by Eromo Egbejule
It is no surprise that every year has its share of disappointments and that one celebrity too many lets his private side get to the fore too often. As the Holy Book enjoins, “in all your getting, get wisdom.” Behold, a list of ten Nigerian celebrities who really need to draft New Year resolutions
The Okoye brothers – Sometimes life throws barbs at you and those closest to you may do you wrong but it is best to remember that family, though overrated, still is everything. The Okoye brothers and the members of their immediate extended families ought to sit down and have a full family meet this New Year’s Eve. Top on the agenda should be discussing the lows of 2014 especially the family squabbles that escalated into the public domain and figure out how to enter 2015 in unison, prepared to conquer the world afresh.
Omo Akin – While we are yet to come to terms with the unexplainable lack of talent for all that mass, Omo Akin and company decided to rev up the heat and briefly steal the attention of Nigerian women and all other members of the local Telemundo Appreciation Society chapter. In a script fit for only the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Steven Seagal, the musician’s camp released pictures of him after he had being ‘mauled’ by a deadly beast at an exclusive resort somewhere in Lagos. The statement claimed he had being rushed to a hospital and was still unconscious at the time but afterwards, the management of the resort released a counter-statement providing proof that the story was concocted and sued for damages. An out-of-court settlement may have been reached but perhaps a full court case would have helped Mr. Akin see the need to throw away his diapers and make actual music or find a day job (or a nocturnal one, given his physique).
Charles Novia – Silence can never be misquoted, goes a popular quote. Mr. Novia is a respected Nollywood bigwig and a role model to many which is why he needs to always weigh his words and why the child in him needs to sleep real quick. His misogynistic and frankly uncalled for tweets about murder at the hardworking Seyi Shay over her dress to an awards ceremony recently is comparable to the actions of the Kenyan men who stripped a woman over her choice of dressing. Not every time tweet, Mr Novia; sometimes just allow smartphone to charge in peace.
Wizkid – Granted, his collaboration with Saeon was simply a business deal and he owed her nothing after, but when you are a leading light in a growing industry, the least you can do is to support your compatriot who has a long way to go. The multiple cheating sprees on his pretty girlfriend, Tania Omotayo, coupled with his condescending nature towards Samklef and Sarz, two people who have played a part in the astronomical rise of the youngster’s career are also some of the issues Wizkid has to blot out and put behind him in the coming months. The boy needs to become a man ASAP.
Harrysong – Posing with pictures of untidy naira notes might be attractive to certain people in an alternate universe but here on Earth in 2014, that’s a mighty wack move. Not to exonerate Floyd Mayweather, but it has to be noted that the boxer’s preference of neater currency is a lot classier. For a celebrity who repeats clothes on Instagram and claimed in a 2014 interview that his parents were siblings and he was the product of incest, 2015 would be a year to have his publicist on speed dial and to focus on making music.
KCee – Mr Fashion Icon may never realize that he, in the words of a distressed fan, “dresses like fruit salad” because he packs quite a bunch of yesmen around him. Earlier in the year, the Five Star Music head honcho claimed that his wife of over two years was but his sister. It is tempting to ask that a steward change the preferred brand being smoked at the label but the comforting demeanour and pleasing silence of the other signee, producer Del B begs to differ. Every year brings with it a breakout star and truth is every artiste has to sit up or be washed away in the current that comes with the breakthrough of a new voice. A memo to KCee is in order, please.
Maheeda – No thanks to Linda Ikeji and other bloggers who are more concerned with traffic and ratings, rather than a curation of the public space, we have a full-blown case of a pornstar wannabe who overestimates her importance. At a point in time, Maheeda was releasing music and actually getting better with the release of each one, aided by the prayers of a fervent few who saw her true potentials. In 2015, this woman needs to step up and show that there’s at least an ounce of talent in that banging body.
Etcetera – Not everything a man sees, that he says. It is good to see the failed rock singer finally show promise in some talent after all but surely from his sojourn in the entertainment industry from X3M Music, he should have learnt one or two things. His criticism of his fellow entertainers who tried their hands at politics and his meddlesomeness in Tiwa Savage’s marriage leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Grow up, Mister.
Laura Ikeji – A celebrity of some sorts, the self-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the host of the Ikeji armies and Minister of Information for her elder sister is such an apt lesson in sibling loyalty but really overdoes it. Sauciness might be an asset but the younger Ikeji seems too steeped in blind worship of her big sister to notice anything to the contrary. It would be profitable to place a wager that if Linda ever criticizes her in public, she’d as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, take to Twitter to rinse out the breaths of anyone who dared suggest the criticism was unnecessary. Growing up is in order.
Burna Boy – Who fires his mother as his manager on Twitter? Burna Boy. Who leaves his producer-partner and record label at arguably the peak of his career? Burna Boy. Who ought to grow up in 2015? Burna Boy.
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