu, AGN Secretary- General and Zik Zulu Okafor, AMP President

Some stakeholders in the Nollywood industry had attributed the direct participation of actors in politics to gain, power and quest for change in the country.
The President, Association of Movie Producers in Nigeria, Mr Zulu Okafor, made this known on phone in Abuja.

He said that actors go into politics for the gain, power and passion to bring change and stability to the country.
Okafor, a Nigeria Media Merit Award winner, said politics could be used to reach height of power and achievement which should not be restricted to any caree
Okafor explained that actors are the best people among politicians, saying that they have been involved in various roles and movies that depict the realities of life.
“I believe I will also join politics, I want to impact on the life of the people, whether House of Representatives, Senate or even governorship position, after all RMD is not doing bad,” Okafor said.
The President also made reference to other actors in the Western World like Ronald Regean and George Murphy who had made progress as actors and politicians.
Mr Joshua Ejiro, a resident of Karu, Abuja, also said that Nigerian actors go into politics for the money and fame.
Ejiro explained that average Nigerians like money and recognition, so he did not see why actors’ involvement in politics should be controversial.
Mr Monday Odeh, a businessman in Utako market, Abuja, commended Nollywood for the progress they were making in politics.
“I strongly have the conviction that they will do better because all that happens in politics had been acted by them, even combining the two will not be bad at all,” Ode said.
Similarly, Tope Ajayi, a Sociology student, University of Jos, said that she believed Nollywood actors do not really know what they wanted.
Tope urged actors to bring those flaws in the country’s politics into acting as a way of showcasing and correcting it, rather than leaving it for something else.
“It is unfortunate that people see politics in this country as the final bus-stop of fulfilling their life ambitions and making easy money,’’ Ajayi said.
Some of the actors in the Nollywood have declared their intention to run on the platform of different political parties.
Nigerian actress like Kate Henshaw is contesting under PDP for the House of Representatives in Cross River.
Others actors include Emmanuel Udokwu, for House of Representatives under APGA, Anambra, and Desmond Elliot, House of Representatives under APC, Lagos State, among other artists. (NAN)