Subsidy Removal Tears Nigerian Entertainment Industry Apart!... Celebrities reacct!



Seun, Dede Mabiaku and Banky W during the protest



Removal of fuel subsidy has evidently becomes a New Year gift, which Nigerians will never wish for. As it now a week ago since the Federal Government made the pronouncement that had seen the fuel pump price  sky rocketed, few top showbiz personalities had not only hit the streets to vent their anger, many have been tackling each other on social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Seun Kuti, Banky W, Dede Mabiaku, Zdon Paporella were among the popular entertainers who led Lagos State’s peaceful protest against the removal of fuel subsidy on Tuesday January 3, 2012. It may, however, interest you to know that top filmmakers gathered last on December 30, 2011 at the town hall meeting held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, it was said to have been caused by Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy to woo the movie practitioners for the deregulation process which also include removal of fuel subsidy.

Conversely, there is a news milling around about the emergence of another parallel body to counter the meeting. While most of the participants at the meeting attended by Zack Orji, Ifeanyi Dike, Felix Duker, Ziki Zulu Okafor, Zeb Ejiro, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic, Charles Novia, among many others have refused to react to the current removal of subsidy that is rocking the nation, some celebrities speak their minds.

Seun Kuti– “Thi

Funsho Adeolu: “We are faced with a governmental system that portrays flexibility but rigid in practice. People should be informed why the subsidy should be removed and the benefits it will bring as against a different option. Like other sectors, the effect will be unfavourable because the market demand and cast fee will be reduced, and cost of production will be high.”

Shan George: “It’s going to have an enormous damage on every industry not just entertainment in a country where 80 percent of electricity is provided by personal generating set. People would certainly have a thousand reasons not to bother about being entertained; most especially those without light to even watch TV. It’s a real disaster! Whoever advised the president on this has really goofed. I will suggest that the power in government should come out and address Nigerians because people have displayed a lot of civility ov
Dede Mabiaku: “It’s a shame. Why give Nigerians this kind of punishment instead of a present for the first day of the year? For crying out loud, we all know how many cars the entire top office holders are using but yet they are complaining of wastage. Let them search inward, we know how much they waste on the executives, presidency spends more than one million naira a day on food, how, wetin him wan chop? “If we base the effect on one sector, we are doing injustice to the entire Nigeriandom; it’s going to affect every sphere of our lives. If the big men say it will not to affect them because they can afford it, people who work for them will suffer. On the long run, they will also suffer because service, productivity will be hindered and there would be no security anymore because you cannot hold a man who is hungry because a lot of the people are going to go hungrier. I am tired of the executives and legislators, let them be realistic and face what Nigeria is supposed to represent. Let it be a county for all not for a few. They have made the country autocratic, this is heartlessly wicked.”



Zdon

er this issue by having very peaceful protests. Government should seize this chance and show Nigerians why all this is happening”

Monalisa Chinda and Fidelis Duker at Deregulation meeting

s has effect on all the industries in Nigeria and even on the personal lives of the people. We as Nigerians cannot be asked to pay for our government’s shortcomings while they increase their perks in office. If there is to be financial sacrifice let the rich make it. We are made to believe they are tired of paying a few of their friends all this money and we don’t want to be the ones to pay it either.”

Fe

Abbey Lanra

lix Duker- “What we went for to me was a town hall meeting organised to get details and information from the government on deregulation. I never supported the immediate removal of s

Shan George

ubsidy because of the untold hardship Nigerians will go through; rather I advised that there was a need for deregulation of the downstream because the cabal as claimed by government must be stopped. “Deregulation was done in broadcasting, aviation and communication which has made the aforementioned sector more vibrant. I do not support the removal of fuel subsidy when there are no palliatives in place. It will definitely be difficult for the country which the entertainment is a part.”


Funsho Adeolu


Abbey Lanre (Ace movie director)– “Everybody knows the bad effect it will have on the people. Everybody will suffer for it, cost of living will be on the high side and once it affects individuals, it will affect cost of movie production and patronage. Entertainment industry will suffer more because it’s only when you are comfortable that you will be thinking of going to the cinemas, buy movies, attend musical and comedy shows, among others. This is not good for this country. Our leaders are selfish and wicked,”

Monalisa Chinda: “No! The removal should not be reversed but the implementation should be done in phases of 50 percent  increment rather than the 200 that was done on the 1st of January. And as that is being effected, the nation’s refineries should be immediately revamped to optimum level of production to make the ripple effect of the subsidy minimal on the masses.”

Zdon Paporella- “I have nothing against the fuel subsidy removal but I think certain palliatives should have been put in place to cushion the adverse effect it will have on the masses. The entertainment industry will witness low patronage of its products and services. Travelling on long distances will be avoided due to increase in the transport fare, putting up events will be more expensive, cost of studio session and production will be high. The situation might have been different if there were constant power supply. This is bad timing for this policy, it’s sad and shameful.”