NIGERIAN ARTISTES FILE OUT FOR JONATHAN
•Princess Stella Oduah
Several Nigerian artistes and entertainers are drumming massive support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, at the next month's polls. And to prove that they are sincerely in support of Jonathan's ambition, some of these leading entertainers under the aegis of Artistes United for Jonathan, recently regrouped to organize a well attended dinner/endorsements night for Mr. President.
The event, a constellation of stars from the movie, music, comedy and the allied sectors of the showbiz community held elaborately at the posh Harbour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, amid plaudits for Jonathan and his good works for a new Nigeria.
In her welcome address, songster, Onyeka Onwenu, one of the prime movers of the Neighbour 2 Neighbour initiative, thanked her colleagues for coming out en masse to help drum support for Mr. President's re-election bid, adding that Jonathan means well for the nation, especially the creative industry.
She urged her colleagues to help spread the good works of Jonathan round the nation and equally call on their fans to cast their votes for the Jonathan/Sambo team.
Onwenu recalled that President Jonathan's special interest in the Nigerian entertainment industry dates back to when he was Governor of Bayelsa State. 'If you remember vividly, when he became governor, it was assumed that he may not continue with the AMA Awards, which his predecessor had started. But not only did he continue with it, he made it more purposeful and re-branded Bayelsa with its success.
Did you know that President Jonathan owns the copyright to three songs recorded by my humble self? They are Change, How Wonderful and Run, Goodluck Run.'
The elegant stallion further added that the three songs were inspired by Mr. President, with their lyrics literally taken from his speeches and expressed concerns. Onyeka, who was very grateful to Princess Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, the national coordinator of Neighbour 2 Neighbour and CEO, Sea Petroleum and Gas (SPG), for bankrolling and hugely supporting the dinner, further disclosed that President Jonathan is a bonafide and registered member of COSON.
Continuing, Onwenu said that as President of Nigeria and in a few months of assuming office, he undertook the unprecedented move of registering the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) as the sole CMO in Nigeria, empowering it to collect and distribute copyright dues to artistes with sound recordings.
'Not done yet, Mr. President has helped to put forward a $200 million loan fund for the entertainment industry in the country. He has also been of great assistance to indigent artistes and those who at one time or the other, found themselves in adverse situations, due to illness or accident.
It is therefore no wonder that President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is enjoying tremendous support from Nigerian artistes in his election campaign for the highest office in the land today and always.'
Aside the intimidating presence of famous entertainers at the epoch gathering that witnessed electrifying and memorable performances from some of the artistes, notable members of Neighbour 2 Neighbour, also graced.
The trio of Princess Ogiemwonyi, Elder Goddey Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Sully Abu, led the team. Others were; Ambassador Jerry Ugowe, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, former deputy governor, Ekiti State and several dignitaries and captains of industry who thoroughly enjoyed themselves while dining, dancing and interacting with artistes.