VICTOR'S VICTORY. THE GAINS, THE PAINS- by Reginald Ebere.

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I have always been a movie director and a writer. Unofficially I am a member of the Screen Writers Guild. Unofficially because i have not been paying my dues and the reason for that is not far fetched. I do not see why I should waste my money on a guild that is basically moribound. Now somebody is going to tell me that i am being a sanctimonius bastard. I mean "if the guild is moribound why don't you do something about it after all you are supposed to be one of the leading screen writers in Nigeria." Fine arguement, but right now i am not in the mood for arguement.
I can safely claim to be a member of Director's Guild. I say safely, not because I am a financially updated member of the guild too but because i basically mooted the idea of the Director's Guild of Nigeria and along with my senior colleague Mathias Obahigbon worked for its actualization. I remember a night when Mathias' Mitsubishi Colt parked us up on top of Mile 2 bridge by 2am. Do not bother about what we were doing on top of the bridge by that time. Just understand that politics is best done in  the dead of the night when righteous men are in their  beds. What i am pointing out here is that i risked my neck and my life helping to birth the Director's guild so i do not think in all good conscience i can be thrown out.  From that point on because of my apathy towards partisan politics I have played little or no part in the affairs of the guild. But a few days ago my good friend Victor Osuagwu came to me and told me that he was contesting for the position of Chairman, Actors Guild Of Nigeria Lagos Chapter, I revived my interest in Guild politics. I am not an actor so you might be wondering what role I played in Victor's election. I am not about to divulge that on these pages, suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself in making sure that Victor won. Why did I allign myself with the robust, rambunctious comedian?
Victor might be in the business of humor but he is a completely serious person. Before now we had sat down and analyzed the problems with our Industry. Now these problems are not mutually exclusive. they cut across every facet of this industry and have been well documented. When he mooted his plan of running I was excited at the fact that somebody who has a vision for the growth and betterment of the guild was finally stepping into the murky waters of Nollywood politics. Truth be told i have never really believed in any of the other guild heads except maybe Andy Amenechi my President at the Director's Guild. I think with all humility and as apologetically as I can express it that Zik Zulu Okafor the President of Association of Movie

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Producers is full of air and has not impressed me in any way. I also thought until my eyes were opened by the same Victor that Ibinabo who is also a friend is a round peg in a square hole. Iyen Obaseki the president of CDGN has been in office for donkey years and nothing has changed. My president at the Screen Writer's Guild has basically moved out of Lagos and is not internet friendly so he cannot even function effectively. He has also refused to call for elections after over two years in the office. So Victor was a breath of fresh air until I heard that Paul Obazele was sponsoring Don Pedro to run against Victor and my hackles rose. See, my friend Paul has always cast himself as a divisive force in the industry and is keen to foster the assumed superiority of Edo and Delta Nollywoodians on the rest of us and i disagree with him on that front. I worked silently underground for Victor to win so that we all can join hands and grow the industry, so that politics of bitterness and greed will stop, so that marginalisation and subjugation will stop, so that everybody will have a fair chance and shake in Nollywood. I said "we all" because i intend to come out and run for the office of the Pesident of the Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria whenever my president remembers to visit Lagos. Thank you Victor for your courage and for inspiring other good men to step up and speak out.

opinions are welcome