THE UNIFIER Opinion: Davido’s got what it takes to enter Nigerian politics - The African Report

Young, rich, politically connected and with an unmatched ability to unify Nigerians, Afrobeats star Davido is increasingly being touted as a future political leader. When will he heed the call?

When Afrobeats star Davido tied the knot with his long-term partner Chioma Rowlandin June, one of the many videos that went viral from the massive event was one of him declaring that as far as wedding parties went in Nigeria, nobody could do it like he just had.

In his words: “Nobody fit do am. For this Nigeria? Nobody!” He’s not entirely wrong; it’s unlikely that another celebrity could bring together figures from vastly different worlds like Davido did and has consistently done.

Sure, there was the expected pop culture contingent, from Don Jazzy to Olamide to Victor Osimhen, but also the attendance of several Nigerian politicians from typically adversarial groups who showed up grinning, holding hands and celebrating the superlative #Chivido wedding.

It underscores what many fans have long touted as Davido’s superpower: the ability to be a unifier. Getting married proved that the often enfant terrible was finally growing up; after all, he’s now 32 years old, is a father to five children and is no longer a precocious adolescent.

But the larger question is, knowing his family background, political connections and his influence, is there a new life waiting for himaway from the stage?

Family of a tight-knit network

Davido’s family ties read like a who’s who of Nigerian politics. The ‘dancing governor’ of Osun State, where the Adeleke dynasty hails from, is his uncle, whom he name-dropped in his first hit Dami Duro from 2012 for, you guessed it, his uncle’s trademark dance steps.

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s foray into politics came after the death in 2017 of his older brother, former senator Isiaka Adeleke, who before a return to the Senate in 2007 was the state’s first elected governor during the truncated Third Nigerian Republic in 1992. Their father, Davido’s grandfather, was a labour unionist who became a senator in 1979.

The political links extend further: Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is a family friend whose late son Olu was Davido’s best friend and DJ before he died in 2017. Another childhood friend, Debo Ogundoyin, is the speaker of the House of Assembly in Oyo State.

And with Lagos being the commercial capital where the vast Adeleke empire is headquartered, his family is always cordial with whomever the governor is, regardless of which party they belong to.

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This intricate network of relationships places Davido in a unique intersection of influence, celebrities and tabloid-worthy controversies that Nigerian politics appears to never be without.

When one considers that the country’s political class is in obvious need of youth participation and entertainers such as Desmond Elliot are making the transition into becoming public officeholders, it cannot be surprising that from time to time, it is whispered that Davido could run for an elective position in the future – and win.

Not too young to run

Getting into politics in Nigeria, particularly as a young person, is no easy feat. For one, the price placed on things such as nomination forms can be unattainable. The cost of a nomination form for the position of state representative was between N500,000 ($300) (Labour Party) and N2m ($1,229) (APC)during the previous elections.

[Young candidates] need to be prepared for the storm that [serving in government] will bring their way

In a country where states unabashedly declare they cannot afford to pay the minimum wage of N30,000 ($20) per month, running for office is a dream beyond the average young person. More importantly, a political leader looking to run has to be sure that he/she is in it for the right reason.

Many times, the pressure of holding such an office can be overwhelming. That is according to Abiola Odetola, the special assistant to the Ogun State governor on youth development. “While we need to encourage more young people to embrace serving in government, they need to be prepared for the storm that doing so will bring their way,” he says.

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On the surface, it would appear that Davido is not unfamiliar with storms that often court people in the public eye. His constant feudwith the mother of his oldest daughter and spats with two other artists that, with him, form the triumvirate of the Afrobeats movement (Wizkid and Burna Boy) are examples of his ability to weather storms of a personal nature.

Whether he can take them on as an elected official is another matter. “But we need people like [Davido] who are already successful in other fields and have huge followings to be in politics,” Odetola says. “However, if he’s going to trade his celebrity capital for political ascension, it will have to be done strategically.”

Political declaration to come?

While Davido has not publicly declared any intention to pursue a political career, his actions are often louder than words. It is widely believed that his participation greatly improved his uncle’s chances of emerging as governor. During the 2020 End SARS protests, he was invited by the police as a “leader” of the movement. In May, Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked Davido to avoid politics. All of these point to an acknowledgement of his star power and influence, and the possibility of it evolving into political clout.

Davido’s evolution from a music star to a potential political figure is a journey worth watching

Media executive Dayo Showemimo has covered Davido since he burst onto the scene more than a decade ago and has no concerns about the singer’s ability to succeed if he switches to politics.

“Davido’s story is still being written. His evolution from a music star to a potential political figure is a journey worth watching. He has the charisma, the connections and, perhaps, the maturity to make a significant impact.”

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For now, the singer may take his time deciding his “grown-up” future. He already sits on the board of the family business. His first cousin, Tunji, was selected as a political appointee from the National Youth Service Corps scheme by their governor-uncle. The more popular and influential Davido would fit right in when the time comes, and knowing Nigeria’s political landscape, it is only a matter of time.