Adeleke, Dino, Okorocha… nine politicians who trended on social media in 2017

Politics generate the strongest and most polarised reactions in the society.

Politicians are therefore loved and loathed, respected and ridiculed, eulogised and feared in varying measures.

From the enviable dance moves of Ademola Adeleke and Maria Nwachi to the viral song by Dino Melaye, here is a collection of nine highly publicised moments from Nigerian politicians in 2017.

DINO MELAYE

In 2017, Dino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi west, trended more than once on social media.

Melaye sang the now popular song, ‘Aje kun iya’, to taunt his “detractors” and to celebrate his exoneration after appearing before a senate committee regarding his university certificate controversy.

Prior to the launch of his song, Melaye had even worn an academic gown to senate plenary, to send the message across that he was a bonafide graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.

AYO FAYOSE

Ayo Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, is one Nigerian governor that is always in the news for one reason or the other.

In 2017, he continued his streak of doing the unexpected.

Among his most popular moments was when he displayed his prowess on the turntable with music blaring out from speakers at a place which looked like a studio.

The governor also surprised many when he wore military camouflage with dark sunshades to present the budget at the Ekiti house of assembly.

To celebrate with women during 2017 International Women’s Day in March, Fayose was also pictured using a sewing machine in a seamstress’ shop.

LAI MOHAMMED

Perhaps one of the most talked about incidents that elicited public outcry and set Twitter afire was when Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s minister of information, weighed in on the Nigeria-Ghana Jollof wars.

Mohammed had said Senegal makes the best jollof rice, in response to a question posed by Richard Quest, CNN International business editor.

Of course, Nigerians slammed the minister, prompting Quest to clarify, saying that he misheard his question.

“He thought I asked, who first created jollof rice – hence his (correct) answer Senegal,” Quest wrote on Twitter.

Speaking at an event the following week, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo pacified Nigerians by saying: “We all know that Nigerian jollof rice is the best! We beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down.”

SOLOMON DALUNG

Solomon Dalung, minister of youth and sports development, is no stranger to making blunders.

In a video that went viral in the second half of 2017, the sports minister was heard saying, “Argentina is one of the highly ranked football associations in Nigeria”.

The statement caused bewilderment on social media and offline as Argentina is not a football association, neither is it in Nigeria.

Nigerians resorted to calling him names on social media, with many digging up his past slips.

ROCHAS OKOROCHA

Rochas Okorocha, Imo state governor, trended on social media over a statue erected in honour of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

Shortly after, he unveiled the statue of ex-President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

According to Okorocha, by erecting the statutes of African leaders, he was “preserving” African history which he said was “dying”.

Following the statue controversy, Okorocha appointed his sister, Ogechi Ololo (nee Okorocha), as the commissioner for happiness and purpose’ fulfillment.

The uproar resulting from the appointment will not be forgotten in a hurry.

ADEMOLA ADELEKE

Ademola Adeleke, a senator representing Osun west, displayed groovy moves in celebration of his victory at the state’s senatorial by-election.

A video which trended on social media showed Adeleke, who is an uncle to music star Davido, moving energetically as he thrilled an excited audience.

In an interview with National Assembly TV, the senator revealed that he loves dancing.

“I love dancing and I take it as an exercise,” he said.

“The dance I did was a victory dance.”

ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE

Definitely not considered a Freudian slip, Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo state, committed a grammatical blunder while paying a tribute to Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, the late Oba of Benin.

In a statement, Oshiomhole referred to the monarch as “our iconoclastic royal father”.

“Edo people will miss our ICONOCLASTIC royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity,” he wrote.

According to Peter Okhiria, his chief press secretary, the governor actually meant to say “iconic.”

The blunder was pegged down to a typographical error. Devil’s printer, you say?

MARIA NWACHI

Prior to the release of her dance video in May, Maria Nwachi was relatively known.

Nwachi, a lawmaker in the Ebonyi state house of assembly, was seen dancing around a large compound in the four-minute long clip.

Known as ‘Afikpo Chic’ by many in her state, Nwachi was one of the legislators gifted Prado SUVs in 2016 by David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi.

Nwachi had planned to sell the vehicle and gift her consistuency with the proceeds, valued at about N16 million.

In a subsequent Facebook post, she said it was against the rules of the house to sell an official vehicle, so she would have to shelve her plans.

GUDAJI KAZAURE

Gudaji Kazaure, a member of the house of representatives from Jigawa state has been dubbed by some as Nigeria’s funniest politician.

Many videos of Kazaure’s utterances and animated descriptions have spurred reactions from Nigerians.

In January, while at a plenary session, Kazaure spoke on the need to embark on repairs the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Describing what happens when planes land on the runway, Kazaure, dramatically swaying from left to right, said: “When the flight arrive, you will see shaking, you will see blinking. This government needs to repair the runways.”

Perhaps one of Kazaure’s classic moments was when he defended President Buhari’s administration during an interview in 2016.

He made a hilarious attempt at dramatically showing how the Nigerian economy was faring, saying the economy was “doing like this and like this” before Buhari came to rescue it.