Now that music superstar, David Adeleke (aka Davido), has held his traditional wedding and checked off marriage on his to-do list, there are growing expectations that the 31-year-old billionaire’s son will also conquer the world of politics.
Politics and Davido are not entirely strange bedfellows. If for nothing else, the Afrobeat singer is associated with individuals who have not only led the way in politics but also cleared a path toward progress in Osun State, the singer’s home state.
Davido’s uncles, the late Isiaka Adeleke and Ademola Adeleke, are national treasures from Ede, in Osun State, South West Nigeria, who redefined political tenacity. They are celebrated for not giving up on their political aspirations.
Isiaka Adeleke became the first Executive Governor of Osun State in 1992 when it was carved out of Oyo State. He also later became a two-term Senator. He died in 2017, two years into his second term in office.
Ademola Adeleke also served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and currently, Ademola who served out Isiaka’s tenure in office from 2017 to 2019 after he won a by-election, is the incumbent Governor of Osun State.
The footprints the Adeleke family has left on the Osun people will not be complete without mention of Davido’s grandfather, Ayoola Adeleke. He was a politician extraordinaire who got elected in 1979 into the National Assembly as a Senator. He represented Oyo East, under the then Unity Party of Nigeria.
And so with the family’s political dynasty already established, Davido took the bull by the horns and married long-term partner, Chioma Adeleke (née Rowland), in a lavish traditional marriage ceremony in Lagos on June 25, 2024.
Although there was an intense rain shower on the day of the wedding, dignitaries such as former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun, among others, trooped out to the occasion, a pointer to the fact that Davido would be welcomed in politics.
The wedding was a huge success but not controversy-free. There were unsolicited talking points about it amongst Nigerians, a type of situation Davido will have to get used to if he ventures into politics.
For instance, there was uproar about Lagos being the place where the lovebirds would tie the knot. Some Nigerians had asked why Imo State, Chioma’s state of origin, did not host the Adelekes and their friends.
Many other Nigerians also faulted “the small venue” that was used for hosting a wedding of such magnitude and criticized the singer for not using a bigger venue.
“And if you ask me, I think Davido should leave politics for the children of his late uncle, Isiaka Adeleke. Those ones can stand a chance when the going gets tough. Davido should be like his father who has, to the best of my knowledge, refused to go into politics”
Analysts have concluded that should Davido ever contemplate dabbling in politics, he should be ready for similar controversies.
And this is where Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s advice to Davido will come in handy. Before the wedding, Akpabio had urged Davido to stay away from politics. He urged Davido not to allow anybody to drag him into politics.
Akpabio said, “The only major thing common to all of us is the interest of this country, which has given you so much love. It has a population unmatched anywhere else in Africa—over 240 million Nigerians.
“So, I want you to remain a great Ambassador of our country. Don’t allow anybody to drag you into politics. Continue to do your best in the entertainment industry.”
The catch, however, in what Akpabio said is that he (Akpabio) belongs to the APC while Davido has a vested interest in the PDP.
Davido told Akpabio that he came on the visit because his album was due for release in July. The “Assurance” crooner also told his host about his charity work, something analysts say the musician likely used to show that he is in touch with the people.
“As for me, I’m doing my part to assist society. I have a Foundation where I share N300 to N400 million to the orphanages yearly. And I have a new album coming out in June or July of this year. I just thank you for everything you have been doing for us,” Davido said.
And who would have blamed Davido for his open-mindedness? He has never been known to shy away from politics and so discarding Akpabio’s “wise” counsel will not be difficult for him.
Davido has on several occasions demonstrated a willingness to defend his political beliefs. And all the way back to 2018, he showed that politics also constitutes his lifeblood.
In 2018, Davido was his uncle, Ademola Adeleke’s biggest cheerleader and he did not mince words whenever he spoke in his defence.
The “dancing Governor”, as Ademola Adeleke is wont to be called, contested the Osun State governorship election under the People’s Democratic Party, and Davido tried to use his influence to spur him on to victory.
Davido’s uncle had battled with Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, however, declared the election inconclusive.
A day before the rerun of the poll, which Ademola lost, Davido had raised the alarm on X, formerly Twitter, about alleged plans being hatched by the APC in Osun State for hijacking power.
“APC is already planning to rig tomorrow’s rerun. Enough is enough, man. They are ready to do anything, and I mean anything to stay in power and suffer the Osun people for another four years,” Davido had tweeted.
At the time, the United Kingdom chapter of the APC mocked Davido and also asked Nigerians to ignore his fake news. The group referred to Davido as a “political novice” and “too inexperienced”.
“Please, ignore the fake news from the political novice. He’s uninformed and too inexperienced to dabble in such issues. The issue at hand is way above and beyond his pay grade,” the group said.
After all was said and done, the next election season eventually came in 2022, and Ademola Adeleke was once again out to contest the governorship seat. But claiming the PDP’s governorship ticket would not be a walk in the park.
Two factions of the PDP had produced Adeleke and another politician, Oyedotun Babayemi, as flag bearers and the matter went to the courts for resolution.
The uncertainty got to the point where an online publication said that Adeleke’s ambition had suffered a setback after a high court in the state affirmed Babayemi as the authentic PDP candidate.
Davido, even though he was in the UK at the time, quickly lampooned the publication.
“Stop spreading this nonsense cap (lie). State courts don’t have jurisdiction. Only Federal High Courts can handle post-Primary matters. Keep fooling yourselves,” he said on X.
Remarkably, Davido’s fans urged him to steer clear of politics, but the music megastar thought otherwise.
He made it clear that politics is in his blood.
“Sorry, it is in my blood and it is definitely my passion,” he declared.
A political analyst, Ifeoma Ogbonna, told The Point, “Most time in Nigeria, people use politics as a backup plan. So, why shouldn’t David Adeleke do the same thing? After his illustrious music career, he can reinvent himself as a politician and trust me when I say that Nigerians will love him for it.
“David is very generous. I remember what he usually says: that we rise by lifting others up. That is the kind of person Nigerians want. Because of the excruciating poverty, Nigerians want first of all someone who can change their position and status.
“I understand that it will not be easy for him to transition to a politician, but don’t also forget that the young man has a billionaire father who can advise and mentor him.
“Davido’s father supported the dancing Governor financially and we all saw the Governor lying prostrate to thank him after winning the poll in 2022.
“Why won’t David’s dad, Adedeji Adeleke, do more than what he did for others for his own son? No wonder the family is revered in Osun State.”
Another contributor, Benedict Njoku, however said that Davido would not make for a good politician.
“Leave all that hype and let us face facts. That you did well or you are doing well in your music career will not equate to success in politics.
“And mind you, it will not necessarily matter that your grandfather or uncles succeeded in a chosen field. The truth is that if you are not cut out for the same thing, you will end up a disaster.
“Politics is a different ball game. It can swallow anyone up. That is why I agree with people like Akpabio who have advised Davido to run away from politics.
“And if you ask me, I think Davido should leave politics for the children of his late uncle, Isiaka Adeleke. Those ones can stand a chance when the going gets tough. Davido should be like his father who has, to the best of my knowledge, refused to go into politics.”
