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Tag: gay

  • Abia CAN hails Jonathan on anti-gay bill

    Abia CAN hails Jonathan on anti-gay bill

    The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State Chapter Bishop Goddy Okafor has lauded the courage of President Goodluck Jonathan to sign into law the bill that prohibits same sex marriage in the country.

    Bishop Okafor in an interview with our correspondent in Aba, said that gay practice was never supported by the major religions (Christianity, traditional and Islamic) practiced in Nigeria, describing people who are into the practice as being under a strong demonic influence.

    He said: “To us Christians, it is an abomination. That was the main reason the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by God. For us to begin practicing what we know that the creator of all the earth abhors is a rebellion against God’s word and going contrary to nature. If we must populate this earth, gay marriage should not be encouraged.

    ”If you are a man, go and look for a woman to marry. Make and raise children to give Nigeria a better future. If you are a woman, get ready, a man will come and marry you and not for you to begin to mess up with your fellow woman believing that it is just your way of life.

    “If all of us had maintained that, some of our children wouldn’t have been born. I want to thank God for the president for taking a courageous stand on what our people are not used to. The issue of gay marriage is completely strange to us here in Nigeria and must be stamped out from our dear country Nigeria.”

    Reacting on the recent cancellation of President Jonathan’s intended visit to Canada by Canadian authority and the effect it might have on Nigeria’s bi-lateral relationship with other European countries who have already expressed their displeasure over the president’s action, the CAN President said: “They are not God. Nigeria belongs to God and God will provide for Nigeria. We have always existed and the One who gave us life, the air we breathe has always been behind us. He is the sustainer of every human being on earth. So, if they feel that without them that Nigeria will be no more because they have withdrawn their support Nigerian people will die, they should go ahead and do that. That will not make us, Nigerians to accept what is not normal or strange to us as a nation.”

    Continuing, Okafor who is also, the Bishop of Peculiar People’s Church Int’l added, “For those who see that as an infringement, they need to know that this is Nigeria. They are not supposed to put their own convictions on the whole Nigerians. They need to know that yes, America, Canada, maybe UK might have adopted that, but it is not our way of life. If they want to practice that, they might as well, leave this country and go places where they would be accommodated for such. To accommodate them in Nigeria is totally unacceptable. “

    Abia CAN president while calling on Law Enforcement Agencies and the Judiciary to ensure that culprits were apprehended and punished accordingly vetoed the stipulated jail terms for the accused and people that abet gay practice in the country as was signed into law by the president, advising people addicted to gay practice to go to God in prayers in order to pray out themselves and be free from demonic possession.

    ”The 10 and 14 year jail terms for now are ok. The judiciary should be strengthened. When one or two persons are brought to justice based on this new law, others will learn their lessons. Our law enforcement agencies have a greater role to play here. So, they should stand up and do what they are supposed to do. Get people apprehended. Let the nation know that this law is in effect.

    ”People who are practicing it secretly should also secretly disengage from it. If they cry out to God in prayers for forgiveness, He will forgive them. If they meet a man of God to counsel and pray for them, they will be free from it. The problem with most people is that when they are suffering, they wouldn’t want any other person to know what they are passing through and thereby dying in silence. Let them speak out. Somebody will help them out.” Okafor advised

     

  • Anti-Gay law: US threatens to sanction Nigeria

    Anti-Gay law: US threatens to sanction Nigeria

    United States has threatened to withdraw HIV/AIDS and Anti-Malaria programmes in Nigeria over the outlawed homosexuality practice in the West African country.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had on January 7 this year signed into law the Same-Sex Prohibition Act.

    James Entwistle, US Ambassador to Nigeria reiterated the position of his country yesterday.

    US, according to Mr Entwistle is worried about “the implications of the anti-same sex marriage law which seems to restrict the fundamental rights of a section of the Nigerian population.”

    “The issue of same-sex marriage was very controversial all over the world, including within the United States where 17 states out of 50 had endorsed it, but others still reject its legality.

