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Tag: Kenneth Okonkwo

  • Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party amid leadership crisis

    Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party amid leadership crisis

    Former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his resignation from the party, effective February 25, 2025.

    Okonkwo cited a leadership crisis and internal conflicts within the party as reasons for his departure.

    In his statement on his official Instagram handle, Okonkwo expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support during the 2023 presidential election.

    He criticized the party’s current state, describing it as “non-existent” due to the expiration of ward, local government, and state party executives’ tenures.

    The statement reads: “11th February 2025 to all Nigerians of goodwill, “Resignation from Labour party.

    Read Also: Offering didn’t buy our first aircraft, God bought it – Bishop David Oyedepo

    “I thank, most sincerely, all Nigerians of goodwill for the immense support given to us during the 2023 presidential election in which Nigerians believed our message for a new Nigeria and voted for us across ethnic and religious lines. We were the only party that had a 25% foothold in all six Geo-Political Zones and the Federal Capital Territory. I believe that we won the election under the Labour Party with your support but were denied the victory through a technical glitch.

    “2. By 25th February 2025, it will be two years since we had the 2023 presidential election and will be two years before the next presidential election. It’s a democratic convention worldwide that effective political consultations, alignments, and re-alignments commence two years before the next election. Unfortunately, the Labour Party, as presently constituted, is not in a position to be part of that political force that will determine the political future of Nigeria.

    “3. For the avoidance of doubt, the Labour Party is non-existent as presently constituted. In the Constitution of the Labour Party, the tenure of the ward, local government, and state party executives is three years (See Article 15(2)(3)(4) of the Labour Party Constitution). Having conducted no congresses at these levels within the constitutionally allowed tenure of the executives, their regimes have effectively expired.

    “4. The former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his former National Working Committee, having conducted no national convention known to the law, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the courts have held that the issue of the leadership of a political party is the internal affair of a political party for which the courts do not have the jurisdiction to entertain, there’s no effective leadership of Labour Party at the national level.

    “5. The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which was duly and legally set up by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party, after the non-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC, and was given six months to conduct Congresses and the convention, was the only viable option towards salvaging the Labour Party.

    “6. Unfortunately, Abure and his colleagues, with the collaboration of outside forces, expectedly, being political jobbers, launched unnecessary legal challenges against this Caretaker Committee that have inhibited it from functioning. It’s more than six months after the inauguration of the Committee, and the Committee has not even taken off, leading many to conclude that the objective of these politicians of bread and butter with their outside collaborators is to bog down the serious members of Labour Party with frivolous and unnecessary litigation till the 2027 election is over. Isn’t it curious that a national executive of a political party whose elected members are defecting every day to other parties, and who cannot wage legal battles to recover these seats for their party, is waging ferocious legal battles to maintain their destructive, choking hold on the party?

    “7. It’s obvious that Abure is not interested in the survival of the Labour Party as he is interested in the survival of his pocket. If he is interested in the emergence of a southern candidate in the Labour Party to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, going by the convention of having a northern national chairman of a party and a southern presidential candidate of the same party, whenever going into election, the first thing he would have done is to cede the position of national chairman to the North since the party is interested in fielding a presidential candidate from the South. This was the suggestion of people like us who are genuinely interested in the survival and flourishing of the Labour Party. Nigerians, especially the North, may have overlooked the combination of both the national chairman and presidential candidate from the south in 2023 because of the peculiarities of the time but will not overlook it in 2027, because we have had the time to prepare for the 2027 elections.

    “8. Having not done this, it’s obvious that Abure and his gang simply want to use some of the presidential candidates from southern origin as cash cows to yield money for them without any serious intention of making the party viable for them for any serious competitive election in 2027, confirming the belief in most quarters that they are surreptitiously working for the victory of the ruling party. I pity any prospective southern presidential candidate who still believes there’s a political future for him in an Abure-led Labour Party. Such a person is simply displaying a lack of knowledge of the political realities of modern-day Nigeria.

    “9. I have never been double-faced in my life. I have never betrayed any cause I set out to fight for. My entrance to politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work for it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country of incorruptible men. This aim can no longer be realised within the Labour Party as presently constituted. Since the party is non-existent as presently constituted, I am constrained to resign my membership of the party to all Nigerians of goodwill who supported us when we needed them most and to pledge my continued loyalty to the Nigerian people in all I will decide to do in my political future.

    “10. This resignation takes effect from the 25th of February, 2025, which marks the second anniversary of the presidential election of 2023, after which I will be at liberty to join other well-meaning, and likeminded Nigerians in charting a great future of good governance for this great country blessed by God. Thank you, and God bless. Your servant, Kenneth Okonkwo.”

