Popular Nollywood actress and deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2023 election in Rivers State, Tonto Dikeh, has expressed her determination to continue pursuing her political ambitions.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in an interview during the GOTNI national leadership conference in Abuja, she shared her perspective on the challenges she faces in politics.
Dikeh acknowledged that the path to governing the oil-rich state in the future is both promising and uncertain due to the dirty nature of politics.
She emphasised the importance of resilience and perseverance, stating that despite the likelihood of being forgotten after four years, she intends to return to the political arena every election cycle. Undeterred by the obstacles, she plans to remain a persistent contender, asserting her presence and defying expectations.
Regarding her chances of becoming the governor, Dikeh acknowledged the unfairness and lack of transparency in politics, citing the victory of Nyesom Wike’s candidate as an example.
However, she expressed her determination to claim her rightful share, emphasising the need to possess a lion’s heart and take on the challenges presented by the political landscape.
She said, “One of the things I learnt (in contesting the election) is resilience and never giving up. I know after four years, they will forget about me and that, ‘she is not going to come back.’ But I am going to come back. Every four years, I am going to come back. I will come back and I will be in their faces. I will be coming back to the contest.
“My chances (of becoming governor) are high and slim because politics is dirty. It’s not going to be free and fair. (Nyesom) Wike’s candidate didn’t win free and fair. So I don’t expect politics to be free and fair, but I expect that, as someone said, having a lion’s heart requires taking the lion’s share.
“I won’t care what they think about my position, I will keep having the lion’s share, whether it is my personal life or politics, I am here to stay and they have no choice but to accept it.”
According to her, leadership is something that Nigerian youths need, especially now when they are all striving for a better Nigeria and a better life.
Dikeh said, “I said something; I said that the youths are restless. They are young, they are vibrant, and this is the time for them to do things. They cannot achieve those things if they do not fall under the platform of leadership.
“I contested for the position of Deputy Governor of Rivers State under the ADC and I saw how the older politicians perceived me like, ooh! This girl came to joke but I told them I didn’t come to joke.
“I made them understand that I came to fight. I might not have won but it will go down in history that I contested against Wike or Wike’s boy or the other big shots that I contested against.’
The actress argued that one of the reasons why older generations tend to look down on the youth is their perception of a lack of leadership qualities among the younger populace. She urged the older class to recognise and appreciate the untapped potential within the younger generation, emphasising that true leaders can emerge from any age group.
