Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mr Emeka Rollas, has been accused of instigating the leadership crisis rocking the Abia State chapter of the association.
Aggrieved members of the association who addressed a press conference in Umuahia, accused him of trying to impose one Dorris Ogala on the chapter as its interim Chairman “whereas we have a duly elected chairman and leadership.”
They wondered why Mr David Amalaha who was duly elected in May 2023 as Abia State Chairman, of AGN, has not been recognised by the National President, who gave approval for the election that produced the state leadership.
Spokesman of the aggrieved members, Nathaniel Nwoko, further accused the National President of masterminding the harassment of some members of the association in the state by the police from Zone 9 Command, tagging them members Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to crucify them.
Nwoko who was flanked by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the association, Chukwuemeka Onyekwere; and Daniel Egwu; during the press conference, lamented that the National President, had decided to fan the embers of war in the Abia State chapter for selfish interests.
They further accused him of disowning some of the members of the association in a recent media publication.
The aggrieved members called on the Board of Trustees of the association to call Rollas to order.
They also called on the Inspector General of Police not to allow the police to become a willing tool for oppression and intimidation of law-abiding citizens.
The aggrieved members further claimed that the families of many deceased actors from Abia State were not compensated by the AGN National body despite their lifetime contributions to the development of the film industry.
Meanwhile, the aggrieved members insisted that the Amalaha-led state executive must be allowed to serve out its tenure.
They, however, disclosed that they had instituted a legal action to protect their fundamental human rights, vowing not to succumb to any intimidation.
