Until the democratic era of President Goodluck Jonathan, the showbiz industry has never had the kind of attention they now enjoy. SAMUEL ABULUDE writes on the personalities in the industry that can be regarded as the President’s Showbiz men
The showbiz industry has experienced a kind of sparkle in recent times. This is not unconnected with the global recognition that our music and movies have gathered over the years. This indeed has made it easy for the government of the day to appreciate the efforts of the industry in giving the nation a positive image.
President Goodluck Jonathan in its 2010/2011 campaign sought the support of musicians and actors and it worked for him. With the likes of D’Banj, Onyeka Onwenu at the fore front of his campaign drive, artistes in Nigeria realised that the president would listen to their cries for a proper structuring of the motion picture industry as well as the music industry, which is beginning to yield positive result with the $200million intervention fund and N3 billion grants.
Personalities like Richard Mofe Damijo, former AGN boss, Ejike Asiegbu, Ini Edo, Klint Da Drunk, Gordons, D’Banj among several others have been seen with the President on different occasions. One of the President’s close aides, Dr Oronto Douglas, who is the Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, has been the interface between Nollywood and the presidency.