  • Kenneth Okonkwo dumps LP, Peter Obi

    Kenneth Okonkwo dumps LP, Peter Obi

    Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has dumped the Labour Party (LP).

    Okonkwo, one of the spokespersons for the party’s presidential campaign council in last year’s elections, also announced that he was parting ways with LP’s erstwhile presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

    Okonkwo had defected to LP on August 24, 2022, one month after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the latter’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    The 55-year-old, at the time, said he joined LP to promote good governance and the vision for a new Nigeria.

    Announcing his estrangement with Obi, Okonkwo said he no longer had confidence that the erstwhile LP presidential candidate could build a party that would defeat those he called kakistocrats and kleptocrats.

    He said Nigeria needs a decisive leader who should demonstrate enough selflessness to secure victory at the polls.

    Okonkwo also said he was searching for a leader with integrity, charisma, and bravery to mobilise the people for him to get electoral victory.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party, part ways with Peter Obi

    The former thespian said he remained committed, irreversibly, to seeing a great Nigeria that would be built on equity, justice and fairness.

    Okonkwo has been critical of LP’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by its chairman, Julius Abure.

    Last month, he described the LP as “a secret society led by a group of clowns,” adding that he could not rule out leaving the party.

    In a statement published in his X handle on Saturday, the erstwhile LP chieftain said the recent happenings in the party “inspired” him to “a determination to chart a new course for my political journey”.

    He said: “I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi. I am always 100 per cent loyal to a leader wherever I am working or following the leader. At any time I have doubts and can no longer offer 100 per cent loyalty to him, I will respectfully let him know.

    “When I joined …his campaign, now that I cannot guarantee my support for his future aspirations, I believe I owe it to everyone to let everyone know…”

  • UPDATED: Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party, part ways with Peter Obi

    UPDATED: Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party, part ways with Peter Obi

    Actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has dumped the Labour Party (LP).

    Okonkwo, one of the spokespersons for the Labour Party presidential campaign council in the 2023 elections, also announced he is parting ways with Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate.

    Recall Okonkwo had defected to LP on 24 August 2022, one month after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the party’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket.

    The 55-year-old, at the time said he joined LP to promote good governance and a new Nigeria.

    According to him, he no longer have confidence that Peter Obi have what it takes to build a party that can win Kakistocrats and Kleptocrats.

    He noted that Nigeria needs a decisive leader who is selfless enough to secure victory.

    Furthermore, he said he is searching for a leader who has integrity, charisma and bravery to mobilise people to sustain victory.

    He, however stressed that he is committed, irreversibly, to a great Nigeria built on equity, justice and fairness.

    Recently, Okonkwo has been critical of the national working committee (NWC) of the LP led by Julius Abure, chairman of the party.

    In June 2024, Okonkwo described the LP as “a secret society led by a group of clowns”, adding that he could not rule out leaving the party.

    Read Also: Governing council chair lauds Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for lifting education, institutional growth

    In a statement published on his X handle on Saturday, the LP chieftain said the recent happenings in the party have “inspired” him to “a determination to chart a new course for my political journey”.

    He said: “I have decided to continue my political journey into the great Nigeria of our vision without Peter Obi. I am always 100% loyal to a leader wherever I am working or following the leader. At any time I have doubts and can no longer offer 100% loyalty to him, I will respectfully let him know.

    ”When I joined myself to his campaign, now that I can not guarantee my support for his future aspirations, I believe I owe it to everyone to let everyone know.

    ”With this declaration, I am free to embark on negotiation and consultation with every like-minded people to determine the next step in my political journey, which does not include joining APC or PDP for now, but includes, and not limited to the consolidation of Labour Party.

    ”We need a solid political party with a solid grassroots base to be able to wrestle power from these kakistocrats and kleptocrats.

    ”We, therefore, need a decisive leader who will be able to build such a party of integrity and character from the grassroots, because eventually, the majority of the people that will populate a government will proceed from the political party of the leader.”

  • JUST IN: Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party, blasts Peter Obi

    JUST IN: Kenneth Okonkwo dumps Labour Party, blasts Peter Obi

    Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has left the party.

    Okonkwo, who joined the LP in 2022, announced his decision in a statement on his X handle.

    He cited the party’s failure to inspire the kind of leadership needed to address Nigeria’s challenges as his reason for leaving. 

    Read Also: ‘How Nigeria can benefit from over $100bn green climate fund’

    Okonkwo also expressed disappointment that the LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not do enough to strengthen the party and resolve its leadership issues.

    “I no longer have confidence that Peter Obi has what it takes to build a party capable of defeating these kakistocrats and kleptocrats. Even if people vote for him, he has shown he cannot secure the mandate,” he said.

