A veteran actor, Lari Williams has cried out yesterday, soliciting help from well-meaning Nigerians.
NAN reports that the veteran actor who was recently conferred with a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) honours has cried out saying he is homeless and going blind. He also refuted claims that the government gave him money alongside the honours.
He further expressed the kind of hardship he, alongside few other veteran entertainers have been going through. He made it known that he was recently evicted from his 3-bedroom apartment by his landlord.
“I have heard people say that the Lagos State or the Federal Government had given me a two-bedroom flat somewhere, it is all lies. “We served this country and helped to build the entertainment sector that a lot of people are benefiting from today, but there is nothing for people like me to show for it. “Most of us are left unsung because of the kind of structure that is being run; we should be having benefits like the civil servants. “In other climes, artists live on government subventions and are structured in such a way that they earn from their creative works,” he said.
The thespian also added that government should carve out an enclave for entertainers to live and thrive.
“Nigerian cultural policy should be looked into so as to fashion out ways that can benefit the government and the practitioners. “The present government should be very careful in whom it will appoint as ministers, that it will sent to the arts sector.
We need hands-on individuals to be made ministers. Government needs to have time for the creative sector so that it can have a voice, arts has been the unfortunate ministry. If it is well structured, then we can stop dying poor. “Look at Femi Robinson who played the second headmaster-character in the Village Headmaster: a Nigerian television drama, Dan Maraya Jos and others, they all died with nothing. “We are not handing over what we have in us to the next generations; because the room was not created for that,” he said.
Nollywood has overtime been a great get-away for some of our Nigerian youths who desire to be in the full glare of the social terrain in Nigeria. Also, Politicians are using top Nollywood stars to campaign for votes due to there high level of influence. Just recently, President Goodluck Jonathan had an interactive session with Nigerian celebrities at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites located on Lagos Island. The event was well attended by many stars of the Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
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