    “The issue that we see and I am speaking as a friend of Nigeria is that as I read the bill, it looks to me that it puts significant restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression; in my opinion which applies especially in advanced democracies, once government begins to say something in these areas, freedom no longer applies. It seems to me that this is a very worrisome precedent.”

    Practice of homosexuality is now a criminal offence which attracts 14 years imprisonment.

     

     

  • Jonathan signs same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law

    Jonathan signs same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law

    ..Gays, lesbians risk 14-year jail term

    In spite of protests from some countries, President Goodluck Jonathan has signed Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 into law.

    The assent to the bill was devoid of fanfare to reduce diplomatic tension which it may likely attract.

    Some foreign embassies were shocked by the development leading to ‘curious’ inquiries from the Federal Government. Despite the inquiries, the Federal Government said there is no going back.

    The signed bill says the gays in Nigeria will however risk a 14-year jail term if they do not retrace their steps and renounce such marriage. Also, any person who operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly will earn 10-year imprisonment. Those who administer witness, abet or aid the solemnization of a same sex marriage are going to bag 10-year jail term.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that the President assented to the Act on January 7, 2014.

    The assent note, obtained by our correspondent yesterday, reads in part: “I certify that this Bill has been carefully compared by me with the decision reached by the National Assembly and found by me to be true and correct decision of the Houses and is in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. I assent.”

    A reliable source said: “The President has signed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law. This has foreclosed any pressure on President Jonathan not to assent to the bill.

    “We received inquiries from some foreign embassies on why the bill was signed into law. But we told them that our cultural values do not tolerate same sex marriage.
    “Also, we made it clear that since most Nigerians were opposed to the bill, the parliament acted in line with the wish of the majority. We are in a democratic setting, the President has no choice than to bow to the wish of the people.

    “These embassies were shocked but there is no going back. We hope they will also abide by the decision of Nigerians.”

    The details of the new Act was obtained yesterday by our correspondent.

    The Act reads in part: “A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.

    “A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country is void in Nigeria, and any benefit accruing there-from by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law.

    “A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex shall not be sole nixed in a church, mosque or any other place of worship of Nigeria.

    “No certificate issued to persons of same sex in a marriage or civil union shall be valid in Nigeria. Only a marriage contracted between a man and a woman shall be recognized as valid in Nigeria.

    “The registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, their sustenance, processions and meetings is prohibited.

    “The public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly is prohibited.”

    The Act also provides details of the sanctions awaiting the violators of the new law.

    It adds: “A person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.

    “A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly makes public show of dame sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

    “A person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets or aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage or civil union of supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.

    “The High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain matters raiding from the breach of the provisions of this Act.”

  • The emerging gay revolution (3)

    If there is one very powerful force that affects our lives in more ways than we care to think about, it’s the media; hence the notion that the pen is mightier than the gun – it actually is. With influential media members, the gay community in the west has effectively and successfully used the media over the years to gain acceptance and sympathy and push their agenda. With the media firmly in their grip, they are now attacking the ‘last frontier’- the Church.

    As I mentioned last week, the Church in the west has already caved in. As smart as they are, they latch on the Church’s message of grace to gain acceptance leading some churches to throw their doors wide open to them without causing a change in their orientation.

    Get me right; as a Christian, I believe in the message of grace without doubt because we are all saved by grace; however, Apostle Paul in the book of Romans 6:1-3 asked a very powerful question, “…shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” He answered the question immediately; “By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

    I believe there is a strong place of responsibility in Christianity and anyone who denies this is not a true follower of Christ. This means that even though we are saved by grace, we are not to deliberately live in sin because grace abounds. That is the strong point Paul is making here. I’m so proud of the African church because it has stood its ground and said point blank that homosexuality is a sin and no amount of blackmail, I believe, will shift that rock solid Biblical position.

    When Paul writes that same-sex sex is “against nature,” he means it goes against the order of creation, as “nature” for Paul means the created order. Those who engage in sexual relations with people of the same sex are acting “against nature” in defiance of the Creator.

