By David Oluwaseun
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi has slammed Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai over his recent comment that the former Anambra state governor, should focus on Nollywood instead of running for presidency.
Obi, while featuring on Arise Television’s Sunday Show Program promised that he would work hard to improve on the Nollywood industry.
It will be recalled that that El-Rufai had while featuring on the Channels Television’s programme over the week dismissed Obi’s chances in the forthcoming presidential election.
El-Rufai also claimed that Obi wouldn’t score more than 1% in Sokoto and 2% in Katsina States, respectively.
However, Obi said he would focus on the Nollywood if elected president, calling on Nigerian actors to support him since El-Rufai had tagged him as one.
He said, “I thank El Rufai for what he said, at least he gave me some percentages; I’ll work hard to improve on that. The Entertainment Industry is one of the engines that will develop us as a Nation, I’ll focus on that and Nollywood.
“And since he said I’m an actor, I’m calling on all those in the entertainment industry, including Nollywood, to support me.”
In similar vein, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has hit out at Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent interview on TVC.
El-Rufai had described Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as a Nollywood actor.
He also dismissed Obi’s popularity, saying the former AnambraState governor would only get votes in the South-East and some parts of South-South.
Reacting, AGN, in a statement signed by Kate Henshaw, the Director of Communications, at the weekend, said El-Rufai’swords were very offensive, adding that the governor should stop comparing Nollywood actors with unintelligent people.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria has been drawn to a derogatory statement made by the diminutive governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, referring to one of the presidential aspirants as a ‘Nollywood actor’.
“Using actors to make sarcastic examples of an unintelligent person is arrogant and condescending of a public office holder.
“The statement is very offensive and demeaning to the Actors Guild of Nigeria and Nollywood as a whole as it was purely intended to deride the acting profession.”
It added, “The national president called on El Rufai to withdraw his nescience statement and tender an unreserved apology to Nollywood Actors immediately.”
Also, a former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa has said the outcome of the presidential election would shock Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.
Bafarawa was reacting to El-Rufai’s claim that APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu would win the February elections.
El-Rufai had said Tinubu would become Nigeria’s next president despite some elements in the Presidential Villa working against his success.
The governor said these elements are aggrieved that Tinubuemerged as the APC flag bearer.
Reacting, Bafarawa said El-Rufai can’t assume that Nigerians would vote for Tinubu.
Speaking with BBC Hausa Service, Bafarawa said El-Rufai’scomment was disrespectful to the North and Nigerians.
“Also, he came out and was proudly saying that Tinubu will win the election whether people like it or not. Who told him that the whole of the north are supporting the APC?
“It’s just his opinion. Therefore, he has no right to boast with the north because everyone has their own candidates.
“We will surprise them; we will show them that this country belongs to nobody, likewise the north,” he said.
The 2023 general election holds across the country on Saturday, February 25
