In this interview with Weekly Trust, Rabo speaks on why the movie was banned, and other issues raised by the MOPPAN President. Excerpts:

Weekly Trust: Why did you ban the movie ‘Hafsah’?

Abdulkareem Rabo: The Kano State Censors Board instituted a complaint to the mobile court assigned into its activities and responsibilities against various films produced outside Kano and marketed, circulated for the consumption of Kano people such films that were not brought before this board for licensing. The law establishing the board has given the board powers to equally censor and license films produced outside Kano, but intended for, or presently marketed in the state. Therefore such kinds of films were taken before the court of law for necessary action and of course ‘Hafsah’ was part of those films, which we complained to the court that were in circulation in the market while were not licensed by this board as request or provided by the law.

WT: But the producer said you did not contact him before the issuance of the ban…

Rabo: Obviously, there’s nothing bad for a constituted authority like ours to be contacting the individuals, but rather, the individuals should contact us. In other words it is a duty bound upon them to contact a constituted authority like Kano State Censors Board.

So I am expecting an individual stakeholder in the film industry to be wise enough by not only articulating himself with the law establishing his business but also to make sure that he is conducting or transacting is a very legal business. Obviously we don’t have to contact anybody because we assume and we believe particularly the MOPPAN President knows the power of the board that all films intended be marketed in the state must be licensed by this board because that’s the provision of the law. So, even if he is ignorant, I want to tell him that ignorance is never an excuse.

WT: But Mu’azu alleged that you publicly commended the film, only to turn around and ban it. Why this contradiction?

Rabo: I can have my opinion, my views about the content of a film but that does not in anyway negate the provision of law that ought to be respected by any film item intended to be marketed in the state. Therefore whether the content of the film is okay, whether the content of the film is obscene, the issue we charged ‘Hafsah’ with is purely the issue of non-licensing. That’s all.

I could have my personal opinion. But my personal opinion about a film does not make it above the law.

If, really, I made any commendation about ‘Hafsah,’ I am sure it is on one of the songs which were in the film, because it was a kind of song which I like, mostly because it portrays an element of my culture. That notwithstanding, there are other parts of the film which are more damaging compared to what I have earlier on highlighted because there are lots of songs that are unbecoming. Also various dancing scenes which cannot be allowed for public consumption not only in Kano, but in any responsible state where government is serious about the morality of its people.

WT: Are you saying that there are certain portions contained in ‘Hafsah’ that contravene the rules and regulations governing filmmaking in Kano?

Rabo: Obviously, the first relationship that should be strictly considered by both the producer and or the marketer is to bring the film for licensing and for censoring. It was from there that the board will start scrutinizing the content of the film in order to filter all unnecessary portions from the film. But if the film was not brought to the board, there are lots of segments particularly the immoral singing and dancing contained in the film that go out for public consumption. It is a duty put upon the board to have clear understanding about a film before licensing it. This cannot be achieved without censoring the film. So, licensing and censoring a film before circulation and or marketing in Kano is our legal mandate.

WT: But the producer said there is no need for the film to be censored because the contents of the film are not restricted to Kano people alone. What can you say about this?

Rabo: I am sad to hear one of the foremost elements of filmmaking in Nigeria say that. Being the president of MOPPAN, I expect him to not only be responsible, but to be enlightened enough to respect a constituted authority like our board. However, his statement is a clear testimony to the level of ignorance in the film industry. If, to say, the National President of MOPPAN could say that, then obviously I am sorry for the film industry.

WT: The producer accused members of the board for being sycophants in the discharge of their primary assignments, which he also described as deceptive…

Rabo: I will like to use this opportunity to warn, because to libel or to defame an officer of the Censors Board, or any government-related body, cannot be condoned. We are bound to impose our rights; we are bound to impose our rights as citizens of this country.

On the issue of rendering deceptive services, I also see this allegation as ridiculous. I want the National President of MOPPAN to face reality and address issues.

If by our saying that professionalism must be respected in the film industry or if by saying that certain immoral obscenities ought to be removed from films are assumed to be deceptive, then obviously we will remain deceptive because that’s our job.

WT: The producer of ‘Hafsah’ recently dragged the Censors Board to court over what he called ‘unnecessary ban’ of his film. What are the charges he leveled against you?

Rabo: The board has been served with summons and we are very happy to be before the constituted authority — I mean the court of justice, which will make it vividly clear to each and every person that the board has a constituted power to execute or carry out its responsibilities. I am expecting the court of justice will make vividly clear that this is a concurrent legislation from which the board has the power like that of the federal agency to censor, license and filter films intended to be produced or marketed in the state.

For the National President of MOPPAN to say that the law that established the board is unconstitutional, it portrays a level of ignorance among the stakeholders of film industry, particularly those who claim to be executives of the industry.