    Why does Paul single out homosexual intercourse here? I believe Paul does so because it so graphically reflects the way in which human rebellion against God is expressed in ways that blatantly distort the way God created things to be. When rebellious human beings “exchange” their created sexuality for same-sex intimacy, they manifestly show how sinful human beings have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25).

    The created order – the natural pattern – points toward the exclusivity of heterosexual marriage as the context for appropriate sexual intimacy. The entire Bible supports this understanding. This normativity of heterosexual marriage provides the context for the Bible’s univocally negative explicit mentions of same-sex sexual activity and orientation.

    The fact that some human beings might feel a strong sexual attraction toward people of the same sex is not to be understood as necessarily good and trustworthy. Due to the depth of the power of sin in the human heart, even our involuntary impulses may be corrupted.

    So, what does the Bible further say about it? There are six passages that refer to same-sex behaviour or lifestyle, and they are all negative. Three of them are direct and clear. In the Old Testament, in Leviticus, male same-sex relations are prohibited, and labeled an “abomination.” And in the New Testament, in Romans, Paul speaks of women “exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones,” and of men abandoning “natural relations with women and committing shameful acts with other men.”

    And so both the Old and the New Testament are consistent in their rejection of same-sex relationships. In the opening chapters of Genesis, God creates Adam and Eve, male and female. That was the original creation – before the fall, before sin entered the world. That was the way that things were supposed to be. This has led some ‘gay Christians’ to say their sexual orientation is a sign of the fall, a sign of human brokenness.

    However, the Bible is clear, both in what it negatively prohibits and in what it positively approves. Christians who are gay are thus called to refrain from acting on those attractions, to deny themselves, to take up their crosses and to follow Christ. In essence, being gay, I must reiterate here is not the unforgivable sin, God forgives our sins if we truly confess and renounce them. He knows that all of us are sinners.

    Deep in my spirit I’ve held on to the conviction that being gay has emotional and psychological roots. My conviction was confirmed when I got a call and a SMS from two ex-gay individuals who have been following this write up. They confirmed that no one is born gay. According to them, they imbibed the lifestyle while in secondary school and even continued well into adulthood. One said he was ‘forced’ to abandon the lifestyle when his parents forcefully brought him a wife at the age of 45 and remained in his house for six months. He said he had no choice but to learn how to sleep with a woman, “and today I am straight”.

    The Biblical teaching against same-sex sexual intimacy in the rest of the Bible all presupposes the Genesis portrayal of normative marriage and is consistent with that portrayal. The main reason the Bible speaks so clearly about sexual activity which does not occur within the context of opposite-sex marriage is, in my view, because illicit sexual activity is understood to be a threat to the very social foundations of the Bible’s faith communities.

    Paul’s writings reflect the creation ordering of human sexuality. A key text is Romans 1:18-32. This passage begins with a reference to idolatry as the root cause of the immorality that the verses that follow address. Paul points here to an inherent connection between idolatry and homosexuality. He singles out same-sex sexual activity because he seeks a vivid image of humankind’s primal rejection of the sovereignty of God the creator. Since God’s intent for opposite-sex marriage as the only appropriate context for sexual relationships, the denials of the exclusivity of this context implicit in same-sex relationships means rejecting God.

    I started this article with the “seven social sins” outlined by Mahatma Ghandi: politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. For the purpose of the issue at hand, I singled out knowledge without character.

    Over the years we have succeeded in raising a generation of youths who are highly knowledgeable, but lack the requisite character that a good education is supposed to imbibe, in essence, some are morally inept. That is why the anonymous caller who triggered this write up in the first place can confess that his parents gave him the best education money could buy, yet his way of repaying them is by being gay.

    Five star school have sprang up in the last decades where the emphasis is on producing “first class brains” with no form of responsibility whatsoever. What kind of leader would a ‘gentleman’ be who has never for once washed his own clothes or swept his room because his school has a laundry department? Or what kind of wife or mother would a ‘lady’ become who does not even know how to put the gas cooker on because everything was done for her? Such individuals would have all the time in the world to watch television or be on the internet 24/7 and try their hands on anything ‘fashionable’ like homosexuality. I’m not in anyway implying that have a laundry department or having some perks that makes life a bit easier is bad or wrong.

