By Benjamin Njoku

Two past presidents of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu and Segun Arinze have joined other Nollywood practitioners to react following the court ruling on Monday, which nullified the election that brought actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima into office for the second time as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN.

While Ejike Asiegbu who was succeeded by Segun Arinze as the president of the guild, and whose tenure gave birth the endless crisis rocking the industry, declined to comment on the matter, the latter described the court order, as “Shady and a Kangaroo arrangement.”

I found the judgement shady  and a kangaroo arrangement — Segun Arinze, former AGN presiden

According to Arinze, “It’s all a sick joke! I find the judgement shady and a kangaroo arrangement.” He inherited the crisis from Ejike Asiegbu after Kanya O.Kanayo led-interim government produced Emeka Ike as a fractional President of the Guild.

*Segun Arinze

Writing on his facebook page, Arinze said, Emeka Ike is non issue as far as AGN members are concerned. He, however, called on all members including our A – list actors and Nollywood as an industry to resist the evil plans of Emeka Ike and his cohorts.

“ We have gone past all that. We shouldn’t condone one man trying to embarrass the industry. Emeka Ike needs help to save himself from ‘Himself .’ We need to declare him persona non grata from the industry. We are moving forward. Cest fini!! Ibinabo Fiberesima is our bonafide President. Enough is enough. This Shenanigan has to stop,” he fumed.

 They have the capacity to resolve the matter —

Also, reacting in the same vein, Ejike Asiegbu declined to comment on the matter. He said, “I cannot comment on this matter. All I can say is that the people involved knows how to resolve the problem. I will never stick my neck for the guild again. I have done that in the past. They have the capacity to resolve the issue among themselves.

Why I’m supporting Ibinabo — Emeka Rising

Speaking on the matter, Emeka Rising Ibe, who was one time chairman of the AGN Lagos chapter and Emeka Ike’s former henchman, declares his support for Ibinabo. He said, he decided to decamp from Emeka Ike’s fraction just for the good of the AGN and movie industry in Nigeria. Hear him, “I was with Emeka Ike before I joined the Ibinabo led AGN because, I have seen that the betterment of the body lies with her. My advice to him to reconcile with Ibinabo failed.

I told him that there is always a time for fight and a time for peace. Ibinabo is the right person and we are going to do everything possible to support her government.”

Ibinabo remains AGN president —NEC

Meanwhile, immediately after the court order went viral online, the National Executive Council of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, released a statement, insisting that Ibinabo still remains the president of the Guild.

The statement reads thus: “While we shall abide by the judgement of the High Court, we shall be guided by the Constitution of the Guild which stipulates that there shall be no vacuum in the leadership of the Guild.

In view of this, Ibinabo Fiberesima remains the National leader of the AGN as the court did not declare Emeka Ike President of the guild. However, the Registered Board of Trustees has gone to the Appeal Court to challenge the judgement. Ibinabo, however, urged her members, supporters and teaming fans to remain calm and peaceful as AGN remains one family. This judgement has not in any ways affected the resolve of Chief Ibinabo to take the Guild to the next level.