  • Wike’s acceptance of appointment under APC shows PDP is dead, says Kenneth Okonkwo

    Wike’s acceptance of appointment under APC shows PDP is dead, says Kenneth Okonkwo

    Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesman for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has slammed Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for accepting a position in the administration of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to him, Wike’s actions indicate that the minister’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is no longer significant in Nigerian politics.

    He made this statement in an interview with Arise TV following a comment by the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi.

    Obi had recently said that his party would continue to cement its “new role as the country’s main opposition party.”

    To safeguard Nigerian interests, Obi said, the Labour Party will stay solidly in opposition and keep the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes.

    Emphasising Obi’s comments, Okonkwo said that given that the LP was the only opposition with a strong agenda ahead of the 2023 general elections and its winning of 25% in all the six geopolitical zones, it had cemented its opposition as the main opposition party.

    Following Obi’s remarks, Okonkwo emphasized that the LP had solidified its place as the primary opposition party since it was the only opposition with a coherent platform ahead of the general elections in 2023 and had achieved a 25% victory in each of the six geographical zones.

    He said: “To take you back to the time of the campaigns, you may remember that Peter Obi was the only person who crafted the seven-point agenda that all the other parties were copying from, albeit doing a terrible job at it.

    “You may remember he was the one who came out as a candidate and defended his agenda which included security and uniting the country.

    Read Also: Onoh hits Kenneth Okonkwo over attacks on Tinubu

    “If you checked all these people (the presidential candidates), you would realize that they were simply copying from him without learning the routes he wanted to achieve those things.

    “Apart from knowing exactly what he wanted, he had the commensurate competence, capacity, and character to thrive, which are lacking in the other candidates.

    “So that’s why he’s now saying we are the main opposition party. So he has earned the accolade of being the main opposition leader. And I will tell you that he will do it effectively well pending when Nigeria would realize the dream of a new nation through him.

    “And in all honesty, PDP is not in existence in the political realm of Nigeria. Because let’s take an example of what is happening in the PDP.

    “A presidential aspirant of the PDP (Wike) who was the first runner-up during the presidential primary election of the party, and who vowed that he would never leave the party no matter what is now a minister in the APC, telling you that PDP has been absorbed by the APC.”

  • Why I can’t live a normal life – VETERAN ACTOR KENNETH OKONKWO

    With over two decades in the movie industry, Kenneth Okonkwo has carved a niche for himself. The actor-cum-politician and lawyer, who is currently working on a sequel of the 1992 blockbuster, Living in Bondage, speaks with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN on his political ambition and other issues. Excerpts…

    WHAT projects are you working on now?

    I am trying to be the governor of Enugu State. That is the project I am working on now. I am trying to contest for the governorship of Enugu State under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Then of course, I am a movie guy, so there must always be a movie on ground and we are also trying to remake Living In Bondage so that I will finally break free.

    What inspired your political ambition?

    That is because we are in democracy and democracy should be for everybody. Everybody might not be in power at the same time but everybody should be in politics because you should decide what should influence your life. The leadership of any nation influences the life of everybody and so everybody should be in politics. However, I have been politically active throughout my life. From my university days, I was the Secretary General for the Society for the Advancement of Business Management. When I was at the University of Lagos doing my masters, I was the president of the Society of International Law and Diplomacy. So I have always been in politics and like I said earlier, I do the things that I am passionate about and that’s why I come out with determination.

    What came to your mind when you were contacted for the remake of Living in Bondage?

    What came to my mind was that they want to repackage what started Nollywood and fit it in to the modern environment of movie world and I thought it was fantastic because a lot of people were not born 26 years ago.

    Do you think movie lovers will get what they got from this movie 26years ago?

    Well, if you get what you got 26years ago, then we have done nothing. We are saying that you will get at least five times better than what you got then and I have told you that I have gotten at least five times better than I was then. So, you are going to get a better story. A lot of things we did then we were in shadows but now a lot of them are going to be in substance. You will get something fantastic, something explosive, something beautiful, something that is going to be the 21st century Nollywood because we did the first one in the 20th century What are the things you consider before accepting a movie role?

    I consider first and foremost the story. There has to be a strong message. I rate my story into three; one, it is beyond redemption (the plot is bad, the dialogue is bad.) I won’t even look at it. Two, the plot is fantastic, the dialogue is not good, I can look at that; if they are going to give me the freedom to remold it, it is redeemable. When we started Living in Bondage, it was in a plot form, so we have become used to being able to remold a good plot, even if it doesn’t have good dialogue but I’m going to take that one conditionally.

