In Rivers, Showbiz Persons, Economists Lament Impact Of Shift

PORT Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is one of Nigeria’s hottest showbiz areas. The city has hosted a number of massive world-class concerts organised by top entertainment experts and showbiz promoters.

   In the past, during Valentine mainstream activities, the city is usually at a standstill due to gridlocks resulting from various showbiz centres, churches, cinemas and others.

   The people in Port Harcourt appreciate good entertainment considerably, which they say, serves as an avenue for relief. This also accounts for their being addressed as ‘Port Harcourt boys or girls’ (meaning, people that love enjoyment).  

   However, this year’s Valentine Day took on a different form, as the earlier scheduled election date, which fell on February 14 discouraged a lot of showbiz promoters, entertainment managers and some churches from organising any activity for the lover’s day. 

   Speaking with The Guardian, Ignatius Chukwu, an economist said, “Nigeria is facing a credit crisis and the postponement of the election has worsened the high political risk.” 

  Chukwu further lamented that many companies had waited to allow the February elections end before preparing their annual plans. He expressed worries as to whether such companies would continue to wait till after the new election dates in March and April or would move on with an unprepared plan for the year.

   Using the educational institutions as examples, he said: “so many educational institutions shifted their matriculations and convocations till after February. So, with the new election dates, you can understand there is confusion and uncertainty because no one is sure if there won’t be further changes.”

  Chukwu also disclosed that some persons would benefit greatly from the election postponement.

  “As many people count their losses, resulting from the election shift, others that are involved in campaigns, as well as the youths and groups that are paid to attend campaign rallies or do radio jingles, adverts and such others will have six more weeks of extra income, so they stand to gain greatly,” he noted.

   However, a lot of people are having to shift programmes and events such as wedding ceremonies, child dedication and launching to after March and April, while 

those whose ceremonies have again clashed with the new election dates are feeling confused and unhappy.

  Chinedu Ihetuge said: “My wedding was billed for February 28, but due to the elections, I shifted it to the last week of March and we have printed our wedding cards, what do I do now? Government should please tell me.”

  Tekena Iyala, a popular comedian in Port Harcourt said of the development: “The sudden change has slowed down social events in the city. He observes that the bubbling city would be quiet this year’s Val’s Day.

  “Port Harcourt is usually hot on Valentine’s Day because it is one of the hottest cities in the country. Ordinarily by now, you would have been hearing a lot of jingles, adverts about various events for Valentine, but I have not been hearing any such thing on the radio or TV,” he said.

  Iyala explained that it takes six months to plan a good event, but that the sudden election shift would make no meaning in the planning of any good event.

   He, however, said that a few restaurants, churches and hotels have begun to fix mini programmes for Val’s Day, which may not make any difference in the already affected economy.

  Similarly, Daniel Nnoka, another entertainment expert, reasoned that the election shift has affected the entertainment industry greatly. 

  Said he: “Even the governorship election that is shifted to April 11, a week after Easter, will affect the entertainment industry again because some people who registered in the villages after travelling for the Easter may not be willing to do so again.”

  He regretted that the situation has serious negative impact on the economy, as the politicians would continue to spend for campaigns and publicity to remain in the limelight.