LET’S TALK: Can Nigerian Youth Produce A Bobi Wine In 2023 Presidential Election?

Posted by E.L.E.X on January 15 2021 under News

Who is Bobi Wine?

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan singer, actor, businessman who turned politician to liberate Ugandans from the hand of dictator Museveni who has ruled for over 30yrs.

Bobi Wine Music career

Bobi began his music career in the early 2000s, and adapted the stage name Bobi Wine. His first singles “Akagoma”, “Funtula”, and “Sunda” (featuring Ziggy D) brought him success in the East African music scene.

His music has been characterised as reggae, dancehall, and afrobeat, often with a socially conscious message. He was the leader of the group Fire Base Crew until its disbandment, after which he started a new group known as Ghetto Republic of Uganja. He has released more than 70 songs over 15 years.

Bobi Wine Acting Career

Bobi is also a film actor, mainly starring in local Ugandan movies. In 2010, he was cast in Cleopatra Koheirwe’s drama film Yogera. In 2015, he was cast in a lead role in the Twaweza-supported film Situka with Hellen Lukoma. He has also worked on a number of other films, including Divizionz.

Bobi Wine Political Career

In April 2017, Bobi announced his candidacy for parliament in an upcoming by-election for Kyadondo County East constituency. His door-to-door walking campaign attracted attention both in Uganda and abroad.

He won the contest by a wide margin, beating two seasoned candidates: Sitenda Sebalu of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Apollo Kantinti of the main opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

In 2018, Bobi gained increasing fame, championing the victories in most of the by-elections by the candidates he campaigned for, thus beating out NRM and FDC candidates.

Bobi Wine Arrest & Trials

Bobi was arrested on 15 August 2018 for possible charges of unlawful possession of firearms and incitement to violence, after which he was brought in front of a military court and charged with the former the following day. The Times reported that Bobi appeared to have been beaten before appearing in court.????

With popular protests growing in Uganda demanding Bobi’s release, and heated discussions in the Ugandan Parliament, the Ugandan State prosecution withdrew the charges filed during Bobi’s second appearance in front of the General Court Martial in Gulu on 23 August 2018.

Upon release, Bobi was rearrested and charged with treason in a civilian court. In September 2018, Kyagulanyi was released on bail and travelled to the United States for medical treatment for injuries he allegedly received in custody.The Ugandan government banned his supporters from gathering on the day of his release, and on the day of his return from the United States.

In August 2019, Bobi was charged with “intent to alarm, annoy or ridicule” President Museveni for his role in the Arua incident the previous year. The charges came a day after the death of Ziggy Wine, a fellow Ugandan musician and staunch critic of Museveni, who was kidnapped and tortured by unknown assailants.

On 22 April 2019, Bobi was detained while attempting to make his way to a planned concert at his private club in southern Kampala, which was cancelled by police.

He was accused of leading a protest in the city the previous year without prior police authorisation; the protest was held against the “social media tax” which took effect in July 2018.

On 29 April 2019, on his way to the offices of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to honour a summons and provide a statement on the cancelled concert, Bobi was again arrested and taken to Buganda Road Court, where he was charged with disobedience of statutory duty and remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison until his bail hearing on 2 May.

Bobi Wine Presidential Declaration

On 24 July 2019, Bobi formally announced his bid to run for president in the 2021 general election.

On 22 July 2020, he announced that he had joined the National Unity Platform party, becoming elected its president and presidential flag-bearer in the upcoming February 2021 general election.

On 6 November 2020, he launched his campaign manifesto in Mbarara.

Wine’s bodyguard Francis Senteza was killed on 27 December 2020, after being run over by a truck belonging to the military police.

MY THOUGHTS:

Personally, I don’t care if he win or lose the presidential election. My happiness is that a youth made an attempt.

My question is, who is going to be our Bobi Wine in 2023?

Which youth is worth and willing to lead us out of the present situation we are in to? The suffering and smiling.

In my beloved country Nigeria, the youth don’t care about politics, yet they want positive changes. How can you effect a change on a system you’re not part of,with or in? That’s not gonna be possible.

Another question is, if a youth eventually comes out for presidency 2023, can we as youth keep sentiment, hate, tribalism and nepotism outside and support he or she?

Can Nigerian Youth Produce A Bobi Wine In 2023 Presidential Election?