Veteran actor and producer, Prince Jide Kosoko has commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for constituting the Film Production Empowerment Committee but noted that the body’s composition could have been better.
Prince Kosoko stated this in a lengthy statement containing his reaction to the controversy trailing the committee’s composition.
The committee that Sanwo-Olu inaugurated on May 5 comprises Tunde Kelani, Mo Abudu, Ferdinand Tinubu, Taju Olajumoke, Peace Anyim-Osigwe, Richard Mofe Damijo (Chair), Funke Avoseh (secretary)) and Kunle Afolayan.
Kosoko lauded the idea behind the committee’s formation but noted that it was not representative enough as it excluded representatives of both Lagos indigenes and small scale movie producers.
Most members of the current committee, he said, were elitist and didn’t know where the shoe pinches.
The producer noted that adding two indigenous members to represent those he described as the mainstay of the movie industry can still remedy the situation.
The actor explained that he was aware of the controversy that has trailed the committee and calls for his inclusion, but he disagrees with the approaches.
His statement read in part: “There is no doubting the fact that most of the people appointed into the committee are elitist filmmakers that have made us proud in one way or the other with their achievements.
“I constantly salute their courage, for whatever they have achieved have been with a dint of hard work and risk-taking over the years. We, however, must not lose sight of their obvious distance from the thousands of grassroots filmmakers, who have been and will continue to be the mainstay of film production in Nigeria.
“The real indigenous film practitioners that run into thousands are the ones sustaining what we call Nollywood, and they are from all tribes. However, the question is, can the committee, as presently constituted, represent these indigenous everyday filmmakers?
“If the truth must be told, the current committee members have no connection with existing associations in the industry, not to talk of their members. It is, therefore, my fear that as things stand at the moment, the situation may be that of winner takes it all!
“It is, therefore, my honest opinion that small scale producers need representation on the committee. They have to be represented by people who understand the game as it is played at their level and have a good grasp of their struggles, especially for funding.
“Secondly, I have heard some colleagues talking about bringing tribalism into the composition of the funding committee, and I must say that I am quite disappointed by such comments.
“It is surprising that anyone can call indigenes asking for at least one or two of their own to be in a committee of 9, tribalism. I still find it difficult to see any state in Nigeria that can tolerate this or has ever tolerated that before.
“That you are a Lagosian by your birth or length of stay does not take away the right of the indigenes! Do you know the kind of struggles it took our forefathers that brought Lagos to be? Or do we have any other place called home that we go to for holidays like Easter, Christmas and the likes? The truth is that no matter how accommodating Lagos is or has been, there are indigenes whose rights for inclusion must be respected without tagging it tribalism. Lagos and Lagosians, if fair must be fair, cannot be tagged with the toga of tribalism in good conscience.
“We all know what has happened in the past over the issue of tribalism in the industry, which I will not want to go into as a pioneer and frontline practitioner in the industry, who has always been working for its progress and development. However, I must mention here that as Lagos indigenes in movie industry, we have never been known to exhibit any form of tribalistic tendencies.
“Lastly, I will implore Governor Sanwo-Olu to have a second look at the composition of the committee and inject at least two more members to represent small scale film producers, one Lagos indigene filmmaker and another indigenous filmmaker from any tribe. It is only by doing so that the objectives of your administration for the industry can be best served.
“Once again, let me appreciate Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team for this kind gesture while also looking forward to having the expressed concerns of many that have made one comment or the other.”
