No Division In Abia, Doris Ogala Still Interim Chairman, Warns Impostors – AGN President

The President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN),Dr Ejezie Emeka Rollas (MON),has warned those causing trouble in Abia State Chapter of the AGN,to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the law.

Dr Rollas gave this warning over the weekend in an exclusive chat with us, where he bared his mind on the leadership tussle in Abia State Chapter of AGN. He declared that there is no division in Abia Chapter,as Doris Ogala remains Chairman of the interim government put in place by the National Executive Council (NEC) till peace is restored.

Read Details of Interview

THERE IS AN ALLEGATION THAT YOU ARE BEHIND THE LEADERSHIP PROBLEM IN ABIA CHAPTER OF AGN?

There is actually no leadership tussle known to National Executive Council (NEC) of the guild,as it duly appointed an interim government headed by Doris Ogala as chairman, a secretary and member, to manage the activities of the Chapter pending the outcome of the panel setup to investigate allegations of certificate forgery and improper Constitution of AGNEC in that Chapter. Rather what we have in Abia is a case of an Impostor laying claims to the chairmanship. By the grace of God, I have successfully managed a united Actors Guild of Nigeria and maintained peace in all the chapters since I became President of the guild, Abia cannot be an exception. The secret of my success as President of the guild have been discipline, obedience to the rule of law and strict adherence to AGN Constitution, insulating the guild from undue political interference, and standing on the truth.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS AN IMPOSTOR CLAIMING TO BE CHAIRMAN OF AGN ABIA STATE CHAPTER?

Well, I cannot actually fathom the reason behind the individual’s action but I will attribute much of that to indiscipline and lack of respect for constituted authority. As you know Abia State Chapter has always had protracted leadership tussle even before we came into office. One of our first steps at the National leadership of AGN was to resolve all lingering issues in our State Chapters, revalidate membership and conduct elections. The National Executive Council (NEC) at my instance constituted a Reconciliatory Committee to look into the problems of those State chapters identified to be in one crisis or the other. Following this directive, NEC approved a timetable for election, I think on either 10th or 11th of April, 2023 and in line with the NEC approved election timetable, a proper revalidation exercise and election was successfully conducted in Bayelsa, Delta, Edo State chapters of the guild. Abia and a few other state chapters couldn’t put their house in order for their own revalidation and subsequent election in conformity with the NEC approved 10th April 2023 election timetable alongside other State Chapters. But afterwards, too many calls started coming from members of the guild in Abia expressing their readiness for their own election. In my firm resolution to conduct election in Abia,I mandated NEC to come up with a revised election timetable which will not be altered. NEC came up with the 20th of May, 2023 and the chapter was duly notified. No sooner had the revised election timetable notification sent to members of the guild in Abia State than loads of petition started flooding my email and other channels of communication. NEC received two very serious petitions bordering on constitutionally, which calls for immediate review and intervention before the election date. Constitutional matters are taken seriously by my leadership, thus; NEC called off, yet again, the new election timetable slated to take place on the 20th of May 2023 for an investigative panel to look into the merits of the petition of certificate forgery against an aspirant. This letter of NEC’s resolution to indefinitely suspend the earlier slated Election of 20th, May, 2023 was properly signed by our National Secretary and conveyed to Abia State Chapter through usual channels of communication. The 3-man investigative Committee headed by Opute Joel was empanelled on the 17th of May, 2023 and charged to report back to NEC within 2 weeks. All activities relating to the Elections; including campaigns, revalidation and sales of nomination forms were suspended.

WHY DID YOU APPOINT AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT WHEN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL HAS BEEN SETUP TO LOOK INTO THE CRISIS AND REPORT BACK TO NEC WITHIN 2 WEEKS?

