Erstwhile President of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, Prince Jide Kosoko, and old generation actor, Victor Ashaolu, are now at loggerheads over President Goodluck Jonathan’s N3 billion Nollywood grant.
Information is rife that shortly before last Saturday’s meeting at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, where the Coordinator of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, briefed the theatre practitioners on the modalities for the disbursement of the fund, Ashaolu was said to have sent a Black Berry broadcast to all members of ANTAP to restrain Kosoko from attending the meeting as ANTP leader.
However, in a counter-attack, some youths, loyal to Kosoko, were said to have thwarted Ashaolu’s plot to disgrace Kosoko at the town hall meeting in Lagos.
They maintained that Kosoko is still their leader because Ashaolu’s case is yet to be decided in court.
It was reliably gathered that Kosoko was later allowed in the meeting on self recognition by the ministers.
It would be recalled that ANTP’s crisis started when Ashaolu took Kosoko to court, claiming the leadership of the association being an old timer actor with lot of experience.
Veteran Yoruba actor, Eda Onile Ola, and some other top Yoruba actors are said to be solidly behind Ashaolu for the exalted seat.
Sources said Ashaolu has threatened that he would fight the matter to the end until he gets the mandate.
Advertisement
