Cossy Orjiakor
Controversial actress, Cossy Orjiakor, speaks on why she is not campaigning for any politician, in interview via Punch
What are your thoughts about the presidential election that held lastweek?
The election was fair, and I really admire the way President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat without any problem. If he hadn’t done that or if the Peoples Democratic Party had won, maybe there could have been violence. I love the way he called Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him. That was nice of him. The president-elect has been there before, and now that he is coming back, much is expected from him. So, it is okay.
Would you have imagined that the incumbent President would lose the election?
My mind was open and I chose not to bother myself about who would win or lose because whether at the state or federal level, they have not imparted people enough. What has always been important to me is how the government imparts my life and those around me. For example, there is not much government presence where I stay in Lagos. In fact, the road in my village is better than the one in my street in Lagos. My father was laughing at me the last time he visited because all the roads were flooded. So, basic things like roads, power supply, and other things are what we ask for.
It is what impacts the life of the low-income earners or poor people that shows whether a government has tried or not. For me, nothing from government has affected my standard of living right now. I feel bad about it, but we keep hoping for the best. I’m not saying government has not tried. It has been doing its best, but the minority are suffering the more. People like us are still better, but many are suffering out there.
Why did you stay away when other celebrities were campaigning for politicians?
I don’t go after politicians. I just want the best for myself and the community I live in. That’s all I want. Where I live, we the residents wrote a letter to an aspirant in our area, complaining about our drainage. And the head of our community said we should vote for him and that the man would fix the drainage for us. Now, we have voted for him and he has won, I hope we will see him again.
We are just hoping he would come and do the drainage for us because the roads are very bad, especially during the rainy season. I want development where I live. That is what affects me as an individual. We keep hoping these politicians would do something, but they have not lived up to that expectation. I don’t see myself running after such people.
But many of your colleagues were hobnobbing with these politicians. Many believe they are making money.
We all can’t be the same. If you are doing an advert for someone, obviously you have to be paid. It’s cool if you are invited. Just make your money, play your game and move on, because it’s all a game.
Does it mean you didn’t join them because nobody invited you?
I didn’t do any of that because my kind of person is quite different. I’m not a beggar and I’m a very independent-minded person. There is always an offer and there is always sharing of money and all that, but I don’t need it. They shared money, I saw it but I didn’t collect because it’s nothing to me.
I do things that affect me as a person and that affects the people in my community and those I care for. I just want development where I stay and people around me, and I don’t even mind spending my own money to make sure people are okay. I’m more concerned with my environment. There is nothing they can give to me that can make it right. So, what’s the essence? There is no need collecting money that is going to be beneficial to me alone. It’s not really affecting me as a person but people are suffering out there. I’m not happy with the government. If they don’t want to repair our road, maybe Governor Fashola should buy a speed boat for us to get to be able to get to our homes. I’m just tired of promises.
Did you vote during the presidential election?
I did. I was with some friends and we voted together. If you don’t vote, you won’t have the mind to question the people in government or criticise them. So, I played my part.
Who did you vote for?
(Laughs….) I won’t tell you who I voted for, but my vote counted. Be it PDP, APA or APC, people in these political parties are politicians. I’m happy my vote counted.
If you happen to meet the President-elect now, what will be the first thing you would ask from him?
The first thing I will ask him is to give us security. I just don’t know why people keep killing others. Many people have died. I feel if they have a problem with government, why can’t they go to Aso Rock and sort it out. I don’t even know if the people doing a these are Nigerians because we love to party here. But now everybody is scared. Why must they kill the normal, innocent people? I just want security; for the insurgency to be taken care of and for crime rate to reduce. So, security first.
Is that all you want from the government in the next four years?
Power supply is still an issue that should be addressed. Interestingly, I saw a 1959 edition of a newspaper, saying that electricity problem in Nigeria would be fixed. Since then, it’s been the same story. So, when will these things end? What can one do in a country like this than to keep hoping for the best. In other African countries like South Africa, there is good power supply. I just have to say things that affect me as a person. We are tired of promises but we can only hope for the be.
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