Victor EzejaActors Guild of Nigeria has berated Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for describing the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as a “Nollywood actor.”
The Actors Guild said it considered such comment as demeaning to the acting profession which has in no small measure, projected Nigeria’s positive image to the world.
Governor El-Rufai had while appearing on TVC’s programme, Journalists’ Hangout on Thursday, referred to Obi as a Nollywood actor and would not win the presidential election.
The interview which has been trending on social media platforms drew the ire of the actors who described the comment as very offensive and belittling the acting profession.
Reacting to that comment, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Chief Ejezie Emeka Rollas, said, El Rufai’s comment “is not only derogatory to the acting profession but degrading to the Actors in Nollywood,” a statement signed by the group’s Director of Communications, Kate Henshaw, indicated.
The group said the Kaduna governor’s comment “is intended to belittle and demean the intellectual capacity of an actor.”
Part of the statement reads: “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 Guild is utterly bewildered by this kind of statement from a sitting governor who claims to be educated and intelligent, referring to a noble profession of intelligentsia endowed with uncommon talent.
“Chief Rollas lamented that it is quite 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.
“Little wonder Nigeria is battling from serious economic quagmire after many years of clueless leadership who depend solely on the oil industry as they are bereft of ideas to grow and develop the country.
“Chief Rollas asserted that actors are intelligent, educated, creative, and highly endowed with 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.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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