What many had expected would be a reunion of sorts between Saheed Balogun and his ex wife, Fathia, did not happen as the two ex lovers did not even greet each other at the recently held Yoruba Movie Academy Awards (YMAA).
The award took place in Ibadan on Sunday at the Civic Centre.
Saheed was on his way out of the event hall when Fathia walked in. Both passed bye each other without uttering a word.
The actor did not say anything when asked why he ignored the actress. He simply walked away smiling as he shook his head.
Many fans had come to show their support for the award that was put together by Laface.
Just as the award could not bring Saheed and Fathia back together, so could it not truly resolve the leadership tussle that has been bugging ANTP.
From the recent show of superiorty that was displayed by the factional leaders of Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) and Theatre Arts Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) at the award. There seems not be an end in sight to the crisis rocking the Yoruba movie industry.
Many had thought that the recent court injunction that declared Ashaolu as the president of ANTP would subdue the leadership tussle that had polarised the association for more than 10 years.
The interim leader of TAMPAN, Yemi Solade, and his ANTP counterpart, Comrade Victor Ashaolu, were both guests at the YMAA awards. Their presence caused a stir as both of them tried to gain superiority over one another.
It was the believe of many that YMAA would unite the warring parties and chart a new begining for the Ashaolu-led regime. However, it didn’t take much time before it became obvious that the stakeholders were not at the venue to discuss their differences, but to enjoy the show.
Solade had hinted that he was ready to chart a new course for the new association which broke away from ANTP shortly after court declared Ashaolu the leader of the association.
He insisted that no amount of plea would bring back the former members of ANTP back to the association.
Ashaolu came to the venue with his followers in ANTP, spent few minutes on the red carpet and moved to the VIP session where Adewale Ayuba, DJ Semite, Toyin Adegbola, Jibola Dabur, Dayo Adeneye, Yemi Solade and other guests sat.
Solade, who called on members of the TAMPAN when he mounted the stage, got a favourable response from them. but it was not the same for Ashaolu. Their president did not get same respomse from the crowd compared to Solade’s.
Not moved by the development though, Ashaolu continued with his presentation, lauding the organiser of the event for putting up a beautiful show.
Meanwhile, Ashaolu has sworn in electoral members as well as interim officers to some executive offices in the local, state and national levels of the association.
He gave the five members, consisting of electoral members, a two-month ultimatum to organise fresh election and bye elections into all vacant posts.
The electoral members include: Alhaji Kamoru Aremu, from Lagos State chapter, as the chairman; Mr Elijah Afolayan, secretary; while Mr Adegoke Akanbi, Kwara State chapter, Mr Olagoke Olaleye, Osun State chapter and Kehinde Oyeyemi, Ogun State chapter are members of the committee.
A pioneer member of the association, Dr Remi Adedokun, who muted the idea of getting ANTP officially registered, and who is currently on sabbatical leave at the University of Ile Ife, told R that though the crisis rocking the association had been on for years, he said that there were lots of programmes and trainings that were initiated during their time.
“I liaised with the government on the need to support the association which they did, but the problem resurfaced when we stepped aside.”