By Anthonia Soyingbe/Lagos
Reactions have continued to trail last week’s visit of members of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), to President Goodluck Jonathan. While some condemn the insensitivity of AGN and Presidency to the plight of some Nigerians killed by members of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State few days before the visit, others say the visit was politically motivated.
At the meeting attended by over 80 members of AGN, Jonathan who described Nollywood as more effective than the media, because of its reach said; “Nollywood touches every Nigerian. The actors’ guild is a body that we must really assist in anyway possible. It is only Nollywood that government can partner with to redefine Nigeria because it is the only body that can redefine the country and convey messages to ordinary Nigerians.”
In her address, Ms. Ibinabo Fiberesima called on Jonathan to sack the heads of two regulatory agencies of the Nigerian entertainment industry and appoint only those who have passion for Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
“Mr. President, your Nollywood is in dire need of purposeful, practical, dynamic and experienced leadership at the helm of affairs of the two regulatory agencies whose function border on our industry: that is, the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). Those that have been appointed to run those agencies have shown lack of capacity to put the industry on the path of growth especially in this transformational period. We implore Mr. President to review those appointments and appoint administrators with passion, zeal and total dedication to the development of the film industry,” she said.
She also said Nollywood needed modern, responsive, legal environment for it to continue to thrive and remain relevant to the Jonathan administration’s Transformation Agenda.
“The present Copyright Act is now grossly inadequate particularly in digital and internet environment. The criminal sanctions for piracy and other copyright infringements have become ridiculously low and no longer as sufficient deterrence to infringers,” she said.
She urged Mr. Jonathan to see to the full implementation of the revised National Film Policy (NFP) and to present the bill on the setting up of the Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPICON) as an Executive bill that should speedily be passed into law.
“We believe that that the implementation of the revised National Film Policy which provides among other things for the setting up of community cinemas in each of the local government areas of the country, the setting up of MOPPICCON and the setting up of a sustainable film fund, is the most important intervention tool that the Nigerian motion picture industry requires to address some of its structural deficiencies,” she said while requesting for a land and a building in Abuja for the Guild’s headquarters which would be named The Goodluck Jonathan Screen Actors House.
Fiberesima said the building when provided “will save us the avalanche of embarrassments we receive anytime we host our international friends and colleagues”.
The guild also urged President Jonathan to direct the relevant agencies to negotiate and sign relevant foreign treaties on movies with other countries; as none currently exists with any country.
She thanked the President for appointing some of their colleagues to some government positions and urged him to inculcate the actors into the centenary celebrations so that they can “produce a historic film that will talk about us from 1914-2014 with a view to chronicling the achievements of our founding fathers and socio political evolution”.
All appear well on the surface but unconfirmed reports from a very reliable source maintained that each member of AGN present at the visit was given an honorarium of N1million with other feebies.
“What exactly is contained in the letter by the AGN president to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? They went to discuss matters that concern them, their supporters say! So, are they a special breed? Isn’t it obvious that the same enabling environment they require to grow in is the same the average Nigerian is seeking?
“So in a time of crisis, the best way for them to make their requests known is in their usual glamorous manner which is laced with a shaky base that still reeks lack of Professionalism?! I am just glad that the People have spoken! The once respected Nollywood, is now being seen as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians! Nollywood stars should learn from the likes of Hollywood actor, George Clooney, who in far away America still make dire efforts to stop the human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. He also focuses much of his energy on helping those suffering from poverty. Alas, our Stars are always looking forward to the next President or Governor to line their pockets with thick cash, as they in turn drool after them! We pray they know they have a voice to cause a BIG change in Nigeria! To whom much is given, much is expected! God Bless Nigeria!” TV personality Rose Peter-Graham stated in a Blackberry message.
Ace thespian and former president of Association of Theater Practitioners (ANTP), Prince Jide Kosoko, who declined to comment on the controversial visit when contacted by Daily Independent last Thursday, said the visit was AGN’s initiative and so he won’t like to interfere.
“AGN is an association and they have the right to whoever they choose to visit. Other bodies were not consulted. Even If I were contacted, I wouldn’t have gone without being given a cogent reason for going. So please kindly leave me out of this as I don’t think I want to comment on this,” Kosoko said.
Daily Independent also sought the view of actor and movie producer Saheed Balogun, who also declined to comment but he said, “I reserve my comment but I know there is more to the visit than what we read in the media. It is financially and politically motivated. At the right time, we will speak out.”
Filmmaker, Kabat Esosa Egbon was perhaps one of the first critics who registered his distaste for the visit. He posted online that movie practitioners should get their functions right. The filmmaker questioned the purpose as well as gains of the visit saying, “one question I think begs an answer from them is; what was the reason and value of the Presidential visit? How has their visit added anything to the hue and cry in the country in respect of security, unemployment. Well, its sad that Nollywood which should stand out as a moral compass and part of the ‘fourth estate’ of the people, has gradually turned into self-serving ‘politician-actors’.
I know some will say they are not politicians but that will be a joke because they are even worse than some of these so called politicians. When people leave their core constituent and decide to dance the dance of shame sooner than later, they will dance naked at the market place. I think AGN should priotize their function and functionality and address issues that affect their immediate constituent; Actors rather than become an extension of the Presidency,” the statement reads.
Popular actor Segun Arinze however faulted Esosa’s claim in a statement saying the filmmaker was only making a mountain out of a molehill.
Critics of the visit however insist the last is yet to be heard of the visit as it is an agenda for AGN to register their faces for Jonathan’s re-election bid.