By Dimeji Ogedengbe
Everyone seems to have an opinion on the D’banj-Goodluck romance. We are all speaking at the same time: on Twitter, Facebook, BBM, and other public platforms. Only problem is: no one is really saying anything meaningful.
Most of the comments, at best, reek of ignorance, envy, anger, hate and exuberance.
No, I don’t like how the interview session was structured. I don’t like the fact that Mr. Jonathan, a terrible public speaker, is doing all he can to avoid standing on the same platform with the likes of Buhari, Ribadu, Shekarau and Momodu to discuss Nigeria and her future. And I certainly don’t like the way PDP is acting – as usual – like the upcoming elections are a matter of life and death.
But I also do not like the fact that almost everyone is asking for D’banj’s head. They are drawing worrisome cartoons of the young man, calling him names and even threatening to boycott him and his music. Why? Because he’s campaigning for a Presidential aspirant?
Just like the rest of us, D’banj has a right to believe in, campaign for, and vote for any candidate that suits him. He alone understands why he has chosen Jonathan. Principles of Naira and Kobo or some manifesto the rest of us do not yet understand? That is his business. And I do not think him campaigning for Jonathan, or ‘interviewing him on behalf of Nigerian youths’ has hurt anyone in any way.
In fact, I think we should be grateful to D’banj. Because it was not until after that interview that I made up my mind not to vote for D’banj’s good friend Jonathan. I’m sure I’m not alone.
If D’banj was wrong by arrogating the power to represent Nigerian youths to himself, tell me, how many of us signed up to have all those other youth coalitions represent us? The difference? We are obviously not complaining about all the others, because they speak our voice; they know our struggles. They represent us. D’banj does not. He knows it. We know it.
So why all the ado?
I will start getting worried and asking for boycotts when Sound Sultan, Femi Kuti, Asa, Lagbaja, 2face Idibia, and other activist-musicians like Fela Kuti begin to drop their pants and submit their private parts to politicians.
D’banj? Pasuma? KWAM 1? These are entertainers; businessmen who understand how to use what they have to get what they want. And they have a right to. Not so?
The people we need to come together and battle are all those dealers masquerading as leaders. The career politicians who promise and fail and have no shame to throw in the towel. The bandits that have led us to where we are today – from a nation of promise to a failed state. We need to get them out of the system. By every means possible. They do not mean well for you and I. And they have not the faintest idea of how to lead our nation out of the crises we are in, into the so-called promise land.
The task at hand is not to cut off D’banj’s head for making money off Jonathan and dancing to his tune. D’banj is not our problem. In fact, D’banj is just a symptom of the bulk of our problem: hasn’t it been said that, because they know their future is not certain and society has no good in stock for them, the average Nigerian youth would do anything for commercial benefit?
Our problem, guys, is the crop of leadership we have. In addition, we must decide, today, that the worst of us cannot continue to rule over the best of us.
It starts by voting in April.
18 comments
hw much did u get for PR! am sorry its just not werkin for me…lol
Couldn’t have said it any better…….great article
My question is all these people saying D’banj this D’banj that, is he not part of the Nigerian Youth?
If i meet the President today and he grants me an interview, will i say no? Because i’m not part of what about us or enough is enough or whatever group that has been formed, all in the name of protecting the youth’s interest….all these people should pls take a seat
let’s all stop for a moment and crucify the politicians, and not the poor dude who saw an opportunity and was smart to take it…
I bet every one who has a negative thing to say about this issue, if given the opportunity, will jump at it and forget any youth group
If i were D’banj, i will do the same…. so why do we like looking for a scapegoat to blame (no pun intended 🙂 There exists a bigger problem beyond D’banj or any entertainer conducting a presidential campaign..let us focus on that and go out to vote come April 9
Very nice article
D’banj did what other entertainers did.i don’t think it calls for explanation.
Great article. I like this bit the most, “In fact, I think we should be grateful to D’banj. Because it was not until after that interview that I made up my mind not to vote for D’banj’s good friend Jonathan.”
The two have given me reasons to go out and vote… certainly not for GEJ
My problems is not d’banj representing the youth, but the whole scenerio is not well planned… My problem is that d’banj is not intelligent about the interview, he was just nodding to all what GEJ was saying he cant even interupt him, there are so many intelligent youth out there so no body can fool us, that is just mine, except that he is a business man, he needs the money.
pls leave my dbanj alone nd stop complaining about anoda omoogun. Stop callin him a fool, ignorant nd all sort of rubish, if u were to be in his shoe, get invited by d president nd get interviewed, wouldn’t u attend it.? So pls leave him alone. Jn o file e, leave it
Dbanj should be concern about this(his Interview with GEJ) reason being that from the comment on several social media, it suggest’s so far that He(Dbanj) did not represent the Nigerian Youth, which i agree with them. come to think of it, there is nothing wrong with him interviewing Mr president, but He just did not ask the right questions. above all the interview was staged managed, evident in the fact that GEJ has already employed him to sing on his campaign jingle (nothing bad with that;just making some cheddas of GEj). but believe me u, mascurading as representing Naija youth while asking such questions that does’nt address niaja’s youth feelings about the state of the Nation. I think its a shame……….. Dbanj watch it and read the History books. I wish you all the Best.
I can’t believe Elisabeth Taylor is dead. It’s very sad day not only for her fans but every movie fans also. She was one of greatest actress of all times. RIP Dear Elisabeth.
D,ban’j is a sharp guy so guys free him now!
isnt the writer suposed to be nutral? come mr jornalist………how come nobedy said anything when bankyw, 9ice and co went postrating to fashola at the teslim balogun concert………..una dey beef cos jonathan no give u contract abi
Pls note: d’bang interview of him self and was not in anyway representing the Nigerian youths. Am not aware he was given such a mandate
.. Wats wrong wit dbanj interviewin his president… Dose pple complainin r jealous bcos dey did nt get d opportuinity… D president ignored dose debates cos dey r nt genuine. Bt e accepted d BON debate cos its certified..
I think people should stop this pull-him-down syndrome. What has D’Banj done that a lot of people have not? Remember Abacha’s day – Daniel Kanu, Onyeka Onwenu, Femi Kuti, etc. The musicians collected a whopping N1m to perform at the Abacha event. Coming to Obasanjo era, remember the weekly NTA programme where the president featured to answer questions from ‘seasoned’ journalists. Have you guys forgotten the quality of questions. Did we crucify them? I think people should seek solutions to their problems elsewhere instead of castigating D’Banj.
U are not adequately informed,,,Sound Sultan and Tuface performed for BRF…wats the Big deal is D’banj having a favorite candidate? vote for GEJ or not, he will win, so U can pack ur load and relocate to Libya…Jealous fool…
If you had the chance to interview a local govt chairman, U will jump at it…
follow follow people.
all of U dont know aboout governance, politics and PR.
All dose bias debates?
Abeg get out
and free D’Banj…..IDIOT
JEALOUS FOOLSSSSS……LEAVE D BANJ ALONE
RESPECT HIS RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION…
HABA…ENEMIES OF PROGRESS
Nigeria you people should leave the KOKOMASTER ALONG. It is Mr. Endowe he know what’s was he is doing.
Serious PR Stunt!, nice one though, but I hope it will salvage his career so it won’t nose-dive like Wande’s. When alone with him, u may advice him to get a ‘brain’ since he is ‘pinky’ to help guard his next action incase his dictionary is ‘interpretation-confused’ on the word ‘opportunity’ or ‘promising’ … File! Ose! (Lol)