    Then the third one, the plot is good and the dialogue is fantastic. That one, I do not even want any actor to change anything without permission because it’s just beautiful so that one I will accept it and even in that one, I am ready to make concessions even in terms of price because I will be enjoying it without doing much. So I consider the story, the cast and crew, the costume, the makeup. I don’t mind working with new artistes but they have to be good because we started it and I cannot discriminate against new artistes. I don’t have that mentality of ‘it has to be an old artiste’. That is why most of my movies bring out new artistes but the person has to be good. The person that brought me out through Living in Bondage, I never met the man before then.

    Okonkwo
    Okonkwo

    I also consider the role. The role has to be good. People want to feel my impact. If I come into a movie and I’m done in two scenes they will be like they are duped. I remember one movie I made that I died in the first scene, so one artiste that acted with me said she had problems convincing the brothers to sit down and watch the remaining because they were like Kenneth Okonkwo is dead now, what else are we watching? And I am also interested in the payment.

    You were 24 when you acted in Living in Bondage and it is 26 years after and you are still very much active in the movie industry. Have you ever lived a normal life?

    I thought I was going to have a normal life. By my nature, I just want to be me but I am sorry it’s not just possible. I will give you an instance that really proved it’s not possible anymore. Somebody drove very roughly and I had to drive to counter the roughness and park right in front of him to stop him; then I thought the guy was going to come out but he just came down and was knocking on my glass laughing, looked at me and said ‘if I’m crazy, are you supposed to join us in the craze?’

    It taught me a lot of lesson because he wasn’t arguing that he was crazy, but this is a man he was looking up to as a model. That means if he is crazy he should be looking at this kind of a man to stop being crazy, but look at this man that has come to his level. So I was ashamed of myself there and I resolved, okay, I am now living my life because some other people are looking to take their bearing. So even when they start getting crazy, I should not be crazy.

    We’ve seen some celebrities vying for top political positions but have failed… what are your fears?

    I have no fear. The slogan is: ‘When Jesus says yes, no man can say No.’ I am going to win by the grace of God if everything is down the way it is supposed to be and I know it will. You may just be talking to the next governor of Enugu State. I have no fear.

    Will you leave acting for politics?

    Thank God acting is a job. One politician in Enugu State said one of his conditions for supporting me is that I must continue acting because he is my fan and the beauty of acting is that it does not have any retirement age. So I am an actor. I cannot say I will never leave it because ‘Never belongs to God.’ So it depends on the will of God but just know that I am an actor for life.

  • Why I can’t live a normal life –VETERAN ACTOR KENNETH OKONKWO

    With over two decades in the movie industry, Kenneth Okonkwo has carved a niche for himself. The actor-cum-politician and lawyer, who is currently working on a sequel of the 1992 blockbuster, Living in Bondage, speaks with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN on his political ambition and other issues. Excerpts…

    What projects are you working on now?

    I am trying to be the governor of Enugu State. That is the project I am working on now. I am trying to contest for the governorship of Enugu State under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Then of course, I am a movie guy, so there must always be a movie on ground and we are also trying to remake Living In Bondage so that I will finally break free.

    What inspired your political ambition?

    That is because we are in democracy and democracy should be for everybody. Everybody might not be in power at the same time but everybody should be in politics because you should decide what should influence your life. The leadership of any nation influences the life of everybody and so everybody should be in politics. However, I have been politically active throughout my life. From my university days, I was the Secretary General for the Society for the Advancement of Business Management. When I was at the University of Lagos doing my masters, I was the president of the Society of International Law and Diplomacy. So I have always been in politics and like I said earlier, I do the things that I am passionate about and that’s why I come out with determination.

    What came to your mind when you were contacted for the remake of Living in Bondage?

    What came to my mind was that they want to repackage what started Nollywood and fit it in to the modern environment of movie world and I thought it was fantastic because a lot of people were not born 26 years ago.

    Do you think movie lovers will get what they got from this movie 26years ago?

    Well, if you get what you got 26years ago, then we have done nothing. We are saying that you will get at least five times better than what you got then and I have told you that I have gotten at least five times better than I was then. So, you are going to get a better story. A lot of things we did then we were in shadows but now a lot of them are going to be in substance. You will get something fantastic, something explosive, something beautiful, something that is going to be the 21st century Nollywood because we did the first one in the 20th century.

    What are the things you consider before accepting a movie role?

    I consider first and foremost the story. There has to be a strong message. I rate my story into three; one, it is beyond redemption (the plot is bad, the dialogue is bad.) I won’t even look at it. Two, the plot is fantastic, the dialogue is not good, I can look at that; if they are going to give me the freedom to remold it, it is redeemable. When we started Living in Bondage, it was in a plot form, so we have become used to being able to remold a good plot, even if it doesn’t have good dialogue but I’m going to take that one conditionally.

