Tag: AGN

THE Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has been enmeshed in leadership crisis, and this has existed for as long as the birth of the association itself. Suffice to say that the current development, a court injunction restricting Ibinabo Fiberesima from carrying on as AGN President, after almost three quarter of a two-term of four-year tenure, is a mere scene within a fertile storyline scripted as a never-ending serial.

Let’s take a look at this statement by Justice Tsoho in respect of the case: “It is not in doubt that the parties in this suit are entertainers but the business of court is a serious one and it cannot be turned into a legal play and for this reason, the election is hereby declared null and void.”

I have often heard of the phrase, ‘Better late than never’, but this judgment, to me, is not only late, but makes a huge fun of our judicial process. Unfortunately too, the process has again played into the hands of entertainers, whose part training, is to amuse. Incidentally, this is coming at a time in the political history of Nigeria, where so many dramas rent the air. I dare say that events have overtaken the freshness of this case, one which preceded the start of Ibinabo’s election in 2012.

I think that these entertainers, in their honest obedience of Justice Tsoho’s ruling might not really turn this into a ‘legal play’ but may just explore some ‘legal politics’ with the matter. What do I mean?

A court judgment delivered on October 26, 2011, had ordered that status quo be maintained by the then Segun Arinze-led exco and another faction of AGN led by Emeka Ike, which had the support of Kanayo O. Kanayo. However, in the face of that violation by the Segun Arinze administration, not only did his tenure hold sway as the faction to reckon with, they exhausted their term in office and organised the next election that produced IbinaboFiberesima.

With such popularity and recognition that Ibinabo has received, considering her romance with Aso Villa, which has helped  most ailing members, enhanced the fortunes of others and garnered some goodwill for the guild, telling her to back off now would sound like a joke to her supporters who, I believe, constitute the majority of AGN members.

Let it be clear that the suit that brought about this judgment was the one filed, not by Emeka Ike, but one St. MaradonaMikevine, who was the national treasurer in the then factional election that produced Emeka Ike as AGN President.

Ike, in an earlier suit had challenged the formation of agovernment of ‘National Unity’, which brought Ibinabo to power. He had also sought an order of court reviewing the guild’s 2007 Constitution as it relates to the tenure of members of Board of Trustees (BOT), averring that the board, comprising: Mr Segun Arinze, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Mr Emmanuel Oguguah, Mr Murphy Stephen, Mr Sunny McDon and Mr OkeyMcAnthony, had remained in office since July 13, 1999 when the guild was incorporated.

I think that the relative peace that has existed within the guild should be maintained, while efforts are made by the leadership of the guild and warring parties to settle out of court. Apart from the provision in AGN’s constitution that does not support vacuum, it will take some more time to get a replacement for Ibinabo. And if the prayer by Ike that the guild’s 2007 Constitution be reviewed is granted, the process is expected to lead to a new resolution on the reformation of its BOT, new electoral procedures, and indeed, preparations for fresh elections.

On the other hand, if Ibinabo decides to appeal the new judgment, which is likely to span another three years, by which time she would have completed her second term, the race becomes that of her successor to carry on. How long will this trend continue?

However, considering that the AGN constitution says there should be no vacuum, Ibinabo’s loyalists have said she remains their national leader. In other words, they could decide to have her drop President, pending the appeal in court, while she continues her tenure under a nomenclature like AGN National Leader.

In this game or drama or politics, I imagine the form which the appeal case would take and I see a situation whereby in retrospect, Segun Arinze could claim to have maintained status quo by not acting in the capacity of AGN President towards the tail end of his tenure, but as President of the National Unity of AGN, with the authorities of the BOT, thereby pleading the ‘sanctity’ of Ibinabo’s election as one borne out of the incontrovertible powers of the BOT rather than the controversial position of Segun Arinze, as AGN President.

The matter is so complicated and I think members should read between the lines and embrace peace, because maintaining status quo could also mean going back to the regime of Ejike Asiegbu, who handed over to Segun Arinze. After all, the law, they say, is an ass.