Emeka Rollas, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has responded to Hilda Dokubo’s recent criticism over the appointment of Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north, as patron of the body.

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TheCable Lifestyle had reported how the veteran actress condemned the lawmaker’s appointment.

Abbo had attracted negative attention after he was captured in a video beating a female attendant at a sex shop in Abuja in May 2019.

Dokubo, who described the legislator as a “abuser of women”, had called for the immediate withdrawal of his appointment.

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But reacting to Dokubo’s criticism while speaking with Plus TV Africa, Rollas defended the guild’s decision while saying such comments were mere attempt to sentimentalise the issue.

The AGN president added that it would be unfair for people to see the lawmaker in a bad light even after he had apologised for his action.

Asked if he didn’t watch the video of Abbo slapping the lady, he replied: “You saw the slap, did you also see the apology.”

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When further asked if such apology was enough, he said: “It doesn’t count. What you should be asking here is that did he come out to apologise? Yes, he did.

“Did the woman involved said she didn’t accept the apology in all of these that we are saying. When I mentioned morality and legality, you ask of who is holier than senator Abbo?.

“There was a committee set up in the senate on this same matter and the committee did not convict him. Is the Actors Guild of Nigeria a body to be used to do all of these? People should just go and sit down, there’s no point sentimentalising issues maybe just to drive a point.

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“We know the stage where people who are fighting for human rights operate, not within the confines where AGN revolves. I don’t want to begin to mention names but if we begin to dig into people’s personal lives, those who raised the issue may not even stand the morality test, but I don’t want to go that way.”

He also wondered why the actress would decide to take the issue to social media when she could have drawn the attention of the AGN for dialogue.

“When you go on social media to raise an issue that should addressed inhouse, I don’t know whom you are trying to impress,” he added.

“Unfortunately, for whoever that is shouting is that decisions of an organisation or association is not what you get on social media.”

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