    And don’t forget – as I conclude – that most of our ‘first class brains’ are groomed for leadership positions. So, if you have such individuals as your future President, Governors or members of the National Assembly etc, what kind of a nation would we have?

     

     

     

  • No country can force gay marriage on Nigeria- FG

     

    The Federal Government has insisted that no country can force gay marriage system on Nigeria.
    It also said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru did not at any time attack gay diplomats.
    The government, which made its position known through a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said gay marriage is not part of Nigerian custom.
    The statement, signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry, Mr. O. Ode, said foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria.
    “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to stories on Gay Rights Issues and Nigeria’s position on the matter.
    “At his meeting with the Diplomatic Community on Friday 19 July the Foreign Minister in his statement read to the meeting where journalists and media executives were present said foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria.
    “While Nigeria is not against any country legalizing Gay marriages, no country should force that on Nigeria.
    “Nigeria and majority of Nigerians are against Gay rights and marriages as it is not part of our custom, religion or law.
    “At no time did the Minister made reference to gay diplomats in his statement or interview,” the ministry stated.

  • Doing it gay or straight

    British PM  should respect Nigerians’ rights on same-sex marriage

    British Prime Minister David Cameron will definitely be going off limit if he makes good his promise to meet with Nigerian authorities with a view to making them rethink the National Assembly’s position on same-sex marriage. Yes, countries can try to sway one another over certain policies or programmes that they consider inimical to their citizens or their countries, or better still, to global peace and harmony. That is part of what diplomacy is all about. And, of course, many nations have taken advantage of this vehicle to ‘talk’ to one another for their individual benefits. It is usually when diplomacy has failed that nations resort to war.

    But Prime Minister Cameron’s issue with a Nigerian legislation that is still in the works (or inchoate as we’ve come to know such since the days when Lagos State tried to create local governments a few years back), is puzzling. The National Assembly has prescribed 14 years imprisonment for same-sex marriage offenders. Those who witness, aid or abet such unions as well as those who operate gay clubs and societies, and engage in public displays of same-sex affection would be punishable by as many as 10 years jail. The House of Representatives passed the bill on May 30 while the Senate passed a similar bill in November 2011. But for the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has not assented to the bill to give it the force of law, Mr Cameron’s proposed ‘consultations’ with the Nigerian authorities would have been belated.

    We have long anticipated that signing the bill into law may draw the displeasure of the U.S. and European Union countries that are generally critical of the suppression of gay rights in Africa, so, Mr Cameron’s planned ‘consultations’ on the issue should be understood from this context. But, as we say here, wetin concern agbero with overload? I wonder how this is an issue that these foreign countries should poke their nose into. How does Nigeria’s refusal to legalise same-sex marriage affect Mr Cameron or British citizens, or the citizens of any EU nation for that matter?

    No doubt, even as we speak, homosexuality is going on in some parts of the country and it has been like that for years; but it is not a national problem. As a matter of fact, I hear it is prevalent among some of our rich people, and some have even rumoured that they use it for different kinds of rituals or fetish purposes; not for pleasure as is the case abroad. But we have not made any issue out of it all the same. One, it is not rampant; and second, it appears it has been going on among consenting persons. This is how far we can go on the matter and to this extent, those who engage in homosexuality in Nigeria also have some right; it is not as if they cannot do it at all; what we are saying is that we do not want to see them do it. And I think the rest of us who feel this way should also have our rights protected.

    Honestly, apart from the fact that none of the two dominant religions in the country sanctions the act, it is disgusting. How does a man start caressing another man before the act? I can’t imagine how repulsive it would be for a man to be touched suggestively by another man; or for a lady to be touched in a similar manner by another female. Let’s even forget religion, the point is that homosexuality is unnatural. Maybe that is why it is common in the US and in the European countries. Most of the things we see in those places, including human beings, are not the way they were at creation. Take Michael Jackson of blessed memory, for instance.

