Last week, Box Office reported how Nollywood stars are trying to position themselves for electioneering campaign as the 2015 general elections draw near. During the week, there were condemnations for the Guild, as many believe that there is an ulterior motive for the 80 actors visiting the President at this time.
Former Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President, Segun Arinze, has, however, debunked all insinuations, saying the visit was a mere courtesy call with no underlying motive. In a press statement, he said: “I think it’s so unfair for anyone to criticise AGN for paying a courtesy visit to President Goodluck Jonathan. We are an association in Nollywood and our visit was to discuss issues affecting our guild and the industry in general. Everybody transported himself to and fro. We didn’t go begging for alms. Please, do read Madam President Ibinabo Fiberisma’s speech, which has been sent by mail to you. We are very apolitical. We have a right to visit Mr. President. After all, he’s the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Segun also focused on a popular movie writer, Kabat Esosa, who had earlier also criticised the visit. “Chyke Bryan, who is the president of Screen Writers Guild(SWG) is down with kidney problem. What have the members of that guild of whom Kabat is also a member done to raise money for his treatment? They should stop poking their noses in other people’s business and focus on how to move the industry forward instead of bickering and sulking like children, making a mountain out of a molehill,” Segun lashed out.
When Kabat was reached, he was obviously not happy about Segun’s statement. “It’s a pity my very good friend, Segun, has decided to start peeling off clothes in the market place. Who ever asked how they got to Abuja or if they paid their fares or not? The knowing public knows better. So, let’s let sleeping dogs lie. Chike Bryan is not just the president of screenwriters guild but a director and a practitioner. It will be selective injustice and myopic to label him as a “problem” of the screenwriters guild instead of an industry problem. I dare say, we can’t be hoodwinked or stampeded to silence when issues are raised and puerile sentiments are touted as answers. It is unacceptable and a sign of deficiency of intellect. I merely asked a question, which has still not been answered. What was the value of the visit? Why didn’t they bring up Chike Bryan’s issue with the President to act on as goodwill to Nollywood instead of accusing the scriptwriters’ guild of ineptitude? Why did they not discuss the MOPICON bill, which has the propensity to transform Nollywood like the PIB Bill will do to the petroleum Industry? These are thoughts that people need answers to. And to note, Segun is my very good friend, in fact, he was my best man on my wedding day, but even Segun knows me, they know I don’t suffer fools gladly. Period,” he said.