Following the controversial death of another prolific thespian in the Nigeria movie industry, Nollywood, the General Overseer of Consuming Fire Prayer Ministry, Ogba, Lagos, Pastor Sebastine Ndu, has claimed that rivalry is the cause of recurrent deaths in the Nollywood.

The clergyman, who reiterated that Nigerian actors need total deliverance against the scourge, said that the actors are being attacked by their counterparts in Ghana and South Africa.

“Nigerian actors have been outshining these people for many years and they (the foreigners) are desperate to take over. So Nollywood actors need total deliverance against all forces that may be coming from outside or within. The deaths are beyond ordinary,” Ndu stated.

In a chat with NollywoodReel, the man of God stressed that “in Hollywood and other movie sectors of the world, actors hardly die predominantly unlike it is in Nigeria and that calls for serious concern.”

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had earlier told members of the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood and entertainers at large, that for them to be fulfilled in their chosen career, they need something supernatural.

Pastor Adeboye, made this statement on Sunday, 5 June, 2011, during a special prayer service organised for practitioners of the Nigerian entertainment industry at the Throne of Grace, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, headquarters of the church.

The programme was organised in a bid to pray against sudden deaths and negative occurrences that seem to have engulfed the entertainment industry, Nollywood in particular, for some years now.

Some of the movie personalities that attended the programme include Mike Bamiloye of Mount Zion Ministry and his wife, National President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Segun Arinze, Prince Jide Kosoko and his wife, Henrietta, Wale Adenuga, Pa James, Justus Esiri, Rachael Oniga, Hakeem Rahman, Yetunde Wunmi and Esther Idowu Philips, a.k.a. Iya Rainbow.

Others were Femi Ogedengbe, Kelvin Ikeduba, Ajala Jalingo, Madam Saje, Ayo Adesanya and Bimbo Oshin, to mention a few.

During his brief sermon and prayer session for the entertainers, Pastor Adeboye acknowledged that an average actor in Nigeria is extremely talented, but hinted that without supernatural connections, they cannot have a fulfilled career.

The popular clergyman explained that “success in life requires something supernatural. Talent alone is not enough,” adding that if success is being measured by hard work, labourers in Wharf should be the most successful.

“Entertainers in Nigeria are hard working and talented, but there is something missing. David would have died unknown but for divine intervention, but unfortunately, most people turn to the devil for help,” Adeboye said.

He therefore urged Nigerian entertainers to move closer to God, stressing that He is the only one who can crown their efforts and protect them from terrible occurrences. Adeboye added that a lot of entertainers have even died unknown with their talents simply because they could not connect with the supernatural power that can make their aspirations come true.

While citing King David in the Bible as an example, he said “David was a talented singer, but for years, he was only singing for the sheep. But when the king was in trouble, he needed a good singer to pacify him and that was how someone recommended David. He later became the king despite rumblings from other people. That is the supernatural connection I am talking about.”

So far, this year alone, notable thespians like Alasari, Ashley Nwosu and Yemisi Eleto have died, the latest addition being Sam Loco Efe.- Source