“Politics is not supposed to be a career” – Actor Olumide Oworu

Nollywood actor turned politician, Olumide Oworu, has shared his thoughts on why corruption remains a major issue in Nigerian politics.

Speaking during an appearance on The Clarity Zone podcast, Olumide said one of the biggest problems is that many people now see politics as a lifelong career instead of a platform to serve the public.

According to him, politics should be centred on building systems that work for the people and providing service, not personal gain.
Oworu explained that the negative perception surrounding politics is one reason many young Nigerians avoid getting involved.

He said, “Politics is two things, systems and service.

I think the type of politics and the idea of who a politician is, is why a lot of young people shy away from it.

Because they think it is dirty and for the unexposed. But on the contrary, it is for the people that are learned and well-travelled; the people that have a means. Politics is not supposed to be a career. But it is for a lot of people in Nigeria and that is the issue.”

He went on to say that Nigeria’s political space is filled with people whose survival depends entirely on holding political office.

In his words, “We have career politicians and that is the problem. You are willing to do whatever it takes to get into office because you have no plan B. Your entire existence is hinged on this office.”

Olumide also spoke about the influence of godfathers in Nigerian politics, noting that many politicians rely on powerful backers because they are desperate to get into power.

“Which is also why you need a godfather because you are willing to do anything to get in. You are bringing almost no value to the table.

I don’t think godfatherism should be in politics but sadly, a lot have godfathers because of the style of politics we practice. We need to change that. What should matter is capacity.”

He stressed that changing the current political culture will require focusing on competence and genuine service to the people rather than personal ambition.