TheCable

In response to the controversy surrounding the presidency of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), veteran Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, has urged movie practitioners to relate with one another in the industry without acrimony .

Speaking with NAN on Thursday, Ike said a peaceful coexistence is the only way the industry can experience meaningful growth.

“For development to take place in the industry, Nigerian actors need to work together to promote the sector, instead of backbiting one another,” he said.

“Most of the Nollywood actors do their film production without involving seasoned professionals in the industry; they usually opt for cheap, inexperienced hands. Such attitude affects the qualities of the films produced, which in turn will affect sales and revenue.”

He also urged the government to work with the AGN to identify genuine professionals for the distribution of the grant recently awarded to the industry.

“The government needs to work with the guild of actors to sanction the illegal practitioners in the industry,” he said.

“Some of these illegal practitioners have even tried to lay claim to the fund given to the industry by the federal government, and this has to be curbed for constructive use of the funds.”

Clarion Chukwurah and Ibinabo Fiberesima have recently been locked in a war of words over the AGN presidency, the former saying that the latter is unfit to hold the post.