Nigerian Comedianne and PDP Lagos State Deputy Governor Candidate, Funke Akindele has received a lot of backlash for her recent controversial statement where she stated that she trusts her large social media following of over 20 million followers to vote for her during the 2023 Lagos state gubernatorial elections.
She had made this statement during an interview.
When asked how she plans to defeat the ruling party in Lagos, Funke in an interview with Channels Tv on Thursday said she has over 20m followers on social media who are ready to vote for her.
Read Also: PDP Finally Unveils Funke Akindele As Lagos Guber
She boasted that apart from her followers on social media, so many people love her at the grassroots level in Lagos State.
Funke said: “I have the numbers, I have fans and followers and I’m true to myself.
“I have more than 20m fans on social media and also at the grassroots level.
“I have fans at the grassroots level outside Ikorodu ready to support me and I’m true to myself. What I’m coming in is to change the lives of Lagosians.
“I’m here to provide solutions in Lagos. I’m in the system, I’m in the pain, we all know where the shoe pinches us.”
The first backlash came from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State who noted that the nomination of Funke Akindele as deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, underscores the unseriousness of the party.
Spokesman of the party, Mr. Seye Oladejo said this in a statement after Funke Akindele confirmed her entry into politics.
He stated that the PDP was trivalising the election by “giving political neophytes who have absolutely nothing to bring to the table their electoral tickets.”
“It also shows lack of depth in the party as regards quality members to put forward for elections if they could give a member who crossed-carpeted a few days before their primaries the governorship ticket and now went to the make-believe industry to fetch a deputy,” he added.
He stressed that governance was serious business not a circus.
“I was amused to read that the deputy governorship candidate said she was suspending her acting career for the elections whose result is highly predictable.
“I guess she is suspending a lot more because she has been in the news of recent for all the wrong reasons,” he added.
He noted that residents of Lagos will not allow governance in the State to be turned into a needless experiment.
Some other comments which were compiled by Africa Today News, New York include:
“When comedians are in politics tongue.”
“Who would take anything serious with a comedians when you wouldn’t know when they are serious undecided.”
“by IgweOfNnewi: 11:09pm On Jul 14″
What an effort in futility”
“by StormpyBee: 11:14pm On Jul 14”
“Who takes this comedian serious?”
PDP has reduced itself to this?
Anywhere, Vote LP
Vote Peter Obi
“by Funflipper: 5:21am
Don’t be naive. Your 20 million followers on social media are scattered all over the world. How will your social media follower who lives in Ghana vote for you? This is a clear indication you will fail in government because you are completely out of touch with reality.”
“by MyAmericandream(f): 5:21am
Are they all living in Lagos Aunty Funke ?”
“by EMXTAN1(m): 5:21am
Operations make Lagos state laugh”