Legendary Nigerian actor, Nkem Owoh has said he turned down requests for him to join politics because he wants to avoid getting infected by the ‘disease’ affecting Nigeria’s political system.
Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, said people tried to lure him into politics, but he refused to give it any consideration despite their appeals.
Speaking in an interview, the movie star said he prefers using his personality to make people happy than to become a politician.
The Nollywood veteran who described himself as a fearless person, also spoke on the forthcoming general election.
Owoh said; “I will just go and vote. I have tried to reject Nigerian politics in its entirety even though I know there are still some good people inside the polity, but the system is like a diseased mesh.
“People have tried to draw me into politics but I know that if I put my head into it, I will be infected with the disease and I don’t want it. So, I prefer to stay at the flank. The country will become better when we have reasonable leadership in all directions. And soon it is going to come because I can see the rumples.
“My neck cannot carry it (politics). The thing is, I like where I can smile; you see that I am smiling and you are smiling. Also, I travel and move out alone as I am not afraid of anything. If I were to be in politics, I would have probably gotten to the height where I would be afraid and I don’t want to be afraid.”
On the matter of the film industry’s growth, he said it was initially bedeviled by lack of finance and recognition by relevant authorities, however, the trajectory had changed because policymakers had started recognising Nollywood and its practitioners.
“The film industry, and the entertainment industry generally, you don’t see quarrels between them but go to the political field and you will see the mesh.
“Generally, in the film industry today we have the problem of finance and the problem of recognition by policymakers. But now, the policymakers know us because we contribute to the GDP of the country. The policymakers are now looking into this direction knowing that this is one of the sources of making money apart from oil,” he said.
