In a recent interview with Punch, Charles Novia a Nollywood director and critique, has said it's erroneous to think Nollywood entertainers have been compromised simply because they took a stand with President Jonathan.
When asked if Its right for entertainers to get gratification for campaigning for politicians, he replied saying...
"That question is quite amorphous and I have always laughed at that question because those questions are based on perception. In the course of the political campaigning, a lot of accusations and bric-a-brac were going on between
supporters of both parties. The APC supporters said anytime they saw the Nollywood entertainers on stage with President Jonathan, they had been compromised. I think that was erroneous.
There are two ways to look at it: Entertainers are also Nigerians. They have a right to take a stand. I took that position a few months ago. I said, ‘Come out openly as an industry or as a person within the entertainment industry and take a stand. Stand by that conviction and do not be crucified for that stand. Don’t let anybody move you away from that stand so that you can say, ‘I stood by this stand when it mattered most and I voted President Jonathan or Gen. Buhari.’
The country should be ripe enough to appreciate that stand, rather than saying there were monetary gains or influences. I think it was a genuine affection and belief in President Jonathan.
The other way to look at it is that entertainers have a vocation. We saw things or two aspects of the presidential candidate. On the APC side, we saw Mavin Records artists, Olamide and others playing for the current President-elect, but I did not hear anybody say they were influenced or paid. But when they came to people playing for Jonathan, they said those ones were paid. The people must understand what it is to have a vocation and a political conviction.
I have been having discussions with my colleagues in the past 24 hours and I can tell you that they genuinely love President Jonathan because he was like a father; he was more than a President to us. He was a very personable fellow to the entertainment industry and I am sure that, one way or the other, he has influenced people’s decisions to go into the political sphere."
When asked what his reaction was when Gen. Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election, he replied saying...
"As you know, I took an open stand and I still stand by that conviction of voting President Goodluck Jonathan. I voted him from my personal belief in what he has done for my industry and for his developmental programmes for the nation. I think that, despite his loss, my vote was indicated by his very commensurate statesmanship by conceding defeat for the first time in Nigeria’s history.
I have openly on my website congratulated Gen. Buhari on his victory, but I also understand that in areas of politics where we have been able to engage one another as citizens, we are allowed the right to our ideologies. So, my stand is still my stand. President Jonathan is still my hero and it would take some time for us to watch and see the programmes that Gen. Buhari has for the country and, especially, for my constituency, the entertainment industry."
I like you Charles but please Speak for yourself,you may have loved him from your heart but for some it was business as usual.
Imagine a popular Nollywood movie producer going to pose as a blogger just for the envelope he could scamper for...you call that love?
The same person is wishing Gen Buhari all the best on his facebook status.
If they really loved President Jonathan why have they not said anything with their handles since he lost?why the grave yard silence?
Why have they not trooped to Abuja to apologise publicly for not delivering?I watched over the last weeks leading to the election all the drama that happened on facebook with Nollywood people and how they kept deleting anyone who challenged their utterances......
Please dont preach about love where money is concerned!
Some celebs supported GEJ and later started congratulating Buhari, nice step but he has said it that Nollywood is Fashola's... abi na rumour?
ReplyDeleteWait,i don't get it..
DeleteI supported Gej... I love him so much..
But I have conceded defeat with him and am channelling my prayers towards a better Nigeria through GMB.. should I be called shameless?
Abeg ooh.. I am a Nigerian...irrespective of who I supported during elections,I will not allow my love for Gej make me sceptical about the incoming administration...
Ehen... My portfolio is highly impressive.. give youths a chance to build a better Nigeria Sir.
Nigeria go better!
What I even wantu say is that, the Money that was given to the AGN for entertainment?, what did they do with it? Were they not meant to use it to at least make better movies that will bring in more money for the industry???
DeleteBuild a good studio that'll reduce cost of production for movie makers??
Give loans to movie makers from it???
I don't know sha, but I think they didn't use it well.
Even if you guys.................. Nvm sha.
Curbing out corruption starts from you and I
So Stella, because we pdp supporters conceded defeat and decided to congratulate buhari and wish him all the best means we are two-faced...or shameless. abeggy jaree...no offense buh wat you said dint make sense. The elections haff come and gone, in as much as we wanted Goodluck to win, we can't help but hope and pray Buhari delivers after all in the end,we all are nigerians.
DeleteI hear you Novia...
ReplyDeleteWe don hear. ......next please. ...am tired of political news, wanna read some sweet comments under AMebo post.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteStella come see amebo gist o, this one pass me, can't decode nothing.
