Nigerian entertainers were very much a part of the recent electioneering campaigns in the country as they featured prominently in several of the outings, especially those of President Goodluck Jonathan. ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA and SAMUEL ABULUDE write on the trend, its effect on the industry and the expectations in the new dispensation

The involvement of Nigeria’s entertainers in political campaigns this time was on a scale never seen before and it created a sharp division among them. Quite a number of them became identified with President Jonathan and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while a not too significant percentage embraced ‘change’ championed by main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The likes of Ibinabo Fiberesima, Paul Obazele, Zack Orji, Patience Ozokwor, Monalisa Chinda, Mike Ezuruonye, Ramsey Nouah, Segun Arinze, Ini Edo, Emem Isong, Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Mercy Johnson, Klint D Drunk and a host of other Nollywood actors under the platform of ‘Nollywood Professionals’ all supported and campaigned for President Jonathan. Others including Kannywood actors, stood behind the Lagos APC candidate, Akinwumi Ambode, who is now the governor-elect.Click:Court adjourns Tinubu’s N150b libel suit against AIT till May 27

These artistes include Funke Akindele, Uti Nwachukwu, Yemi Alade, Flavour, Ice Prince, Olu Maintain, MI, Jimmy Jatt, Olamide, Banky W, Desmond Elliot who is now a member-elect of the Lagos House of Assembly and Jide Kosoko. Not many were directly on the side of the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Several entertainers were like Ibinabo Fiberesima Egbuka who said “I remain resolutely committed to the ‘Goodluck 2015 Project’ and will always remain a Goodluck Jonathan supporter as always.” Many of them supported Jonathan for reasons which some of them have boldly restated.

Actress Omoni Oboli spoke to a national newspaper penultimate weekend, saying “I can never regret anything I do. I stood for what I believed in, not because of financial gain. At the end of the day, the victory goes to Nigeria. This election showed true democracy and I am proud of the man that I supported. He is a hero. He conceded graciously and that is the trait of a true leader. This is democracy and nobody should work against me because I supported Jonathan.”

Actors’ Guild of Nigeria chieftain, Segun Arinze said “I stood for what I believed in and if I had the opportunity, I would do it all over again. I do not ever regret campaigning for Jonathan. If I believed in Buhari, I would have done the same thing. I wish him all the best and hope he would take the country to a higher level. It is no longer about Buhari or Goodluck but about Nigeria. I am not a card carrying member of PDP; I supported the president because I believe he has done well for my industry and Nigeria as a whole. I am a Nigerian and I have every right to the freedom of expression. Being silent would be foolhardy on my part. In 2011, I was campaigning for Fashola, why was I not silent at that time? We are all Nigerians and I don’t think Buhari would victimise me because I supported Jonathan”.

Ace movie director and coordinator of Abuja Film Festival, Fidelis Duker also praised GEJ for giving the required support Nollywood needed at this phase. “I can never regret supporting President Goodluck Jonathan. When he is having a welcome party at Otuoke, I will be there with him. He has done very well and I am still very proud of him. It has never happened in the history of Nigeria where an incumbent will lose and he will walk away.”

It needs be stated that every citizen, entertainer or not, has constitutionally guaranteed right to support any candidate of his or her choice during elections. Now, the campaigns and indeed the elections have come and gone and Buhari has emerged as the president-elect against the expectation of some Nigerians, including entertainers. Some have asked, what will be the fate of the industry under him?

To help guide the incoming government in taking a stand on the industry, we present some interesting facts about the Nigerian entertainment industry:

Nollywood

Nollywood contributes billions of naira every year to the nation’s economy and it has employed thousands of youths across the country. It grew quickly in the 1990s and 2000s and became the second largest film industry in the world, placing it ahead of the United States and behind only India. In 2013, it was rated as the third most valuable film industry in the world after generating a total revenue of 1.72 trillion ($10 billion) in 2013 alone,coming behind India and the US.

The Nigerian film industry is worth 853.9 billion ($5.1 billion) as at 2014 and produces hundreds of home videos and films per annum. Nigerian cinema is Africa’s largest movie industry in terms of value and the number of movies produced per year. Although Nigerian films have been produced since the 1960s, the rise of affordable digital filming and editing technologies has stimulated the country’s film and video industry.

Music

The music industry is a force to be reckoned with in terms of growth and creation of jobs for the youths of Nigeria. Today, millions are employed directly or indirectly in the industry. Millions are made daily and collaborations with international music stars are viewed as one thing that has projected Nigeria in the international arena positively.

Actors and political inclinations

One thing that came out of the 2015 general elections is the use entertainers can be put to during elections. Many supported the out-going president because they feared theywould lose their means of livelihood under Buhari whom they perceived would not be persuaded to supporting the industry. But that is one fear that was completely unfounded.

We make bold to sat there is every reason to believe that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari will be prosperous. Unlike many, Buhari is ready for the tasks ahead in that he did not emerge president of the country by accident, he aspired to lead and worked hard over a long period of time to realise his ambition. He is a tested and tried leader with a record of achievements in past assignment. He is a mature leader who will work for the good of the country. He will not neglect any segment of the nation’s economy, including the entertainment industry when he takes over. No Nigerian or group needs to be afraid of negligence in the new dispensation.

Also, it is believed that the president-elect and his team have noted that most of the entertainers who campaigned for President Jonathan did so because they believe the present administration impacted positively on the industry.

They fear that the general might not support the industry as much as President Jonathan has done. These people need to be proved wrong.

The change most Nigerians craved for has come and we are still celebrating. All hands should be on deck to support the incoming government to deliver. We have no doubt that given the antecedents of the president-elect, several entertainers in the country will soon see a difference in the handling of affairs of the country. We believe Nigerians will come to cherish the change they have embraced.