Advertisement
The leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria has come under fire from some of its members over the appointment of Elisha Abbo, a senator from Adamawa State, as its patron.
TheNewsGuru recalls that Mr Abbo made the headlines in July 2019 after a video of him physically assaulting a woman at a sex toy shop went viral
Mr Abbo was later charged to court for the attack. The trial has continued since then.
The embattled senator has since made moves to improve his image in the public by courting public recognition.
His appointment has sparked criticisms from some Nollywood practitioners.
In a lengthy Instagram video, Dokubo, described the lawmaker as a “sore thumb sticking out of the list of other patrons”.
“I’m therefore calling on all well-meaning, mentally balanced, honourable, male and female members of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria to stand up and reject Elisha Abbo as patron of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria. My name is Hilda Dokubo and I’m not going to have an abuser serve as patron in an organisation that I belong to”.
In her reaction, Victoria Inyama wrote: ”Very Shameful & Embarrassing to a few of You Actors’, @emekarollas For what or how much”.
Social media comedian and actress, Monica Friday said:” Brand Gain! we no longer value good virtue. We now send love and light without correcting a touts ,an abusers, nudists, and the list continues. All in the name of “be yourself” *sad* and some will say no one knows tomorrow Abeg tomorrow na another day check calendar”.
The Vice President of the North-east chapter of the guild, Marcus Maina, on Tuesday, defended the choice in a statement.
He said the lawmaker is deserving of the position as well as the award presented to him.
Highlighting some of the achievements of the senator in his constituency, Mr Maina said their recommendation was based on performance and support to actors and youth in North-east.
He added that ”Mr Abbo was there for the guild when they lived in fear of the insurgency that ravaged the North-east”.
“Where were our senior colleagues who are paid to smear the image of our Patron when Boko Haram destroyed the creative industry in the North-east. How many of them even called us to find out if we are alive.
”Every professional organisation supported their members in the North-east over the crises, how many of our stars organised any welfare program in our support,” the statement read in part.
Advertisement