DeleteSince you went Anonymous, you shoulda just given the full names and all.... Making the gist 100% sweet
DeleteMchewwww
ReplyDeleteStella I hope you read or followed the results as it was announced. Buhari's Victory is not Nigerian's Voice. Buhari has won before the Election. There is more to Politics. All of a Sudden those set of people saw Buhari is the best Candidate to eradicate Corruption from Nigeria. 2003, 2007 and 2011 Buhari contested wasn't he good? Buhari alliance with the South West gave him victory. The King Makers agreed to give buhari "NOT OUR VOTE". the owners of Nigeria are IBB, T Y Danjuma, OBJ, Emir of Kano and the Oil Mafias. The past years before GEJ, Pdp has not ruled better but because these group of people agreed for PDP to remain
ReplyDeleteI have genuine affection and belief in President Jonathan that was why I supported him. I pray this selfish fellows will let Buhari rule properly because if he refuses to dance to their tune, they will impeach him or refuse his Re election.
Until this owners of Nigeria leaves the surface of the Earth Nigeria will get to where God has ordained us to be. They are Greedy Fellows, they gave Buhari Victory for their Selfish Interest.
God bless Nigeria.
Chinyelu.. let it goooo!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteIf you love Gej,and Nigeria.. pray that God uses this man to make Nigeria better,let him use this man to keep paddling the cannoe from where our dearest Pres.Jonathan stopped..
Lolzzzzz... you are highly aggrieved though..
Na you know, keeping crying e remain to tear your cloth enter street. No let heart break be your partner. GEJ don start to move small small go Otueke, you can like join am turn house girl. Person no go hear word ontop Buhari matter again. That article you read by the professor is just a figment of his imagination. Copy and paste inspector gwegwe.
DeleteI sorry for you.
So because GEJ didn't win, that's not the people's choice? So if he won, it would've been the people's choice??? I see.
DeleteWhat if he had won then what happens to those who didn't vote him. I see this as Buhari's chance.
Yea, he won, everybody cannot want one candidate.
Majority will always carry the vote.
If you wantu play the card of He isn't every one's choice, what happens to supporters of the remaining other parties?? They should kill themselves? Please deal with it and let's move on.
Hate Love you are already Mad that is why my post is so hot for you. And BP is ur partner already, Iphie Dearie am fine now but it really hurt me. Change is constant and I have started praying for Buhari
DeleteHate Lace you are a goat do I need to read it else where before you no the obvious truth. The same oldies still ruling Nigeria. You are a Coward
DeleteCry me a river, miserable wretch forming as I am speaking to you now am with the police commissioner of kano state. Pray tell who were you speaking to as you wrote the comment, inspector/ journalist gwegwe. Is it not a mad person that will impersonate a profession he/ she is not. Is it not an Ewu or Efi that we read an article which cannot hold water in any sane discuss and say it is the truth. So you believe that over 160million Nigerians are fools to be held hostage by five persons as you call them oldies. Here you are calling yourself a coward. Your case of disillusionment is critical and you need to be hospitalized ASAP. Keep trolling post to deposit your evil bile, olodo.
DeleteCharles Novis all the entertainers compromised.You guys thought it was PDP so you kept telling lies for Gej against the people's will now the story has turned around....next time consult father Mbaka before campaigning for any politicians.- PST.chekeleke
ReplyDeleteJust what i wanted to say. Charles Novia speak for yourself abeg. If you didn't gain anything from the election campaigning for your candidate, your loss. Many of your colleague didn't miss the opportunity to enrich their pockets.
ReplyDelete"genuinely love President Jonathan as a father and not for personal gain." If i hear ..... April fools joke.
Stella the way u talk sometimes make me wonder. OK, d producer took money, so what? Who doesn't like money? Then again, which President has ever financially supported nollywood d way gej did, I bet d answer is none. So why won't they genuinely support them? And for d fact that they congratulated buhari doesn't mean they don't love gej. And for those useless actresses, like tonto dikeh, yes I mentioned her name, that deemed it fit to make others look stupid and actually want people to believe those were paid, God is watching u...
ReplyDeleteEven if they were paid nko ? Who den put sugar for mouth wey go reject am? They supported Jonathan bcos they like him, he lost nd they congratulated buhari, and so?
DeleteThere's a difference between "supported financially" & 'bribed'.
DeleteGEJ bribed them. And Eka Joy, GEJ has moved on, U should too!
Everyone is coming out of their cage now Nollywood without focus so your organisation still expect Buhari's support after the past months show of shame, funny you. What happened is eye opener to all of you, stand for what you believed individually not as an organisation.
ReplyDeleteI expect Nollywood to go back to it's drawing board,It lacked leadership. We all know your support was monetary and influence. Most of you tried to divide Nigeria into ethnic line and religious support forgetting fans were watching and industry is supported by all Nigerians. I have always criticised your organisation action during election and will continue to do so afterwards.
Jaymoore what are you saying? Didn't GEJ support the Industry? Must it be all about money? They needed to reciprocate. He empowered them, He invested in their industry, He made it more Lucrative even people with no job ventured into the industry. Afterall Olamide, Funke Akindele other Music celeb supported APC.
Deleteso don't be one sided in your outburst.
@Chinyelu i have answered your below question on my former post about Nollywood actors/producers please go through my comment there. Thanks
DeleteBros,at first I thought we were discussing politics..btw,i love politics,alot..