    Sorry, if I am being somewhat obscene; it is inevitable; same-sex marriage itself is obscene, ab initio. In Nigeria, nay Africa, when you see a lady with pointed boobs, you can be sure what you are seeing is for real. In climes where Mr Cameron and others fighting for legalisation of same-sex marriage come from, chances are those things had been tampered with and whatever seems to be pointed there is only a caricature of the original. As usual, the whites have a way of giving those things some highfalutin names to make them attractive. For example, cosmetic surgical procedure for reducing the size of large breasts is fancifully called mammoplasty. In Nigeria, we knew little of tummy tuck until a few years back.

    The point I am making is that if permissiveness (or is it over-permissiveness?) has made America and Europe to disconnect from Mother Nature, thus making them to gladly embrace homosexuality, they are the ones that need to return to source; not the other way round. Nigeria is blessed with beautiful ladies of all shades and sizes; and for real. The same goes for handsome men. These may be in short supply in Britain because most of their ladies look one kind and this may explain why some of their men prefer hanging out with our girls that are in hot demand all over Europe. It is when men, as lovers of variety, cannot have access to such beauty of beauties that they start thinking of hanging out with men like them, and vice versa.

    Here, it used to be an abomination for people who were not legally or traditionally married to ‘know’ one another; that is gone because we’ve imbibed the wrong values. And that was something done between a male and a female. To now think of man doing it with man and woman doing it with woman! Haba, that is not only abominable, it is repulsive. It is alien to our culture. Is Mr Cameron aware of what they call ethnocentricity? Does it mean that Mr Cameron’s hands are not full to be thinking of such mundane ‘consultations’? If he wants to help his Nigerian counterpart, there are more serious areas of need where he can be useful. We still don’t have light; security remains a serious challenge; there is youth unemployment, etc. We do not need ‘consultations’ on same-sex marriage.

    Anyway, as Nigerian authorities warm up for Mr Cameron’s proposed ‘consultations’, they should be ready to let the British PM know that his country is the one that needs deliverance, not Nigeria, at least as far as same-sex marriage is concerned. Maybe we should even let him come over to have a feel of our hospitality to fully appreciate the point I am making. When he comes over, we should put at his service some of our girls from any of the fattening rooms in Calabar, to let Mr Cameron see what Nature is all about. I have no doubt that his opinion on the matter would no longer be the same by the time he returns to Britain. Or, how would the Britons feel when their Prime Minister returns after the ‘consultations’ to say something like ” em, em, at some point, the Nigerians seem to be making sense”?

    Honestly, thanks, but no thanks, Mr Cameron. We prefer the way we are and Britain should please recognise the fact that we are at liberty to do that. We are more interested in reclaiming our lost innocence; I do not know how legalisation of same-sex marriage can do that for us. If Britons want it gay, we prefer it straight. We don’t want to be part of the impending curse of the danger down below.

     

  • Emeka Ike takes stand on gay marriage

    Emeka Ike takes stand on gay marriage

    FIERY Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, who is on self-imposed sabbatical from the industry, recently took a stand against legalising gay marriage in the country at Vchannel Celebrity Night Out at Troy Lounge in Lagos.

    Emeka, while fielding questions from Vchannel presenters, said Nigeria should not follow the footsteps of United Kingdom (UK) that legalised same-sex marriage recently. ‘Knowing our penchant for ‘copying’ others I want to plead with Nigerians not to encourage same-sex marriage. I don’t hate gays but I don’t support gay marriage either. God does not want it, our culture forbids it. We should not encourage what is not right. This is about defending whatever is left of our culture. Nigeria should not go the way of UK, we are people of culture. I want our legislators to stick to their guns and not legalise what will be eroding our culture and make us a godless people.’

    He also spoke about family, acting and the lingering AGN crisis. Actors Chidi Mokeme and Yomi Fash-Lanso were at the event to support one of their own.

