Desmond Elliot denies corrupt enrichment since joining politics
Nollywood actor and parliamentarian Desmond Elliot has said that, unlike many politicians, he has neither stolen public funds nor enriched himself through public office despite spending over a decade in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Mr Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency I, made the revelation during an appearance on The Morayo Show on Tuesday, where he spoke about his political journey, public service, electoral setbacks, and the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.
The actor-turned-politician made the comments while responding to an appeal by Christian Widows & Widowers Empowered (CWWE), a non-profit organisation founded by Beatrice Yesufu, which featured on the programme to highlight the plight of widows and widowers across the country.
Moved by the organisation’s work, Mr Elliot pledged to support the group financially.
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“I will look for N1 million to donate to you. I don’t know where I will get the money from because, in my own kind of politics, I don’t steal. And that is the truth; I don’t steal,” he said.
The 51-year-old politician recently suffered a political setback after failing to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for another term.
Mr Elliot lost to Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, the aspirant backed by President Bola Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Moreover, a coalition of concerned stakeholders in Surulere, known as the Surulere Accountability Forum, opposed Mr Elliot’s bid for another term.
The group described his three previous tenures as unsatisfactory.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the CEO of Denziot Productions, a movie production company, was first elected in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and went on to secure re-election in 2019 and 2023.
Politics without corruption
Mr Elliot said one of his motivations for joining politics was to demonstrate that public office could be occupied without engaging in corrupt practices.
“One of the reasons I came into politics is to show that you can be clean in politics. You don’t have to play the dirty game,” he said.
He added that his Christian faith has helped shape his conduct in public office.
“Last year, I celebrated 10 years of being in Christ and in politics. We are human and can make mistakes, but God’s grace has been sufficient.”
The lawmaker said his years in public service would have little meaning if they failed to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“I have been in politics for 12 years now, and if I have not been able to touch the lives of people, what am I looking for there?” he asked.
Inspired by Abiola
Tracing his political awakening to the 1990s, Mr Elliot said the late businessman and politician Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola played a significant role in shaping his interest.
According to him, he became politically conscious during the June 12 era, frequently reading newspapers and political reports about Mr Abiola’s campaign and democratic struggle.
“It all started in the mid-1990s when MKO Abiola was running. I read so much about politics. I bought PM News almost every day and followed political developments closely,” he said.
Mr Elliot said that despite his success in Nollywood, where he built a reputation as one of the industry’s most recognisable actors and producers, he still felt unfulfilled.
“When I got into movies, I still didn’t feel fulfilled. I felt something was missing. I believed I needed to give more.”
The actor said his political journey gained momentum in 2006 after meeting former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who later introduced him to President Bola Tinubu, then a leading figure in the opposition political movement that eventually evolved into the APC.
Actor versus politician
Mr Elliot acknowledged that politics was significantly different from the glamorous life many associate with Nollywood.
According to him, the realities of public service exposed him to the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, including widows, widowers, and vulnerable families.
“As an actor, it is a feel-good life, almost like a fairy tale. But when you come into real life and meet people who are suffering, you begin to understand the depth of their pain,” he said.
He argued that effective representation requires direct engagement with constituents and a willingness to address everyday challenges.
The lawmaker also stressed the importance of education and civic enlightenment, saying that many Nigerians still lack a sufficient understanding of governance and democratic processes.
Achievements and sacrifices
Speaking on his record in office, Mr Elliot cited electricity projects, accessibility to constituents, and social interventions as some of his achievements.
He disclosed that despite the absence of constituency allowances for lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly, he personally supported vulnerable residents.
“We do not have constituency allowances in the Lagos Assembly, but I made sure I paid half the cost of prepaid electricity meters for widows and widowers in my constituency,” he said.
The lawmaker added that he deliberately relocated from Ajah to Surulere to remain closer to the people he represents.
“What I want politicians to know is that we are not here forever. One day, we will die. I want people to remember me for what I did, not for what I stole,” he said.
Why politicians steal
Asked why corruption persists in Nigeria’s political system, Mr Elliot argued that many public officials steal due to uncertainty about their political futures.
According to him, some politicians accumulate wealth out of fear that they could lose power or political relevance at any moment.
“Politicians realise that their bosses can turn on them. So they begin to keep money for themselves and their families because they are insecure about their offices,” he said.
READ ALSO: Gbajabiamila hails APC’s Surulere state constituency primary, amid Desmond Elliot’s intimidation claim, withdrawal
“But I did not keep for myself, and by God’s grace I will not beg for food, but by God’s grace I will not beg tomorrow.”
Election loss and democracy
Reflecting on his recent electoral outing, Mr Elliot said the experience tested both his resilience and faith.
He revealed that he is currently writing a book titled How to Lose an Election, in which he intends to document lessons from his political journey and experiences within Nigeria’s democratic system.
The lawmaker also advocated long-term national planning, arguing that Nigeria needs a development framework that transcends election cycles and partisan interests.
He called for a uniquely Nigerian model of democracy anchored in continuity, accountability, and a national development vision spanning administrations.
“I never stole. Why would I steal? When I leave Surulere, I want people to remember me for what I did, not what I stole,” he said.
Mr Elliot emphasised that after the party’s primaries, he had embarked on fasting and had left everything in the hands of God, emphasising that he had never lost an election.
While speaking about bending bridges, Mr Eliot said, “As a well-brought-up Yoruba boy, your senior is never the wrong one. I will keep apologising till my father says okay, maybe I must have done something wrong.”
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