Date Published: 11/25/10

"Heart of Gold" empathise's with NUJ and RATTAWU

The former president of PMAN, Bolaji Rosiji, held a solidarity march on the 22 nd of November in the LTV8 premises. The march was dedicated to the 3 days warning strike of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio and Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), who were demanding for a review of their salary.

Though the strike was later called off that same day, the solidarity protest was part of the Heart of Gold video shoot. It was attended by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise Foundation, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, Nat. President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Bar. Chris Nwokobia, a human rights activist and a representative of Femi Falana.

The video shoot event was also attended by musical artistes and Nollywood actors and actresses like Tee-Mac, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Jide Kosoko, Kanayo O Kanayo, Stella Monye, Orits Wiliki, Emeka Ani, Ngozi Nwosu, Lilian Dizzo, ArtQuake, Daddy Fresh, Eedris Abdulkareem, Skuki, Black Tribe and other contemporary artistes, as well as expatriates from France and Asia.

Rosiji’s Heart of Gold music video was directed by ace producer, DJ Tee, and is intended to induce Nigerians to love one another, give more to children, not sell their votes and shun electoral rigging.

When we spoke to the artiste, Bolaji Rosiji, he had this to say:

“We shifted the date of filming the solidarity march scene from Wednesday 24 th to Monday 22 nd so that it would coincide with the strike. I speak on behalf of the Artistes and Activists here present, that the NUJ and RATTAWU deserve all the encouragement and support they can get. The plights of journalists in Nigeria should be brought to the front burner, such as: assassinations, uncondusive working environment, low pay and sometimes no pay. As the 2011 elections draw near, we will need our journalists to be the custodians of our democracy. Let’s treat them well”.

The Heart of Gold hit single is expected to hit the public by the first week of December, 2010.