    Vchannel’s ‘Celebrity Night Out’ holds every other Friday with a major celebrity as guest. He will be put on the hot seat to answer questions from presenters of the cable channel and audience. He will then club till late night with friends and fans at the popular mainland hangout, Troy.

  • I can never play a gay role

    I can never play a gay role

    OC Ukeje appeared on the scene after he won the second edition of the highly-reputable Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) in 2007. His first movie, White Waters, received rave reviews and launched him into mainstream acting. However, since his debut in 2007, Nollywood seems not to have seen the best of OC.

    In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the actor, who starred in Two Brides and a Baby, reveals the real reason he is yet to assume the ‘big boy’ status in Nollywood. He also speaks on his hopes for 2013.

     

    YOU were part of the group for a stage production at the last Olympics. Tell us about your experience?

    I actually started acting on stage from 2001 in the university.

    Which school was that, and what did you study?

    I schooled at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). And I studied Marine Sciences. So while I was doing Marine Sciences, I was also doing stage plays. I did a small play which was seen by an organisation called ‘Rhythm of a Blackman’. They later invited me over. That was how it all started. For four years, I was with them until they disbanded the group. At first, they wanted me to play a small part which required me playing Omo Oba. Eventually, they said to me, ‘you know what? You will play Omo Oba and you will play the King. We will do you up’. And after they disbanded the group, I started doing independent stage productions. I graduated in 2005, and the next thing was how to get into the mainstream and start doing stage and screen together. But I’ve always been doing stage plays.

    Why did you study Marine Science?

    Well, there was a time in my life, believe it or not, I wanted to do Medicine or nothing. Honestly, it was going to be Medicine and Surgery. But after the first year, they gave me Microbiology; I started studying it because I wasn’t getting younger. Initially, I wanted to go to the University of Ibadan (UI), and there was a problem with changing… But somehow my name came out in UNILAG. Again, JAMB in Abuja didn’t rectify it. So when it was time to give me Matric Number, they didn’t give me, so we had that whole back-and-forth. Eventually, I decided to leave, write JAMB again. This time, I got Marine Sciences, and I thought to myself, just study it. But all along, I was doing music as well.

    Really?

    If I did say so myself, I will do it well. And this was part of the reason for the movie Hoodrush. It was a musical and they needed people who could sing. So it was easy to cast me. As I was saying, at that time, when the opportunity to act came up, I tried it.

    Can you recall how it all started?

    I finished school in 2005. I did my youth service programme in 2006. That same year I heard about the 2nd audition of AMBO. My friends thought I should try. I was skeptical, but eventually I gave in and I won it. The first movie, White Waters, came out, and it made some rave reviews. So that really put me on the right path. But with that, I was still doing stage anytime it came up.

    You said that AMBO helped put you out there. But like most of your fans, I expected you to have gone beyond this level now. It’s as if you’ve relaxed…

    Here’s the thing, it wasn’t that I relaxed. You win the competition; you are signed to them for one year, meaning for one year, you can’t do anything. So the whole of 2007 I wasn’t working, I couldn’t work. And we shot that movie in 2007, it came out in 2008. But even after it came out, apparently in Nigeria, winning a reality TV show doesn’t guarantee anything. You win a reality TV show, and at the end of the day; you still have to figure a way to get into the mainstream. Which was where the problem was, and then I did my best to get in touch with directors, producers and everybody, but they all wanted to know what you’ve done.

    Some people think, ‘yeah, you’ve done one movie; it was good; it doesn’t mean you are an actor’. Only one or two people who had seen me do one or two things gave me an opportunity. So between 2008 and 2009, I did a total of only three movies. But when I was going for my training in 2009, I said if I go and do this workshop and I come back and nothing changes, then I know that I have tried my best for acting here.

    And you were going to call it quit. What other thing would you have done?

    I had no idea what I was going to switch over to. Just that I know that I have tried.

    Truly, were you going to call it quit?

    Well, maybe. But you know how some people would call you and if you are available, you do it. But largely, the amount of time and attention I had put into it, I decided if I got there and I came back and nothing happened, then I will just change or look for something else. Plus lots of people were saying, ‘OC are you sure this is what you want to do? It will be difficult. Are you sure? How many jobs have you done? See what your mates are doing?’ But luckily I came back and things did change.

