More trouble as ANCOP members blast Zik Zulu
*Eddie Ugbomah blows hot…
The last is yet to be heard in respect of the on-going
feud between members of the Association of Nollywood
Core Producers, ANCOP, and the leadership of the
Association of Movie Practitioners, AMP.
Following the petition forwarded by the leadership of
ANCOP to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU)
over the N50 million largesse donated by Governor
Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to support the
Nigerian movie industry, AMP president, Zik Zulu Okafor
last week dropped the bombshell, insisting that the
president of ANCOP, Comrade Alex Eyengho was
expelled from Nollywood after he formed a parallel
association.
But in a swift reaction, two members of ANCOP, Chris
Ekejimbe and Ejike Asiegbu during the week returned
fire-for-fire. They accused Zik Zulu of deliberately
refusing to address the issue at hand as he attacked the
person of Alex Eyengho.
According Chris Ekejimbe, “I read with absolute dismay
the interview Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor granted to Saturday
Vanguard (Home Video People), attacking the person of
Mr. Alex Eyengho, President of Association of Core
Nollywood Practitioners(ANCOP). Mr. Zik Zulu in the
interview refused to address the issue at hand as he
decided to go into a street fight with Alex Eyengho. The
issue is not about verbal fight with Alex Eyengho.”
“The issues are quite clear; N50 million was given to the
industry by His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-
Ibom State. Zik Zulu and co-travellers obtained the
money, lodged it in a special account and disbursed the
fund without due consultation. Why? It was alleged that
N7.5 million was given to Stephanie Okekere, and
another N2 million given to few associations.
A Nollywood film shooting location
“What informed the decision to disburse the fund
without proper consultation? Zik Zulu claimed, they
accessed the money under the auspice of Coalition of
Nollywood Guilds and Associations. For the record,
CONGA is not registered and it’s not recognised under
the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
ANCOP is duly registered like every other association in
Nollywood.”
“We have over 20 associations covering different
interests and ethnic groups. Why didn’t they consult
everybody before disbursing the money. I met Andy
Amaenchi recently, and he denied that the money had
not been released to them. He pretended as if he has a
good intention.
“He assured me that once the money is released, they
would organise a roundtable discussion to know what to
do with the money. Unknown to me that the money
had already been lodged in AMP’s account. As I’m
talking to you now, AMP account has been liquidated.
The matter is already before the Police. I’m sure the
Nigerian Police are capable of discharging their duties.
We are talking about public fund here. They have to
account for it.”
“This is a clear case of segregation in the industry,
propagated by Zik Zulu and his co-travellers. We want
to know his intentions as well as what informed his
actions. He said, Alex Eyengho was expelled from
Nollywood. Who expelled him? Zik Zulu was a journalist
when we founded AMP. I, Zeb Ejiro and Jude Oluchima
founded AMP. We left AMP purely out of principle.
“ANCOP is an association of professionals, businessmen
and progressive minded-people. But Zik Zulu’s AMP was
not the AMP I formed in 1994. It was not the AMP that
had Kenneth Nnebue as Chairman; the AMP that had
Tunde Kelani , Wale Falu, Lola Fani Macaulay, Amaka
Igwe and many others as pioneer members. For Ejike
Asiegbu and Emeka Ike, nobody has the right to expel
any practitioner from Nollywood.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, veteran film
maker, and BoT chairman of AMP, Chief Eddie
Ugbomah has blamed Zik Zulu, Andy Amaenchi and
Ibinabo Fiberesima for the ugly development.
According to him, the three guilds heads have a case to
answer. “I am the Chairman of the Board of Trustees
for AMP as well as DGN. Actually, Alex Eyengho was
expelled from Nollywood. But I seriously blame Andy
Amaenchi, Zik Okafor and Ibinabo Fiberesima for their
actions. They have a case to answer because they have
no respect for the founders of the industry. Many AMP
presidents have come and gone. Zik Zulu’s tenure will
also expire soon. But I will remain as the BoT chairman
of AMP.
“I read about the disbursement of the money in the
national dailies. I was not even consulted when they
accessed the money. Zik Zulu, I learnt suggested to
them that they should release some money to me
because of my Movie Makers Hall of Fame project. But
they refused. Felix Duker got N1 million to organise his
yearly Abuja Film International Film Festival.
“They distributed the money among thirteen guilds. And
at the moment, they have spent about N26 million, out
of N50 million. They took seven per cent for accessing
the money. It is really embarrassing and I wish they will
be dealt with. Akpabio released the money for them to
organise an award ceremony and not to share it among
themselves,” Eddie Ugbomah reacted.
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