By Brave Dickson
The Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in Rivers State has criticized the people of the state for not encouraging musicians in the state.
The state interim Chairman of PMAN, Mr Arthur Pepple Jr who said this in an interview with our correspondent also urged the state government and other corporate bodies to provide palliatives specifically for the state musicians, insisting that musicians are the worst hit by the lockdown order.
His words: “One of the major challenges we are having in the state is that Rivers people do not encourage entertainment unlike Lagos State.
“The entertainers are the worst hit by this COVID-19 pandemic because the showbiz and public functions that give us money have been grounded.
“Musicians are self-dependent people who only get money when they carryout their entertainment activities which have now been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Government, corporate bodies and patriotic individuals have been giving palliatives to LGAs and wards but anybody has given palliatives to musicians in the state.”
The state PMAN chairman also acknowledged the underdevelopment caused by leadership factions in the state entertainment sector but expressed joy that those days are over.
He said: “No doubt that PMAN used to have internal rancor within its leadership in Rivers State which also affected the growth of entertainment in the state.
“To address the issue of factions within the state PMAN, stakeholders came together to appoint me which has now made it the fourth time I am leading the state PMAN as chairman.
“As I speak to you, my leadership has ended factions in the state PMAN.
“As a matter of facts, we were heading towards our election before this COVID-19 pandemic came and we suspended the whole arrangement.”