DeleteBut I have realised yours is getting unhealthy..there is a deep rooted hatred you have for Gej....
It is no longer about our dear country. Like you actually wanted things to be bad...so you crawl out and write epistles.lol
So you mean Buhari should witch hunt people that didn't show him support? Are they not the citizens he promised to protect?
Or their industry is not one that requires support from the government?
Is that your idea of change?
I might be wrong though my brother...but come home let's change our country together.
Tell them jare Jaymoore. Despite the fact that I was one of those who asked people to leave them alone to allow them take money from the govt if they were approached to do jingles, I still expect that each of them should take responsibility for their choice. As much as supporting any candidate is a personal choice, whoever u choose, u should be able to substantiate ur reasons for it and stand by him come rain or shine.
DeleteDon't be a loser by only standing on the side of a winner. That is cheap and it makes ur integrity and character questionable.
If I was one of them and I campaigned for Jona, heck I won't waver or start to rant to explain myself. I would be unapologetic and accept defeat as my principal Jona did. What's with the long explanation just to make the public reason with u or not condemn u?
You should support without apology. Anyone who starts to explain shit obviously did it for money. Abeg abeg
@Jaymoore and Sisi, GEJ sponsoring that sector was questionable. Somebody with evil intentions had so much to gain from the money allocated to the entertainment industry. The same evil people knew that these entertainment practitioners had no influence on the masses but sold the idea to Jonathan.
DeleteBeing desperate to come back he accepted and free money to the detriment of other sectors flowed. There is nothing wrong hiring musicians to do jingles to spice up campaigns, but trying to use them to curry vote should not be encouraged. Voting a candidate should be a personal decision. There is nothing wrong for an entertainer with a good conviction for a candidate to canvass for support but do so without been monetized.
The entertainment industry should remain neutral because government come and go and each political dispensation may have different policies that may be favorable or not to the entertainment industry. It is left for the body as a whole to constantly lobby which is not bad for adequate support for their industry. Ibinabo really messed up, beauty with no brains is really a bad thing. She made it seem as if na our brother, monies given to her was not accounted for and people who tried to make he see things in a broader perspective became her enemy.
When discussing we should learn to be objective and keep your emotions in check. What the entertainers did made their sector a huge joke and one which should not be taken seriously. In four years to come these same jokers will be seen and heard in all forms of mass media lending their support to the incoming government for the right price.
Man must sack.
*wack*
DeleteIs all about the money not love for your people
ReplyDeleteYou are so on point Stella, at least he should have the decency to tell it as it is and not try to play us for fools. It had absolutely nothing to do with their convictions but to do with money. If your industry is supposed to have fared well under Jonathan, what about the rest of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteJonathan was not voted in to be a father figure to Nigerian, but to be an effective leader that will alleviate the sufferings f the masses. which he absolutely failed to do.
Soo true Stella, even Charles novia himself did it for me. One minute celebs wia with "bring back our girls" crew, d next minute they all moved to support pdp. No integrity no shame, that's y der kip making crappy movies!
ReplyDeleteI just dey observe
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
I cannot thank You enough for Your great doings, in my life......
I honor You more on this special day of mine
Happy Birthday Merabelle, may your positive desires come through.
DeleteI hear you Charles novia
ReplyDeleteCharles novice pls re-park.
ReplyDeleteLuv him
ReplyDelete*Deep sigh* Drama everywhere for almost a week now. Lord have mercy!!!.
ReplyDeleteOga Jonathan was not sent to Aso rock as a father figure. We all have our fathers to play that role. He was sent their as a leader. We have not gotten to the stage of father figure in this country. We have a lot to achieve before that. Nigeria has not gotten to the stage that it's leaders are on a cruising level. We have a lot to achieve before the seatbelt signs go off.
ReplyDeleteWho we go ask!
ReplyDeleteWhat rubbish are you saying? So cos they voted Jonathan and he lost congratulating buhari is now hypocrisy? Is it a do or die matter? If they believed he did a lot for nollywood nothing wrong in voting him for continuity..jaymoore talking rubbish on this matter as usual..only a foolish leader will neglect the entertainment industry as there is so much it can offer to society...Lovelace go back and read your confusing comment....full of contradictions.
ReplyDeleteYou are too agressive for a woman, learn to make your point without sounding like a pained woman. How do you address your partner at home for crying out loud? Some of you women here are just not it. The way you attack peoples comment with such much vex ain't it all. Please next time state your point without sounding stupid yourelf. Yes since you cool abusing others how do you feel when you are called foolish and stupid for your comment. My being gentle to most of you seem to be taken for a ride that some come out and talk trash under my opinion. If you have your opinion write it without being abusive. What is wrong with some of you ladies here? Next time do not address me in an abusive manner because i do not do such to anyone. If a man is cool and do not reply you ladies he is tamed mumu or not man enough if one face his business he is tamed arrogant,pride. Wetin una want ?
Delete*so much
Delete