The decision of the Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria to expel Rahama Sadau from Kannywood has not gone unnoticed. To most Nigerians, she did no wrong. Her part in ClassiQ’s romantic music video, ‘I Love You,’ is not considered worthy of the bashing she has received from MOPPAN.
But according to MOPPAN, what she has done is a grave offence. The announcement of the top Hausa actress’ expulsion was contained in a statement signed by Salisu Muhammed, the secretary of the MOPPAN.
Sometime last year, something similar was reported. She was said to have been banned for six months over a claim that she was denied a role in a movie for refusing sexual overtures of a director, thus, it seems she has been on the watch list of the association for a long time.
While apologising to her fans on Tuesday in a letter, which was made available to The Point, Ms Sadau said she might have fallen short of some people’s expectations, but it was never intentional. Her response was highly matured, making no attempts to rubbish the ban on her or the association that placed the ban on her.
The letter reads in part, “To those who I have offended in any way, shape or form and who I have caused any anxiety by featuring in the said music video, I sincerely apologise. I make no excuses for my actions and I take full responsibility. I implore all to be more tolerant and forgiving towards one another.”
However, a source close to the actress, who is presently on vacation in India, insisted that she did not know her appearance in the music video would be an issue.
The source stated, “She did what she did because it is not a Kannywood movie; she felt it was something different and it was nothing serious. If it was to be a movie, she would not do what she did, because she knows the rules guiding them.
“As human beings, we make mistakes. Rahama is a lady and still young. When we do wrong, there are many ways you show people their mistakes. If you send her away, she could do more wrong. The only way you change anyone is to make the person understand.”
A top actor and musician in the North, Sani Danja, also said there was the need to temper justice with mercy. The former chairman of the Guild of Kannywood and former board member of National Film Corporation insisted that the development would make them to lose control over her, as she had already made her name in Kannywood.
“It is better to keep her so that you still have control over her. Whatever she does still comes back to the industry, because she has already made a name there. Her fans will still be her fans,” Danja said.
The Glo ambassador maintained that the expulsion could be overturned if the association realised they had made a mistake, adding, “When everyone is not happy about a decision, what stops you from righting the wrong? Nobody is above mistake. We even make national mistakes.”
