Thread: Niger -Delta Peace Idol is a show of the people... Chico Ejiro

About a month ago, we featured Mr. Chico Ejiro, a prominent and seasoned filmmaker on this page. In that chat, Chico Ejiro popularly known in the movie world as ‘Mr. Prolific' spoke extensively on the Niger Delta Peace Idol, a reality TV show which is targeted at highlighting the cultural and tourist potentials as well as the restoration and sustenance of peace in the troubled region. In this interview, Chico elaborates more on his pet project and says the stage is almost set for the Niger Delta region to witness what he describes as ‘a show of the people, by the people and for the people’. Excerpts:

WE heard that you have temporarily relocated to Delta State. Is it still in connection with your Niger Delta Peace Idol project?
Those who are saying that are not far from the truth. Because in my place, they say wherever a man is accepted; he is tempted to make it his home. Being a tourism related show, the Delta State Ministry of Culture & Tourism has accepted The Niger Delta Peace Idol and the commissioner has not hidden her conviction of the fact that we have the ability to take the state to the promise land in terms of tourism and peace.

Are you saying the Delta State government is sponsoring the Niger Delta Peace Idol?
Not really. It is the State Ministry of Culture & Tourism that is giving us tremendous support. The commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Mrs Orezi Esievo has being so wonderful. As a matter of fact, she has pleasantly surprised every member of NIDEP with her magnanimity. Within a short spate of time, she has held a series of meetings with us, making suggestions and offering all the necessary assistance most times without a formal request. I must confess here that I and several other members of NIDEP from Delta State never expected the kind of support we are presently getting from the commissioner and her team.

You have repeatedly mentioned ‘support’. What is the ‘support’ like?
I know you are expecting me to start mentioning money here. Of course there is money involved in the support but I want you to know that it is not the amount of money she is giving that is uppermost in our minds when we say ‘‘support’’. There are several other things she is doing to make sure the show succeeds that all the money in the world can not do for us. She is giving us money –– a considerably good sum, but unlike what some people in her position would have done, she has refused to stop there.

When you talk of crisis in the Niger- Delta region, one sector of the economy that suffers the greatest loss is the oil sector. Do you have any plan to carry them along?
Definitely. If peace is prevalent in the region, the daily news of hostage taking will be a thing of the past. And the oil companies are worse hit when we talk of hostage taking. We have already started talking with a few of them although nothing concrete has come from that sector but we are not giving up.

We know they are aware of the importance of being part of this show. The dividends cannot be quantified and we hope they realise this in good time and come on board. This of course, is for everyone; be you an individual, state or local government, multinational or indigenous company. We all must come together and put things back in place.

At what stage is the preparation right now?
Beginning from next week, we shall be going on an official and final physical assessment tour of the tourist attraction sites we have chosen for the show. And as we do this, we shall be using the opportunity to pay courtesy calls to the local government council chairmen and royal fathers of the respective local government councils and towns where the sites are. We have also started accepting entries from intending contestants. We shall be closing entries on the 16th of September after which the screening will come up almost immediately. The show proper starts on the 26th September in Koko, Delta State with the opening ceremony/launch. It is going to be a very big ceremony because we are expecting the Delta State governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori, and the Minister for Culture & Tourism, Chief Fani-Kayode. The Managing Director of NDDC is also being expected to be at the ceremony. A lot of royal fathers as well as other top government dignitaries and well-meaning Niger Deltans will also be present on that day. It is going to be a very colourful day and a remarkable one in the history of Delta State.

Thereafter, what follows?
After the opening ceremony/launch, the show continues with the journey to the various tourist attraction sites where all the adventure will take place.

What are the names of the sites?
We have about Five tourist sites specially selected for this edition of the show. Aside the National Museum in Koko where the show will start on the 26th , we shall also go to the source of River Ethiope which is in a place called Umuaja. The adventure will also take the contestants and viewers to The Lander Brothers’ Anchorage, Bruce Onobrakpoya Gallery amongst several other tourist sites in the state.From the names of the tourist attraction sites you have mentioned, there is none outside Delta State. Are you focusing on Delta State alone?

You are right. We are dedicating this maiden edition of the show to Delta State. As I have mentioned earlier, one is always tempted to make his home wherever one finds acceptance. The Commissioner for Culture & Tourism in Delta State has given us a ‘‘home’’ in Delta State and we want to live there for now. Next time when another state in the region offers us a better home, naturally we shall move.

www.vanguardngr.com

hmmmm chico ejiroh again!!!

Anything that must bring in money, he must be involved.