Precious Ofurum: Nollywood Rivers State commends Fubara, Ezekiel, others

Nollywood Rivers State has expressed appreciation to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for his support for practitioners especially during their period of mourning.

The representative of the New Nollywood in Rivers State, Eric Stevenson, told newsmen at a press conference that Fubara’s emotional, physical and financial support to practitioners has tremendously impacted on them.

He said the support received from the Governor has facilitated the burial of their late member, Precious Ofurum.

Speaking further, be commended prophet Jeremiah Ezekiel and others whose support aided successful interment of Ofurum in his hometown.

Below is the copy of the press statement sighted by Africa Update:

A PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY NOLLYWOOD RIVERS STATE TO APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO ENSURED THAT PRECIOUS OFURUM IS GIVEN A BEFITTING BURIAL

Good day, we are members of Nollywood Rivers State Chapter. This gathering comprises of representatives from all viable, guild, production companies and theater groups residing and practicing here in Rivers State, Nigeria.

The Nollywood Industry in Rivers State has a membership strength of over fifty thousand practitioners in the state. The Nollywood industry comprises of actors, directors, producers, cinematographers, marketers, Light and sound, engineers, productioner managers, editors, welfare managers, make up artists, costumiers.

These persons sited before you are creatives who do not just think for themselves but against all odds use their craft to either make you happy, keep you informed or expose you to what the future holds for everyone of us.

Our mission here today is simple, to thank everyone who heard our cry and responded to us swiftly.

It is no longer news that on the 9th of April we lost one of our own, a twenty six years old Rivers son, from Ubima Precious Ofurum to the cold hands of death during the boat mishap in River Niger, Anambra State, alongside three others during a movie shoot.

The news got to us late and immediately I Eric Stevenson saw the need to contact other practitioners to see how we can help.
God blessed me with the best hands and very passionate practitioners who immediately within a very short notice formed a committee and swung into action.

My friends and my colleagues the successful burial of Late Precious Ofurum became a reality because you said YES to that phone call. You have prooved to the world that unity, oneness and love can bring down every mountain.

Exactly three days later the Committee organized a walk to let Rivers people know that one of their sons’ was involved in that ugly incident. It was a complete shock and surprise to our dear Rivers people. As we took our walk from Airforce to Government house we could see , hear and feel the pulse of our dear Rivers People, They wanted Precious back home.

Before today, in this state we were like sheep without shepherd. We were once told in this same state that we bring nothing to the table and that’s why we were not talked to even when we are aware that the future of so many practitioners has been short changed by those referred to as CELEBRITIES. Not all of them though.

Truthfully they were right but this time because we are tired of constantly losing our practitioners we are tired of losing our craft and intellects, We are tired of been humiliated , marginalized and extorted from by just mentioning you are from Rivers State the oil city ietc, The death of Precious Ofurum instead of bringing just sorrow brought courage, determination, strength and we took our cry through that walk to government house.

We must thank the Governor of Rivers State, H.E Siminalayi Fubara GSSR that despite his tight schedule through his head of civil service spoke to us and gave us all assurances that he was holding us by the hand.

Our dearest governor, the people’s governor, the new father of Nollywood Rivers State we have been hearing and seeing all your good works especially how you have made the civil service job and enviable one, the passion you put in the things that you do is beautiful, you are humanity driven and your attentiveness to the cry of the common man has won the hearts of the Rivers People. Thank you for giving your son, our colleague a befitting burial site .

Thank you for been that emotional, physical and financial support to NOLLYWOOD RIVERS STATE at a time like this. This singular collaboration with the you has given us hope that we are not forgotten, it has given us hope knowing that for the first time we will be listened to.

For now all we want is a round table meeting with you because we know that we will open your eyes to see that through us you can create thousands of jobs yearly, through us you can create more revenues for the state, through us the state can be made a movie hub and we won’t have the likes of Late Precious Ofurum and other Practitioners daily leave the state in search of greener pastures.

Sir, You didn’t only do a courtesy visit to the family where you promised to ensure the family is taken care of since Precious was the soul winner, but you made sure the state government was present at the burial. Thank you your Excellency sir because this love you have shown to Nollywood we will never forget.

We will like to also thank prophet Jeremiah Ezekiel who on hearing this sent his team with a financial aid to visit the family. Sir, your love for the Nollywood family is known all over the world.

Thank you for been Nollywood’s Best Friend and our prayer is that God will bless you beyond your imaginations. We will like to thank Linda Ikeji Blog, Tunde Ednut and all media houses in Rivers State and Beyond who made sure the public where properly informed.

Please we beg you if you were not properly captured but know that the good lord who is the rewarder of all men saw you and will reward every single soul who ensured that Late Precious Ofurum was laid to rest in his hometown in Ubima Rivers State.

Lastly, we crave your indulgence to please put the family of Precious Ofurum in your prayers, put the Nollywood Industry in your prayers too and put our dear governor and the state in your prayers.

Long live Nollywood
Long live Rivers State
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

My name is Mr Eric Stevenson representing the New Nollywood Rivers State.

Thank you

Signed

Eric Stevenson
Convener