I Helped Saidi Balogun’s Group, I Never Abandoned My Colleagues—Rotimi Makinde

Source: Nathan Nathaniel/Nigeriafilms.com

One time Nollywood actor turned federal lawmaker, Rotimi Makinde, has cleared the air on the lingering crisis currently going on between him and actor, Olaiya Igwe who is accusing him of neglecting old friends and the industry that produced him.

The law maker explained that people close to him knows that he is not a stingy fellow as he has been able to use his position to help effect the grant the federal government gave to the movie industry.

Rotimi praising the English aspect of the make-believe industry, further disclosed that unlike the English axis, the Yorubas were not ready to embarrass change as he even went as far as trying to involve the Ooni of Ife but the turn out was poor except for actor, Saidi Balogun and his group who benefited from his kind gesture.

'I know I have done all I could to uplift the industry. The question is simple; to what extent do they see me as their ambassador? As the first artiste to become a legislator, if I have done poorly, no other colleagues would be encouraged to join politics, I am happy that many of them are coming on board; it is a good development.

According to Rotimi, “See the way our brothers in the English axis rallied round Desmond Eliot even when my people would do that they would do such as professionals with the attendant demands. I have those that I have tremendous respect for, people like Oga Bello, Jide Kosoko, Aluwe, Yinka Quadri, Ogogo and others but the challenge is the lack of unity among the theater practitioners.”

“If there is unity, one would have done something substantial for the association and I tried my best in finding a way of ensuring unity and I even involved His Imperial Majesty the Ooni of Ife but the response wasn't encouraging. Saidi Balogun's group came as a body and the outcome was good,” he disclosed.

“Those close to me know that I am not stingy and it is important to note that I have always been nice to my people even as a hotelier and a car dealer,” he said.