Mercy Johnson accepts appointment as SSA on entertainment

Mercy Johnson

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, has expressed gratification at her appointment as senior special assistant (SSA) to the Kogi State governor on entertainment, arts and culture.

Governor Yahaya Bello announced the appointment along with that of 53 other senior special assistants and nine special assistant on Tuesday.

Making her acceptance public in a message posted on Instagram on Wednesday, the 32-year-old wrote “I am humbled, as I duely (sic) acknowledge this attending responsibility to serve my great state with the modest experience I have gathered over the years.”

She expressed gratitude to the governor and his wife, Rashida Bello, for she described as “this unparallel opportunity to serve”.

The mother of three acknowledged her husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie “for giving me his consent, knowing fully the sacrifices and adaptations he will have to put up with.”

While the actress’ fans hail her appointment, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier (PDPNYF) called on her to turn it down.

A statement by the National Coordinator of PDPNYF, Usman Austin Okai, on Wednesday says: “It is particularly condemnable to attract Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson into Kogi governance just for the sake of settling personal scores.

“The state cannot afford to comfortably pay N350, 000 monthly to an artiste based in Lagos.

“We advise Mercy Johnson and others to turn down their appointments.”