    You said you also sing. When it seemed acting was not working for you, why didn’t you plunge into music?

    I’ve been recording different materials. And there are quite a number of people I’ve known as friends. In fact, I’ve been recording with Cobhams since when we just finished secondary school. And people like Don Jazzy; we finished from secondary school together. When Don Jazzy came back to Nigeria, he came to UNILAG. He came to see most of us that went to school together. And we knew what he wanted to do. The thing is that everyone has the way they are running their own life and you need to figure out how you fit in.

    So I was recording materials. But here’s the thing, music is more difficult to plunge into because you spend a lot of money. You have to get to the studio to record. You have to get to radio stations to see DJ’s. You have to do all of that. And then, at that the end of the day, you have to shoot video and let people see. So it costs you a lot of money to do that. But with acting, you just come do what you have to do, you get paid and then you do what you want with the money. So to plunge into music, people like Cobhams were friends, so they do it for you. But even if you record it, you now have to cross the hurdles of getting it on radio and circulating it. That’s why it wasn’t easy to just plunge into it.

    What particular training did you go for in 2009?

    It was an acting workshop at the New York Film Academy. But I went to their Los Angeles campus because of Hollywood, I just wanted to see the place. I was there for eight weeks and I took an extra month just to look around town and get a feel of what their industry was like. But after I was done with that, I actually met Jeta Amata there. It was when we were doing the workshop that I met Dimeji, the director of Hoodrush. He was studying filmmaking at that time. And then the movie I did with Jeta Amata, Black November, it was from there that he kind of already figured it out that he would put me in the movie. And I came back and we shot that with Hakeem Kae Kazeem, and the likes, and the movie grew further from there. And then, people started calling me for projects and things started changing. So now, we are getting a bit of limelight again.

    You have this look of a quiet, reserved man. Do you socialise at all?

    Well, the truth is, I know that people can miss-understand that. I’m not exactly the quiet or reserved person. It’s just that it took some time to try and understand the industry that I was working in. A lot of people are making sacrifices that I’m not sure I can do you know. Those are things you have to think about. And obviously, some people want to know how badly you want this thing. But I have my values. I have my own principles. And I don’t think everything in life is a do-or-die affair.

    So you have to decide how much further you can push. As far as hard work and all that is concerned, I’m more than willing to make sure that I push my best because it has always worked for me. But I mean, people paying stiffer prices and doing…I’m not sure I can do stuffs like that. So people can misunderstand that. And then generally, I’m a kind of guy who probably will be lying in his room, watching a movie with my laptop, as opposed to what’s happening. But then again, for the kinds of job we do, we already have a lot of functions that call you out. So I already do that. But as a person, I would probably just be at home. But normally, people invite you for all sorts of things. There is always after parties, and I’m almost always doing that.

    For someone whose value comes first above anything else. It appears you do other things that fetch you money…

    Well, the thing that has managed to keep me, especially in those years when I was not exactly doing movies, was performing as MC at events. I used to do that when I was in the university. And I remember the first professional one I did. And after that, I did a wedding, somebody gives me his card at the wedding, and said: ‘call me’. It turns out that his daughter was getting married to Mike Aigbe’s son.

    That must have been a juicy deal?

    It was supposed to be a juicy deal, but I wasn’t hired by Aigbe. I was hired by the bride’s father. But I mean, it kept going on like that. This was TBS, and I was doing with Sony Irabor. And I was like, ‘okay that means this thing can actually work’. I’ve been doing this for weddings, award ceremonies, fashion shows and so on.

    Yes I remember, you actually emceed one of the editions of AMAA alongside Jimmy John Louis, and it was brilliant. There was so much chemistry between you.