Yeah, like I said the two most outstanding petitions bordered on breach of AGN’S Constitution and the allegation of certificate forgery even breached the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The panel had two weeks to discharge its responsibility and report back to NEC and the letter was well communicated to members of Abia State Chapter of AGN. Rather than subject themselves to the legally constituted investigative Committee empanelled by the highest decision making body of Actors Guild of Nigeria and in line with the Constitution of the guild, some individuals decided to still go on with the suspended election on the 20th of May 2023. Other contenders obeyed the suspension order from NEC, while a handful disobedient members gathered themselves in a room and illegally elected the Impostor, who stood election alone. How on earth would sensible people flout orders of NEC and believe they can blackmail President of the guild into accepting such illegitimacy?. Surprisingly, these individuals started sending me mails about the unapproved election that produced one Mr. David Amalaha as Abia Chapter chairman. However, as a peaceful man, I advised these individuals to channel their grievances to the investigative panel as their purported election was null and void. Consequently, on the 26th of May, 2023, I convened an emergency NEC meeting where I presented the developing situation in Abia Chapter. It was at this emergency meeting that NEC, after reviewing the situation and in line with AGN’S Constitutional provision decided to appoint a caretaker government or interim government to run the affairs of Abia State Chapter for 6 months till a proper revalidation exercise and election is conducted. NEC advised that neutral members from the state would be appointed as chairman and members of interim government to stabilise the chapter within 6 months as a leadership vacuum will create more problems. Consequently, I nominated Doris Ogala on the 26th of May, 2023 as chairman, Moira mba as Secretary and Chibuike Agu as member of the 3-man interim government.

WHY DIDN’T THIS INTERIM GOVERNMENT SOLVE THE CRISIS?

Everything was calm, till I was told about a certain political video made by the Chairman of Abia Chapter interim government, which of course was her personal views and never represented the views or opinion of the guild. Members of the guild are encouraged to partake in politics but we strongly frown at political interference in our internal matters and manipulation from outside influences. I was bombarded with several phone calls, text messages, email and even threats from highly placed politicians demanding that I immediately remove the interim Chairman, Doris Ogala and recognise the individual who flouted the orders of NEC suspending the Abia Chapter election of 20th of May, 2023. I wrote a disclaimer notifying the general public that Mr. David Amalaha and others parading themselves are not Executives of Abia State Chapter of the guild. These Impostors have not speared me with blackmail, insults and threats, they even petitioned the commissioner of police, Abia State command. My National Secretary flew in from lagos with all the official documents confirming Doris Ogala as chairman of Abia Chapter interim government and also a copy of the valid notice from NEC which suspended the 20th May, 2023 election. The Commissioner in his wisdom as an astute investigative officer of repute discharged the petition. Surprisingly, the same David Amalaha who took the matter to police claimed he was unjustly treated by the Commissioner of police, and afterwards petitioned the AIG, Zone 9 Umuahia. The AIG invited parties and again, my National secretary flew in from lagos to avail the AIG with all relevant documents. Mr. Amalaha was again defeated by the strength of compelling documentary evidence presented by the guild to the AIG. He was asked by the police at the zonal headquarters to sue for peace and subject to authority of the National Executive Council (NEC) to no avail. When the distraction became unbearable to allow for quick resolution of the crisis before 6 months and every entreaties to Amalaha failed; I petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter. Later, my good self and the Nigeria police was served with court summon with Amalaha as plaintiff against suspected breach of his fundamental human rights.

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT FOR ONE YEAR?

You know how slowly our judiciary functions with many cases to resolve, NEC thought it wise to extend the interim government by one year at the expiration of the initial 6 (six) months to avoid leadership vacuum in Abia Chapter during the pendency of the human rights enforcement suit. That extension was communicated to Abia Chapter on the 26th of November 2023, via a letter addressed to the Chairman of the interim government.

ANY END TO THIS IMPASSE?

Yes of course…discipline and respect to constituted authorities are the only ways to restore peace in any organisation or group. I have advised those who believe political interference can legitimise their illegality to perish such thoughts,as it will never happen under my watch. The only remedy is to go back to the panel setup to investigate all outstanding issues, including the petitions. The panel will report back to NEC and consequently a fresh election timetable and revalidation will be approved by NEC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

Thank you. Let me add that I am also married to an Abia daughter from Umuahia. You see I am eager to see peace return to Abia State Chapter without anyone making false claims.