Omotola Jolade blasts Ekiti governorship candidates at EIE dinner

The actress said the politicians were shameless for sharing food items to Ekiti people.

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Actress and social activist, Omotola Jolade-Ekiende, described the recent distribution of food items by Ekiti State politicians as a shameful act and urged Nigerians to rise against such act from political office seekers and holders.

Though the actress did not mention any particular name, pictures have been circulated on social media of the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, serving cooked rice to his guests; and of his main challenger, Ayo Fayose, distributing bags of rice to his supporters.

Omotola expressed her anger at the situation while speaking at the Enough is Enough’s Register, Select, Vote and Protect, R.S.V.P, fund raising dinner on June 12 in Lagos.

“Let us remember that some people are in Ekiti state sharing cups (bags) of rice to our brothers and sisters to sell their vote and right. We can all laugh at the pictures and say oh my God, look at this stupid people, but you know you are sitting down and not doing anything. Remember that your grandmother is also there. And they are insulting her with the cups of rice. If your grandmother is not there, her cousin is there.

“Please let us get up and remember the reason we are doing Enough is Enough, because it’s not just an association, it’s an activism that Enough is Enough and this generation will change everything that has been happening shamelessly,” she said.

“The fact that these people do not hide these things they have the audacity to bring before our very eye and say what the hell can you do about it,” the mother of four said; adding “I’m angry and I don’t know if you are. If you are angry, if you have children, and you know they are going to grow up in a society like this, and you will leave one day and you don’t know how they are been treated, lets stand up today and say enough is truly enough”.

The movie star urged Nigerians in Ekiti to rise up and take a cue from the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and put a stop to the act. She also stated that office holders or seekers do not need to distribute food items if they perform well in government or offer good governance program.

“We can all match to Ekiti state and stop it. Put a shame face on these people. We started bring back our girls and it became a world issue, we can do this for ourselves as well and say enough is enough, we will not bribe us anymore. In fact shame on you for even thinking that you can bribe us and shame on you to think this is what people are worth. If you give people good governance, you will not need to run here during election with cups of rice. We don’t need your cup of rice”. Omotola stated.

The artiste said Nigerians should not see themselves as followers but as leaders; and must always do the right thing at all time.

“We think that just a few people are leaders, but the truth of the matter is, we are all leaders. You lead in your home, you lead in your office, and we lead everywhere and as long as you influence someone, you are a leader.”

Speaking to reporters, Yemi Adamolekun, the executive director of Enough is Enough said the R.S.V.P was created after the EiE protest in Abuja and Lagos in 2010.

“After the protests, we focused on the elections and we created the RSVP, Register, Select, Vote and Protect your vote and it became a rally point”.

She also gave an insight into how EiE was formed.

“In 2010 there was a protest, it was the time the then president (Musa Yar’Adua) was either dead or alive, crisis in Jos, a young man named Chude wrote me an email after a long conversation saying where is the outrage and asked why are the young people waiting for the Prof Wole Soyinka and Femi Falana to protest on their behalf, and we thought well young people have the largest demographic in the country, and we protested in March 2010 in Abuja. In April 2010 there was another protest in Lagos”.

Ms. Adamolekun urged Nigerian youth to join political parties stating that, “no matter the bright idea we have, we need people in office who are going to execute them and the only way to get into is unless you run for office or by appointment and you need a political party, participate in the process.”

She however stated that EiE remains non partisan, and not a platform for the actualization of any individual’s political ambitions.

Enough is Enough Nigeria, a coalition of individuals and youth-led organizations, committed to a culture of good governance and public accountability, said the fundraising dinner will provide an opportunity for the organization’s supporters, volunteers, and staff to mingle, have fun, and renew their commitment to the non-partisan group’s mission.

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, and an entrepreneur, Kola Oyeneyin, were hosts of the event while soul singer, Timi Dakolo, entertained guest with his rich vocals.

The EiE director summed up the idea for the fund raising dinner when she said “Tonight, the idea is to give people an opportunity to see what we do, and raise money. Our activities are not done by magic, we spend money”.