    First of all, I thank people who have gone ahead of me, but can manage to remain level-headed. I thank them for those things. For example, when I did the wedding with Sony Irabor, I was scared, because this was Sony Irabor. But when he came, he sat down and said, ‘what do we have?’ We looked at the programme together, and he said, ‘okay, this is what you will do. I don’t think we should do this. We should rule this out.’ And then when we started, and he said, ‘today I’m emceeing with blablabla. That gave me the time to say my thing.

    And with Jimmy, when we met, we got along quite easily. And then we did quite a number of rehearsals before the show. For me, those things are important, especially because we didn’t know each other from Adam. But I mean, it was good for him not to come with any ego. Jimmy was straight forward, simple, easy to work with, and I was very glad about that. And I think we did well.

    Back to your acting career, now that there seems to be a kind of stability in the industry, when should we expect you at the very top of the ladder?

    I know that a lot of people have been wondering what I have been up to. But it’s amazing how it’s only two movies now that are officially out. Since 2007, I’ve had only one movie out, White Waters. It wasn’t until last year that they premiered Two Brides and a Baby. And then it came out on DVD. So in all this time I’ve been around. So people have been wondering, but I’ve been working. This year alone, Hoodrush is going to come out. There is another one called The Visitors, which I shot in 2009. It’s going to come out. There is Alanposer, which I shot late last year.

    There is Black November, which I shot with Jeta Amata. He plans to release it this year. There is The Awaken, also planned for release in November. This year too I shot a part of Half of a Yellow Sun. So, it’s just beginning. Things are just really starting. I mean, it’s been quite many years. People are wondering what I’m doing. There is also The Rubicon that I shot in the UK earlier this year. They were hoping they will premiere this year, but we don’t know yet.

    I mean if you have five movies this year, you’ve not done badly. And there is Half of a Yellow Sun for 2013 already. So I just know that it’s just the beginning. All the years of silence are just about to start paying off.

    You have a resemblance with Chiwetel Ejiofor, I’m sure you must have heard that several times…

    I have heard this statement a lot of times. I actually played his cousin in a movie recently. When I initially heard he was part of the movie, I was excited because people have said; ‘maybe your career is going towards the line of ChiweteI.’ I was initially auditioning for the role of his house boy. And I read the script, and I knew that it was written from their perspective.

    But when they pulled the list, because of all my beards and all that, I got the role to play his cousin. It was a small role. But I was more than willing to do it because I knew they were not going to yank it from the movie. And also, in the scene there were Chiwetel Ejiofor , Thandie Newton and Onyeka Onwenu who plays his mother. I mean, you couldn’t ask for anything better than that. We got on set, and I met him. We shot the scenes; and everybody was really nice, really easy. It went really well.

    I’m sure your patience is really paying off.

    All those years of silence are really beginning to open up now, and I’m grateful for that. I have senior colleagues who have wondered, ‘OC, are you sure about this thing you are doing?’ Then, I looked like a crazy person. But when you start seeing how things are unfolding now, then it’s only a matter of time before the more sensible ones begin to happen. So I know that people are saying, ‘see what Joseph Benjamin is doing. OC what are you doing?’ But everyone is running their own course. I know the difference between Joseph and I. But I’m worried because here is the thing. When I’m forty-five I will still be looking young. So I can play some younger roles.

    You played the lead alongside Gabriel Afolayan in Hoodrush. What was it like?

    It’s easy to cast both of us. Gabriel is someone I know, I’ve seen him do stuff. He’s a very serious actor. So I didn’t think we were going to have any problem. And he’s a singer as well, a very good singer.

    What about Bimbo Akintola, who was also in the movie?

    Bimbo I had known for many years. But we had never worked together. I’d met her. She was one of the judges when I was in the AMBO House. Working with her now wasn’t going to be anything difficult. Plus, she was also on the shoot to the UK for the stage play. So working with Bimbo wasn’t a problem.

    How far can you go with acting?

    I cannot play gay.

    Not even if the money is right?

    Truth is, I’ve seen gay roles where they didn’t have to do anything serious. But they just lead you towards it; you realise they are supposed to be partners. I can consider that, but detailed…I can’t.

    Tell us about love life as a celebrity.

    Well I’m generally a one-woman person.