BEVERLY HILLS, May 28, (THEWILL) – Award-winning filmmaker, Obi Emelonye, has revealed glimpses of what the audience should expect on June 12, 2021 at Cineworld, when, ‘Badamasi: Portrait of a General’, his biopic on former President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, will stage an exclusive world premiere.
The film features Enyinna Nwigwe, Julius Agwu, Charles Inojie, Ali Nuhu, Sani Danja, and Kalu Ikeagwu amongst others.
Answering questions from journalists while inspecting the venue recently, Emelonye, whose film is recorded to be the first film in UK cinemas after the COVID-19 lockdown, stressed that the production will herald a new crave for biopics amongst African filmmakers because the film answered some troubling questions that have remained mysterious in the past 28 years when Babangida ‘stepped aside’. According to him, June 12 has become an iconic date because of the annulment of a ‘free and fair’ election and has remained a mystery because the facts of what actually transpired have not been fully captured.
“That is the highpoint of the film. It is packed with never-been-told details of what constituted June 12, 1993 political impasse. It is a mirror on the intrigues that constituted the major coups that have taken place in Nigeria as witnessed by General Babangida. What we are showing at the premiere is a piece of history told from the eyes of the active participants in these events. In researching this work, several personalities were interviewed and these facts are woven into a compelling narrative, which will be resourceful for curious minds and history buffs”.
Emelonye also highlighted that observing the COVID-19 protocol at the venue would reduce the number of guests who can actually participate in the premiere.
“We would have loved to have more guests but observing the COVID-19 protocols means we will not have as many as we would love to have”, he said.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
