Film maker, Dickson Iroegbu concludes his interview with Dr Uzor Ngoladi as he speaks on the row between his colleagues and Nigeria at 60. Enjoy the excerpts:
Nigeria at 60, how will you assess the creative industry?
The resilience of citizens of Nigeria created what we
know today as Nollywood. We came about it out of nothing, without any supportwhatsoever. We dared to make movies with VHS cameras. My first movie was shoton VHS at a time films were made on celluloid. We told our stories with normalcameras and it worked for us. Nollywood helped to bring a revolutionary angleto the use of digital cameras that we have today. We created the second highestfilm making industry in the world as regards content. Outside that, the countryNigeria is in a terrible state. Nigeria is like a retrogressive movement. In thelast 60 years, we have not made tangible progress. Nations that started with ushave gone far ahead of us because Nigeria’s nationhood is a mirage. After 60years, we are not a nation. Nigeria is like a group of nations doing nationhoodbusiness without a memorandum of understanding. That is why people arepositioning from different tribes and religions to occupy high offices. If Nigeriawas a nation, we will look for the best and not highlight mediocrity. Thislevel of nepotism that exists in our system will not have existed. Sincerely,60 years after shows that we may have another opportunity to start afresh.How do we achieve a fresh start?
One way to start afresh is to renegotiate ourexistence as a nation. Nigeria should be restructured. We can’t continue in thedirection we have followed in the past 60 years. There is urgent need torestructure Nigeria at this time. The country must be rejigged. The greatestrestructuring that can happen to Nigeria is political. The call for equity,justice and fairness should be sustained. Power must shift to the south east.That will give a sense of belonging to all citizens. It will afford us anotheropportunity for nationhood. If we don’t do that in 2023, then we will bewasting our time. This country may seize to exist. If we don’t restructure, ifwe don’t renegotiate, there may not be Nigeria after 2023. There is need for usto take the available opportunity and insist that political power must shift tothe south east in 2023. This will bring healing, peace, development andtogetherness. You can’t decree unity into existence. Its about how you treatpeople. Let us allow this political restructuring to happen so that Nigeria’snext 60 years will be captured from that angle.
So, we can’t speak unity into existence?
You cannot declare unity into existence. Unity must beengaged. It is how you treat someone that determines how the person will relatewith you. Nigeria is a divided nation that desires to be united. We are not unitedyet as a country. We have been stretched beyond limit. The only givenopportunity is 2023. At 60, we can start the journey towards greatness. Power mustshift to the south eastern part of Nigeria if not, this country has no chanceof survival. Presidency from the south eastern part of Nigeria will guarantee achance for Nigeria to flourish again.
What’s is your view about the tribal fight betweenyour colleagues Mike Ezuruonye and Kunle Afolayan?
Well, you cannot place something on nothing. Nollywoodcannot exist in isolation. The environment in Nigeria influences Nollywood. Theethnic bias in Nollywood is the same thing obtainable in Nigeria. Nigeria is dividedso every sector will also experience what Nigeria represents. How can you haveKannywood, Yorubawood, Igbowood, Asabawood etc? That simply tells you thatNigeria is divided. Nollywood is positioned strategically to unite Nigeria. It isdeliberately engaged as a tool to unite us. Television is a mind bender. The contentwe churn out should discuss the oneness of Nigeria. To see my colleagues comepublicly and engage each other from ethnic bias was very disappointing especiallythe reaction from Mike Ezuruonye. He tried to make a personal issue with Kunlebecome tribal. They should sort themselves out. The attempt by Mike Ezuruonyeto make it an ethnic conflict that exists between two tribes is disappointing. Tosay that somebody hate a tribe is very wrong. Most of the movies from KunleAfolayan deliberately captures the attempt to unite Nigeria. There is no filmmaker that is blinded by ethnic colouration who makes such films. Kunle’s workshas a broad view. I don’t agree with Mike that Kunle hates Igbos. Igbo andYoruba are one. We are from the same womb. If the Yoruba and Igbo cometogether, Nigeria will experience a quantum leap. I love the mature way Kunlehandled the matter. It is left for Mike to prove to his fans that he is not anethnic bigot. He maybe the person that has ethnic biasness in his craft. It istime for all film makers to come together and make Nigeria great. Until Nigeriamoves, Africa will not move. We are the giant of Africa. We owe our nation thatduty as influencers not to be seen fighting along ethnic lines. I am using thisopportunity to appeal to Mike and Kunle to shelve their swords and engage moreproductively in creative business. Film making is the best job on earth becausewe are like God. We see in pictures just like God. It is the best job anybodycan do.
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