Kate Henshaw: “My Mum Was Against My Political Ambition”

Famous Nollywood actress — Kate Henshaw is among the front runners for a political seat in the 2015 elections.

In a new interview with Daily Trust, the Nollywood actress revealed her mum’s reaction when she first heard Kate was going into politics this year.

Read excerpts below: –

• Weekend Magazine: How did your family and friends respond when you said you wanted to become a politician?

Kate Henshaw:

My mum said ‘no way’. I told her to pray for me and she said she wasn’t going to, so I told her I’d pray for myself. Some cousins of mine in Calabar then called her and told her to encourage me, that what I want to do is good. She told them someone else should go into it, and they asked her why someone else should. They told her I should do it
because it would be good for the state. She finally agreed. 

Friends have also been supportive. They say I’m strong. They also say this is my kind of thing because I fight for people. But they advised me to be careful because politics is dirty. I told them the only way things will get better is if good people get inside. One can only change things if inside, not from the outside. 

I’m gunning for the House of Reps representing Akpabio Bakassi federal constituency. During my campaign, one thing I know for sure is that I’m not going to promise heaven and earth. When you promise too much, you are may end up not doing anything and that becomes a problem.

• WM: Entertainers are gravitating towards politics in droves. Some say it is because it is seen as ‘where the money is”. What do you feel about this?

Henshaw:

There’s nothing wrong with entertainers going into politics. Doctors go into it, people without certificates go into it, so why shouldn’t an entertainer do so? It is a right. As long as they are credible and will do the work they say they will, give them a chance.