Funke Akindele talks about struggle, politics, saying: ‘I will do it again, there is no regret’

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele said that stepping into the political arena had changed it, made him bolder, smarter, and more in harmony with the complexity of leadership in Nigeria.

Speaking during the direct edition of the #withchude talk series, organized by Media Entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Akindele opened his journey to politics, his mental health struggle, and the battle was silent behind his public power.

In 2023, Akindele became the headlines as Deputy Governor of the People’s Democratic Party Candidate (PDP) in the state of Lagos, running with Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor). Although they lost to the Governor of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Congress of All Progressive (APC), Akindele said the experience left a lasting impact.

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“I need to support others. I need to give back that is why I go to politics,” he explained. “Entering it, seeing violence, hearing the screams, then I started watching female politicians, the way they spoke and ordered respect and authority. And I said to myself, ‘Hey, you can do it.'”

The campaign trail, he said, was a resurrection and a character test. “I stand, I speak. I learned that you must be brave, brave, and strong. What will happen, will happen. Fear will only make you jammed,” he said, adding that the political process motivated him to be more informed and good at talking.

“I started reading more, learning more about my country and my country. When I want to talk now, I speak with statistics with data. So yes, I am glad I entered politics. And if you ask if I will do it again? Oh yes!”

Outside of politics, Akindele uses a platform to explain the importance of mental health, a topic that he said is often ignored, especially among public figures who are expected to look strong at all times.

“From the beginning, I always knew that therapy was important, but I never surrendered for it. I would be afraid that people would hear and spread the core,” he said. “But I was dying in silence while acting strongly.”

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