Kano Censorship Board revokes licences of Kannywood actors, producers, others
The Kano State Censorship Board says it has revoked all operational licences to all actors and actresses, including directors and producers in its film-making industry, Kannywood.
The head of the board, Abba El-Mustapha, said the decision aims to sanitise the industry and ensure proper documentation.
Mr El-Mustapha said all celebrities and producers must renew their licences to operate in the state.
“We have cancelled all licenses of all guilds in the industry for proper documentation and to have effective plans that will address some of the problems in the industry.
“We have about 13 guilds; we have revoked all their licenses, enabling us to sanitise the industry. Before a license is issued to any person, we must be satisfied with the person.
READ ALSO:
“The decision also affects all the singers and other entertainers in the Kannywood industry;/they must renew their licenses, and we are going to fetch out the bad eggs among them, Mr El-Mustapha told Freedom Radio on Saturday.
Critics say the move is a deliberate plan to punish, through stringent policies, celebrities who campaigned against the ruling party in the state – New Nigeria People Party (NNPP)- in the just concluded General Elections.
During the build-up to the elections, Kannywood was divided along political party lines, with the new head of the board, Mr El-Mustapha, a member of the NNPP.
Other stakeholders are affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In January, Kannywood stars, including Ali Nuhu, Adam Zango, Sadiq Sani, Rabiu Daushe, and several others, officially endorsed the candidature of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and Nasir Gawuna, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.
Zango, who initially supported the NNPP’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, eventually switched to Mr Tinubu’s camp during APC’s campaign rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Some of the practitioners in the industry have alleged political persecution after their studios, vehicles and houses were attacked and burnt in the state after the NNPP won the governorship election.
Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau…
Obey court order on Rivers LG poll, PDP tells Fubara The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in…
Israeli airstrike cuts off road linking Lebanon, Syria Lebanon said an Israeli air strike on the Syrian…
Hunger protests: Russia accuses US, UK of ruining its relations with Nigeria The Russian government says the…
$13m fraud: FBI seeks EFCC help to arrest Nigerian suspects The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission…
Horror as man stabs father to death in Lagos A 25-year-old man, Chibunnma Chimelie, has been…