The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi, has called for lasting peace, reconciliation, and unity among members of the guild in Abia State, urging them to set aside years of internal conflict and work together to rebuild the chapter.
The call came as the national leadership of the guild lifted the suspension placed on the former Abia State executive and dissolved the former unity leadership, appointing Mr. David Onyebuchi Amalaha as Chairman of the AGN Abia State chapter for a one-year interim period.
Addressing members of the Abia chapter Wednesday in Umuahia, veteran actors, and other stakeholders during a peace and reconciliation meeting on Wednesday, Sanusi described the gathering as a defining moment in the history of the chapter, saying it presented an opportunity to choose peace over bitterness, progress over division, and collective legacy over personal interests.
He lamented that the chapter had lost six valuable years to misunderstandings, rivalry, and internal discord, noting that the period could have been used to develop members’ careers, mentor emerging talents, attract film productions, and position the Abia chapter among the strongest in the country.
Quoting the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” Sanusi stressed that unity remains the foundation for growth, explaining that collaboration among creative minds would create more opportunities, transform dreams into reality, and build a thriving film industry in Abia State.
The AGN President said he had consistently chosen dialogue over confrontation and reconciliation over division, urging members to embrace peace as the pathway to sustainable progress.
He challenged members to reflect on the legacy they intended to leave behind, asking whether future generations of actors would remember them for conflict or for laying the foundation of a vibrant and united film industry in Abia.
Sanusi further urged actors to stop relying solely on opportunities in states such as Lagos and Delta while neglecting the abundant creative potential in Abia, describing the state as richly endowed with talent, culture, compelling stories, and creative energy capable of sustaining a flourishing film industry.
Drawing a comparison with the ongoing transformation being driven by the Abia State Government, he said that while the government was rebuilding infrastructure and reshaping the state’s image, members of the guild should also rebuild the AGN Abia chapter spiritually, professionally, and creatively.
According to him, the era of blame, factionalism, and personal ego must come to an end, giving way to peace, unity, and collective rebuilding.
He encouraged members to leave the meeting with renewed determination to respect and support one another, create opportunities for fellow actors, and position the AGN Abia State chapter as a model of excellence within the national body.
Expressing confidence in the future of the chapter, Sanusi said that if members remained united, the next six years would witness greater achievements than the previous six years marked by division.
He envisioned a united chapter capable of establishing film hubs, attracting investors, training young talents, creating employment opportunities, and making Abia a preferred destination for Nollywood productions.
The AGN President concluded by urging members to embrace the future with one voice, one heart, and one purpose, emphasizing that peace is possible, unity is powerful, and progress is inevitable when members stand together. He also prayed for God’s blessings upon the Abia chapter, the national body, and for enduring peace within the guild.
Also speaking, the Patron of the guild, veteran actor Steve Ebo, urged members of the Abia chapter to embrace peace, remain loyal to the leadership of the guild, and work together to restore the state’s position as a major hub of Nigeria’s film industry.
Ebo described it as a privilege to witness the reconciliation process, recalling that he served as National Vice President when the Abia chapter was established and personally supervised its formation.
Reflecting on Nollywood’s early years, he said Aba played a significant role in the growth of the industry, with several notable productions filmed in the city and many successful actors launching their careers there.
According to him, Aba was once one of Nigeria’s leading filmmaking centres, producing stars and attracting major productions, but questioned why the state had lost its prominence.
He expressed optimism that the reconciliation efforts within the guild mirrored the rebuilding agenda of the present Abia State Government, urging members not to allow themselves to be used to drag the guild backward.
Ebo stressed that true membership of the Actors Guild goes beyond attending meetings, noting that actors must actively participate in productions and collaborate with colleagues to grow the industry.
He cited the success of several industry professionals who began their careers in Aba, saying the state had produced remarkable talents but had been held back by unnecessary conflicts and internal divisions.
Calling for an end to prolonged disputes, he urged members to embrace peace, humility, and unity, emphasizing that only a united guild could attract opportunities, nurture talent, and reposition Abia as a preferred destination for filmmaking.
He also commended the presence of veteran stakeholders at the reconciliation meeting and recalled that the expansion of the Actors Guild across Nigeria began during the tenure of a former national president when the guild established chapters beyond Lagos.
Lamenting the decline in film production in Abia, Ebo said it had been many years since he last featured in a movie shot in the state, despite being a regular participant in productions there during the formative years of Nollywood.
He advised members to remain loyal to the leadership of the guild, stressing that humility, accessibility, and respect for constituted authority are essential for personal and professional success.
Ebo reminded members that while the Abia chapter remained divided for six years, the Nigerian film industry continued to grow elsewhere, making actors in the state the greatest losers.
He disclosed that several state governments were actively seeking to attract Nollywood productions by creating enabling environments and inviting industry stakeholders to establish filmmaking structures.
Highlighting opportunities within today’s creative economy, he said many young Nigerians were building successful careers through content creation using only their mobile phones, emphasizing that collaboration and innovation now offered greater prospects than prolonged leadership disputes.
He therefore urged members to put aside personal interests, unite for the common good, and work collectively to revive Abia’s film industry and create greater opportunities for actors and other creative professionals.
The immediate past National President of the AGN, Emeka Rollas, appealed for forgiveness from members he may have offended during his tenure while also forgiving those who criticized and insulted him.
He stressed that lasting peace cannot exist without justice and forgiveness, citing the biblical story of King David and Shimei in 2 Samuel 16 to explain why he chose not to retaliate against his critics while in office.
Rollas disclosed that when the current AGN President sought his advice on restoring peace in Abia, he wholeheartedly supported the reconciliation process despite past grievances, insisting that no chapter should be left behind.
He also recalled the 2009 AGN leadership crisis, explaining how the controversial Port Harcourt election eventually gave way to a Government of National Unity that restored stability to the guild.
The former president urged members to embrace reconciliation and unity rather than remain divided by past conflicts.
In his remarks, the newly appointed interim Chairman of the AGN Abia State chapter, Mr. David Onyebuchi Amalaha, declared that “AGN in Abia is one” and expressed joy over the return of peace to the chapter.
Describing the reconciliation as remarkable, Amalaha said the National Executive and Board of the guild visited Abia because of their commitment to lasting peace. He thanked the national leadership, former presidents, and all stakeholders for their support, praying that God would reward them for helping restore unity to the chapter.
He also appreciated stakeholders, including Dauda, Paulson Kalu, and others, for attending the peace and reconciliation meeting, expressing confidence that a new era of unity and progress had begun for the Actors Guild of Nigeria in Abia State.
