TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF NOLLYWOOD CORE PRODUCERS (ANCOP) IN CONSULTATION

WITH OTHER NOLLYWOOD STAKEHOLDERS ON THE TRUE POSITION OF NOLLYWOOD ON THE ISSUE OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

1. Protocol/Introductions.

2.
Background: This Press Conference is a direct reaction to a purported “Nollywood Roundtable On Deregulation” held on Friday, December 30, 2011 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme: “Understanding Deregulation”, said to be an initiative of the Segun Arinze's faction of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), and allegedly sponsored by the Presidency through the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglass, who was conspicuously present at the event. It is also a
reaction to the unfortunate sudden removal of fuel subsidy as announced by the Federal Government on January 1, 2012.

3.
Ordinarily, we would have ignored and perceive the decisions, innuendos and resolutions reached at the unfortunate event of December 30, 2011 as an inconsequential internal affairs of a faction of the AGN but for the impression given to government, Nigerians and indeed the world that the untidy rendezvous and conclusion therein represented the position of Nollywood on the rather controversial issue of the fuel subsidy removal. How far can this be from the truth! Sadly, we also noted that because of fear of the unknown, Segun Arinze got armed security agents to forcefully remove from the venue of the event some notable Nollywood stakeholders perceived to have a track record of always sticking by the truth, no matter whose ox is gored. The fear stemmed from the fact that these well-informed Nollywood stakeholders may expose the real motive behind the so called 'Nollywood Rountable”.

4.
The Truth: The sponsored script Segun Arinze and his co-travelers acted out did not and could not have represented the position of Nollywood on the vexing issue of fuel subsidy removal. It did not even represent the collective views of his own faction of AGN, as most of his waning followers were not in the know of what he was up to with the selfish venture. No consultation whatsoever was carried out with stakeholders in Nollywood prior to the event, yet it was tagged “Nollywood Roundtable on Deregulation”. It also showed that the organizers and attendees do not know the difference between deregulation and fuel subsidy removal. Most attendees were merely rail-roaded into the event without a clue about the many waters that had passed under the bridge between the sponsors and Segun Arinze. It is sad and indeed showed how far Arinze and co could go in covering their tracks and deals with Oronto Douglass in Abuja. After painstaking consultations by ANCOP with various stakeholders in Nollywood on this disgraceful act of Segun Arinze and co, and as a result of the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, it was resolved, and we hereby state categorically that the Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood, reject in its entirety the fuel subsidy removal by President Jonathan.

The act is anti-masses and there is no way Nollywood would pitch its tent against the Nigerian masses in favour of a wicked cabal who have resolved to further pauperize the Nigerian masses. We align ourselves absolutely with the position of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other progressives on this matter. We shall mobilize for, and key into legitimate protests organized by the nation's labour movement in days and weeks ahead. We use this opportunity to call on all Nollywood stakeholders across the country to identify with the organized labour in their respective states. It is clear that the fuel subsidy removal is indeed injurious to citizens of this country and the country itself.

Nollywood can never, ever, ever endorse this pain-inducing policy of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan targeted at the Nigerian masses with a view to further impoverishing them. We also maintain that what was needed is for the government to first create an enabling environment for an ultimate total deregulation of the oil sector. However, because of the importance of petroleum products to the Nigerian masses and the fact that it is a natural resource in the country, government, even in a deregulated environment should still retain subsidy in the interest of the Nigerian masses. This is the least we expect from a responsible, responsive and sensitive government.

5.
Checking an ugly trend in Nollywood: Gentlemen of the press, at this point, it is important to bring to your notice an ugly trend in Nollywood, which is continually giving practitioners and the industry itself a bad image. It has now become a recurring decimal for a few misguided and selfish so called 'star actors' and a few other producers and directors in Nollywood to fraudulently present themselves to politicians, businessmen and corporate bodies as organizing one Nollywood event or the other, all in a bid to make some fast money for themselves. They use the Nollywood brand to access monies for ill-executed private ventures. This trend was what Segun Arinze and his co-travelers cached in on.

The situation is so bad today that investors and most corporate organizations including banks would not touch Nollywood even with a ten feet poll. These set of characters have debased Nollywood to an intolerable level and ANCOP as the voice of the voiceless in Nollywood and the bastion of hope for the industry can no longer standby and watch a few jokers destroy our common patrimony – the Nollywood brand. Our otherwise respected thespians have been reduced to ordinary clappers and dancers for the viewing and listening pleasure of corrupt politicians in Abuja and various state capitals, while some producers and directors have been decimated to bag-carriers, pimps and errand boys for these same set of politicians. This situation is no longer acceptable to ANCOP and other progressives in Nollywood.

As employers of labour and star-makers in Nollywood, we shall henceforth wield the big stick on these erring and recalcitrant members of this industry, no matter how highly placed they perceive themselves. When the music changes, the dance steps must also change. Enough is enough.

6.
Conclusion: Gentlemen of the press, by way of rounding off, may we reiterate that Nollywood absolutely reject the fuel subsidy removal as announced by the Federal Government on January 1, 2012. It was the most wicked, insensitive, ill-timed and poisonous gift ever from a president to his fellow citizens on the first day of the year. President Jonathan's action would certainly compete for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. We shall do everything within our power to join hands with the organized labour to shoot down this evil bird from flying too high. Make no mistake about this. Once again, we thank you for coming and we wish you safe trip back to your various media organizations. God bless you.

COMRADE ALEX EYENGHO
(President,
Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP)

Dated: Wednesday, January 4, 2011, at CASA DE MONTECUSTO, 27, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.

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