Many Nigerians
were surprised last week to learn about the switch of popular comic actor,
Hafiz Oyetoro better known as Saka, as an advert model of Etisalat mobile
network to one of its biggest rivals, MTN.
Saka had been
popular as a model with Etisalat, especially with the series of adverts he did
for them. So, it was surprising for the people to see the actor-cum-lecturer
pitching his tent with another network.
His comic delivery
of the adverts campaigns for Etisala had endeared him into the hearts of the
people with his unique way of delivering his messages on television screen and
radio. Saka, who happens to be one of the best comic actors in Nollywood, has
won many awards in recent years.
A leading mobile
service network, MTN engaged Saka through its agency, DDB to promote the new
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system recently launched by the NCC.
MTN employed the
services of Saka to achieve its campaign of attracting customers, a move that
has been described as a coup for Etisalat, which had been using Saka as its
brand ambassador for about two years.
When contacted on
the development, Saka declined to speak on the 'controversial' deal with MTN.
“I just want to
get your view about your recent deal with MTN, we learnt that you left Etisalat
because MTN offered you a fairer deal, please confirm or deny sir,” First
Weekly asked Saka. “My brother (laughs), please, I don't want to talk on the
issue for now,” Saka responded.
When asked if he is
happy about the new development, Saka said, “my brother, you just want to make
me talk (laughs again), no comment.”
Meanwhile, First
Weekly reliably gathered that MTN parted with about N20 million to woo Saka to
its side. A source in the know said this was far from what Saka was getting
from Etisalat as brand ambassador for the network for two years.
“Saka wasn't
really a brand ambassador for Etisalat, he was only paid for any advert he did
for them. Most of the time, he got a one-off pay for an advert campaign. He
wasn't contracted as a brand ambassador for the network, unlike the deal he
reportedly signed for MTN, which is worth N20 million,” the source divulged to
First Weekly last week.
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