AMAA TAKES GLAMOUR TO ABUJA

The removal of Chief Timpre Sylva as Governor of Bayelsa State has again caused a major blow to the state as the organizers of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has moved the event scheduled for this Saturday, April 26, 2008 from Yenogoa to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Confirming the development, Mr. Nathan Egba, Chairman organizing committee and former Special Adviser (Media & Culture) to Chief Sylva said the venue had to change because of the change of mood in the state.

He stated that at present due to the Appeal Court judgment, the people of the state are in a political mood and they are preparing for the election. “That kind of mood, you will agree with me, is not the best when we are supposed to host an event of this magnitude.”

Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima, AMAA CEO, who addressed a press conference on the issue this afternoon stated that moving the event from Bayelsa was painful but inevitable. She said that a lot of issues had to be taken into consideration and the decision to host the event in Abuja was taken in the interest of Nigeria and the entertainment industry.

She told us that the organizers has very ambitious plans for the event and invited top stars from Africa and America and it would have been extremely difficult to achieve set goals if the event was held in Yenogoa this time around.

On Choice of Abuja, Ms Anyiam-Fiberesima said that though the last two editions had been hosted successfully in Yenogoa, Abuja had been in contention during the biding process that was introduced this year. . “Since the event could not go the first, it had to go to the next city which turned out to be Abuja”.

She assured everyone that the 2008 will be bigger and better and every African will be proud of the package that will be presented to the world on the night. She revealed that the awards train will begin with a nomination’s ceremony in Lagos on Thursday, April 24.

Meanwhile, from the nominations list made available to us, many of the awards will be a straight fight between films, stars and professionals from Nigeria and Ghana.