Nollywood shuns Pete Eneh

Not a few family members and friends were shocked at the outcome of the wake-keep organised in honour of the late Nollywood actor, Pete Eneh.

At the event which held at the White House Hotel, Ikeja, on January 15, only few of the practitioners showed up and most of them were aspiring actors and actresses. Save for the organisers of the event which included Harris Chuma, president of the Igbo film forum; Alex Eyengho, president of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP and Dozie Eboh, others were faces that were relatively unknown in the industry.

Chuma described it as injustice to the dead because key Nollywood players including the current president, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima failed to show up at the service of songs.

Peter Eneh

Expressing his displeasure, Eyengho berated officials of AGN for dishonouring Eneh, who had contributed to the development of the movie industry in Nigeria. He said, “I am very disappointed at the attitude of the AGN. I know that a few days ago, there was a procession in honour of Enebeli Elebuwa, which was attended by most practitioners in Nollywood.

“Also, I understood that the Delta State and Lagos State governors gave the ceremony a lot of financial support. Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is his state’s commissioner, was present and gave his support. There was a lot of money to take care of the whole candle-lit procession. I believe that was the reason why there was such a big show from members of the association. But it is unfair to treat Eneh this way simply because there was no big donation of money to take care of his funeral rites. It is the responsibility of AGN because that was his primary guild as an actor. It is very unfair and I think it is a big minus for the AGN president, being the first female president.   Everybody was invited through face book, twitter and emails but you know our people, when there is no money to share, they cannot turn up. That is the tradition.”

Ibinabo-President AGM

Reacting to a statement made by the general secretary of ANCOP, Chikezie Donatus, who said Eneh was one of the finest actors to grace Nollywood from the East, Eyengho said it was wrong to relegate Eneh to a region.

“Eneh was not an ‘Igbo’ actor, he was a national actor. I don’t buy the idea that Enugu chapter of the AGN would do something later; it is unfair for the leadership of the AGN to deliberately relegate Eneh to the position of a regional actor.”

When contacted on phone, Fiberesima said she did not represent any tribal interest but that of the AGN. She said, “I am not a representative of the Igbo or any tribe. I am the president of the AGN and I don’t think I or my members are obliged to any tribal group.  We plan to honour Pete Eneh on January 21. As for the money they are talking about being shared at Enebeli’s funeral; I have no idea of what they are talking about. I was not even invited for the service of songs they held for Pete, so I don’t know what they are talking about.”