There is no doubt that the Nigerian creative industry is yet to maximize its potentials, thus, each election year, they seek a messiah.
This was the case last Wednesday, when PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar met with stakeholders in the film, theatre and music sectors at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was the second leg of the PDP flag bearer’s town hall meeting that day, after an Economic Summit that held earlier.
One would have thought that the entertainment industry, being the much talked about alternative source of income to oil, would be part of the economic summit that held earlier, as a way of ranking the sector with other serious economies. But it is understandable that the audio visual and motion picture industries are a special breed that requires special attention.
So much was said about how successive governments in Nigeria have used entertainers as political campaign tools to ‘win’ elections; how their best had been seen and treated synonymously to the glamour of their profession; and how, when it comes to leadership positions, they are not considered fit, because such managerial positions appear to be purely political.
So much was said about how filmmakers, especially, cannot even be bosses of their art in the face of intellectual property thieves who, ironically, are lords in the business, smiling to the bank at the expense of rights owners.
So much was said about enabling environment from government in forms of security at film locations; import waivers, especially for capital equipment and support for trade related initiatives; transformative policies around access to finance and distribution.
All these, the industry people reiterated, as they met with Atiku who was flanked by his Vice Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, and Senate President Bukola Saraki at the event.
Personally, I do not know where they got it wrong, but these creative people are some of the most brilliant people I have known across all professions in the world. These attributes, they often exhibit before the politicians, who, obviously will agree to every demand but bow to whatever superior interests when the ‘stew’ is done. Not deterred, they have continued to find their bearings.
There was no unnecessary smiling and laugher, except the usual camaraderie among them, and of course, some clapping and cheering when their own made a frantic point.
Norbert Ajaegbu, Obi Asika and Don Pedro Obaseki were among those that spoke to the situation. Obaseki even pleaded that the crowd should not clap for him. It was understandable that the industry had enjoyed a lot of encomiums, but that should be confined to concert grounds and cinema halls, they appeared to be saying. They were angry albeit diplomatic, and it was clear their lead guest got the message.
He wanted them to record his promises, and take him on, should he be elected President of Nigeria in February 2019.
They were not in for handouts. They wanted their work to speak for them, knowing there is nothing like being their own fishermen. They also wanted to be able to monetize their intellectual property by taking back their fortunes from pirates.
One of the issues was to have professionals head agencies of the creative industry rather than political appointees; and he so promised, with much more. They believed him, and cannot wait for that time to come. In expressing their faith, some of them referred to him as president in waiting. They all smiled home, waiting, and hoping that with the passing of time, they will find their bearings in a government that truly cares about the business, and not just the art of entertainment.