Kevin Chinedu, a Nigerian skit maker known as Kevinblak or Governor Amuneke, has said that members of a political party offered him money to change the content of his funny skits that made fun of politicians and government.
Kevinblak said this in an interview on ARISE Television’s show, where he talked about the pressures that content creators face when they use humor to hold public officials accountable.
Governor Amuneke said he was invited to Abuja at a time when he was very vulnerable, right after his wife had a C-section and he was having money problems.
The comedian said that even though he was under a lot of financial pressure, he turned down the offer and stuck to his beliefs.
He said, “Members of a political party came to me with money to change my content.” They said they were going to change my life and that I was only making a little money, so they gave me dollars. They said that my coworkers are in the game and all that.
“I had a lot of bills to pay, and I just heard someone say, “Come to Abuja; let’s change your life.” Dollars, dollars, dollars.
“I saw it and said, “No, I am who I am.” I’ve been here for a long time and have never done anything illegal. I’ve never done anything because of money or because someone told me to.
“Something I want to do should be something I want to do.” It is what it is, you know.
Kevinblak refused to name the party, saying only that it was “Amuneke’s party,” a nod to the made-up political figure in his skits. He also warned against trying to figure it out in public.
He said, “Don’t say names, trust me, don’t say names.”
Chinedu said that when friends asked him to take the money, he said no because his close friends had also been asked and said no.
He said, “I don’t have friends who get stressed out easily when they have money.” I know people who have principles because they have, you know, thought about them themselves. So, we always talk about that.
