Abba Hamisu sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. As 2023 election is fast approaching Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is creating more waves in the political space.
Beside criticizing some elements in the Presidential Villa and Northern elders , He is also attacking the Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi as he described him as a Nollywood Actor that can not win an election.
This description by the Kaduna Governor can be interpreted in dual perspective as millions of Nigerians are fans of the Nollywood Films, Actors and also the Industry provides so much employment especially among youths who Politicians mostly hired as thugs during political rallies.
On the other way it can be seen as El-Rufai wanting to downsize Obi who was the former Governor of Anambra State and Ex Presidential running of Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 Presidential election under PDP.
Nollywood Leadership reaction to El-Rufai
The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, is an umbrella of professional Actors and an influential body in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the body’s Director of Communications, Kate Henshaw, the Guild describes El-Rufai’s account as not only derogatory to the acting profession but degrading to the Actors in Nollywood.
Mr El-Rufai, a two-time governor of Kaduna State in a recent interview with TVC, spoke about online polls which place Mr Obi ahead of other presidential candidates.
He noted that the polls were not conducted accurately and that Mr Obi’s Labour Party uses ethnicity and religious bigotry in its campaign.
“Peter Obi is a Nollywood actor, and that is all he will speak about. This election is between the APC and the PDP because they have the footprints and the ‘spate’. Ethnicity and religious bigotry will not take you anywhere, and that is what the Labour Party campaign is about,” he said.
Reacting, the AGN president, Emeka Rollas, said that the statement is intended to belittle and demean the intellectual capacity of an actor.
Mr Rollas said that using actors to make sarcastic examples of an unintelligent person is arrogant and condescending of a public office holder.
“The statement is very offensive and demeaning to the Actors Guild of Nigeria and Nollywood as a whole, as it was purely intended to deride the acting profession.
“Nollywood Actors have in no small way projected the image of our dear country positively from the negative perception the likes of El-Rufai and his cohorts have portrayed us to be,” the statement added.
Mr Rollas noted that the Guild is utterly bewildered by this statement from a sitting governor who claims to be educated and intelligent, referring to a noble profession of intelligentsia endowed with uncommon talent.
The leader of the Actors Guild lamented that it is pretty unfortunate, as it portrays the governor’s ignorance of the pivotal role of the actor in the emerging global creative economy after many years of his checkered sojourn in government.
He further asserted that actors are intelligent, educated, creative, and highly endowed with the ingenious capacity to lead and develop Nigeria more than some average leaders in government houses today.
The national president called on El Rufai to withdraw his nescience statement and tender an unreserved apology to Nollywood Actors immediately.
Peter Obi loyalist reacted
Aisha Yesufu is an activist and one the Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign team members. She said El-Rufai and his likes are afraid of Obi’s Candidature and Popularity.
Yrsufu stated that if Obi is a Nollywood Actor why are they talking about him as he initially said Peter Obi’s Candidacy is about four people.
The Activist added that El-Rufai said the 2023 contest is about APC and PDP which she described as Parties of Corruption,insecurity and poor policies. So there is no need for him to talk about Obi.
Aisha said since Kaduna Governor is saying Obi does not have the support of enough states to win the Presidential election, why is he wasting his time and energy on something less important.
She expressed optimism that Obi will surprise El-Rufai and his Party in the February Presidential Election.
Is massive Killing and denying workers rights in Kaduna State not a Comedy ?
Oseni Rufai is a Journalist and Public affairs analyst with Arise news. He described El-Rufai s comment on the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party as unfortunate.
He asked the Kaduna state Governor that denying Thousands of workers their rights and massive killings and kidnapping taking place in his state is not a comedy to the highest order ?
The analyst challenged the two term Governor to face the problems disturbing his state or “the Nollywood of insecurity facing his state before attacking any Presidential Candidate” Oseni emphasized.
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