Filming

 DISTINCTION BETWEEN FUNKE AKINDELE AND BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU'S FILM INDUSTRY

By Ishaq Bilal

As a new era heralds with the clamor of youths involvement in politics, the trend has however taking a swipe into what can be referred to as a bandwagon of interests from the Nigerian Entertainment Industry. Well it isn't surprising to see individuals who mirrors the lives, norms, traditions and the way of people, in the society (Nigeria) they live wanting to come into the real field and become politicians. We might as well say that they understands the plight of the people since they impersonate them and tell their story.

Meanwhile, with quite a number of them who have made ways into the scene already through appointments or election, like Desmond Elliot who has won the APC primary ticket to run for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly for the 3rd time. While some others are also making frantic effort to join the band, the one who seem to have gotten the attention of the public most is the Lawyer, actress and Filmmaker Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa.

Funke Akindele who was announced as the running mate to the Lagos State PDP gubernatorial election candidate Olajide Adenira, has come out to say that she's ready for the fight to save Lagos from the dominating hands of the one sided rulership currently in the APC.

Ever since then, people have been talking especially, the main opposition candidate and the current incumbent governor of the state Babajide Sanwo-olu who have demean the selection by the PDP of it's flagbearer and deputy. He based his edge over them in terms of experience in political offices and in the trenches. He also said Lagos State governance is not a tea party and other sarcastic comparisms all pointing majorly to Funke Akindele that governance is not the same with film production or acting. 

But does acting really seem different from politics? They both capitalize on the views, perception of people to cause a desirable change or interest. So I see Funke Akindele and Babajide Sanwo-olu as same in the film industry with a slight distinction.

While Sanwo-olu has come to boast of the pillars of his own Film industry, citing experience, having been in the trenches, his management prowess, I see no distant difference in that of Funke Akindele's.

The Filmmaker might not have occupied any political position as Sanwo-olu have claimed but just as Bamidele Johnson said in his article titled "Not a funky time for Funke Akindele" that "success in any field, be it law, medicine, engineering, literary/visual arts, administration et al, should recommend anyone for political office, if they have got the stomach for it".

So Funke's success in the industry that studies the Nigerian society, her problems, phases and portray needed solutions is indeed enough experience to make her succeed in the Lagos Politics. Her zeal her work ethic, entrepreneurial acumen, and the artistic vision that brought her this far, is needed for reciprocation in a society where human capital development is overly important.

Also Mr Governor mentioned the trenches, Funke's biography isn't that glorious too to be far from the trenches. Born in Ikorodu, attended Grace Children School Gbagada, obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic , now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and further earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.

Talking about management prowess, well it might be true that Funke seems unfrienly with her workers but this is the kind of attribute needed to battle the Godfatherism nature of the Lagos State politics.

So what differentiates the two individuals film industry?

While Sanwo-olu's film industry is marred by corruption, Godfatherism and especially propaganda using the media and what we refer to in kogi state as "data boys" equipped with quality video smart phones and internet subscription. They are charged with the responsibility of making videos or posts on social media singing praises to every single and little thing he(Sanwo-olu) does(the scholarship award to the two little girls on the street as a reference). 

 That of Funke Akindele's industry is marred by her marriage life, defiling corona virus restriction orders and her work ethics(which I see as a plus to being a good politician in Lagos).

In my opinion which I'm overly responsible for, Sanwo-olu's film industry ideally is to better the life's of lagosian's, but with what has marred that industry, the question as to his responsibility should be noted. But that of Funke's shares the quality of what's needed in Lagos despite the demerits mentioned above.

But, the decision isn't mine alone neither is what will happen after being sworn in is mine either. The directors of these film industries will always dictates the tune for the piper. 

Lagosians have it all to decide, what film industry they desire, Sanwo-olu's or that of Funke Akindele.