    Then the third one, the plot is good and the dialogue is fantastic. That one, I do not even want any actor to change anything without permission because it’s just beautiful so that one I will accept it and even in that one, I am ready to make concessions even in terms of price because I will be enjoying it without doing much. So I consider the story, the cast and crew, the costume, the makeup. I don’t mind working with new artistes but they have to be good because we started it and I cannot discriminate against new artistes. I don’t have that mentality of ‘it has to be an old artiste’. That is why most of my movies bring out new artistes but the person has to be good. The person that brought me out through Living in Bondage, I never met the man before then.

    I also consider the role. The role has to be good. People want to feel my impact. If I come into a movie and I’m done in two scenes they will be like they are duped. I remember one movie I made that I died in the first scene, so one artiste that acted with me said she had problems convincing the brothers to sit down and watch the remaining because they were like Kenneth Okonkwo is dead now, what else are we watching? And I am also interested in the payment.

    You were 24 when you acted in Living in Bondage and it is 26 years after and you are still very much active in the movie industry. Have you ever lived a normal life?

    I thought I was going to have a normal life. By my nature, I just want to be me but I am sorry it’s not just possible. I will give you an instance that really proved it’s not possible anymore. Somebody drove very roughly and I had to drive to counter the roughness and park right in front of him to stop him; then I thought the guy was going to come out but he just came down and was knocking on my glass laughing, looked at me and said ‘if I’m crazy, are you supposed to join us in the craze?’

    It taught me a lot of lesson because he wasn’t arguing that he was crazy, but this is a man he was looking up to as a model. That means if he is crazy he should be looking at this kind of a man to stop being crazy, but look at this man that has come to his level. So I was ashamed of myself there and I resolved, okay, I am now living my life because some other people are looking to take their bearing. So even when they start getting crazy, I should not be crazy.

    We’ve seen some celebrities vying for top political positions but have failed… what are your fears?

    I have no fear. The slogan is: ‘When Jesus says yes, no man can say No.’ I am going to win by the grace of God if everything is down the way it is supposed to be and I know it will. You may just be talking to the next governor of Enugu State. I have no fear.

    Will you leave acting for politics?

    Thank God acting is a job. One politician in Enugu State said one of his conditions for supporting me is that I must continue acting because he is my fan and the beauty of acting is that it does not have any retirement age. So I am an actor. I cannot say I will never leave it because ‘Never belongs to God.’ So it depends on the will of God but just know that I am an actor for life.

  • Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo to contest Enugu guber

    Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo to contest Enugu guber

    Ahead of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, has thrown his hat into the ring for the position of Enugu State governor.

    The ‘Living In Bondage’ star declared his ambition over the weekend under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Enugu with the immediate past governor of the state, Sullivan Chime, in attendance.

    “I just declared my intention to contest for the Governorship candidate of APC in Enugu State,” Okonkwo who is also a lawyer, announced on his Instagram page on Sunday.

    “It was heartwarming to receive the blessings of the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Gov Sullivan Chime. To God be the glory.”

    Born in Nsukka, Enugu on November 6, 1968, Okonkwo was one of actors that pioneered Nollywood in the early 1990s. In 2013, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) on a Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood.

    Adding to his intention to run for the office of the governor of Enugu State, Okonkwo also wrote: “It’s time for Nollywood to produce an Executive to fulfill our Nollywood dreams.”

  • My mother introduced my wife to me –Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo

    My mother introduced my wife to me –Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo

    Since he acted in Living in Bondage, Kenneth Okonkwo, famously called Andy, has stayed true to his craft. Though his career once suffered a lull following his crashed marriage and quest for more knowledge, the veteran actor came back bigger and better with Dumebi the Village Girl. Ever since, his profile has been on the rise. In 2013, he was honoured with the AMAA Recognition Award for his contribution to Nollywood.  In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, he talks about his marital life and career, among other things.  

    You come across like a very blunt person, are you?    In my family, they would tell you that if I have a problem with anyone, they can pass judgment once they have heard my own side of the story. Anything you say that is contrary to what I say is a lie. That is the truth and I wouldn’t say anything that will favour me. I will say it just the way it is; and then, I will apologise where necessary. So, that is just the kind of person I am. The truth is the truth. Yes, it may hurt sometimes, but when you tell the truth, you have done your best. Even if someone gets mad at me for saying what I said, he or she will come around. But unfortunately, there are situations in which by the time they come around, you would have moved on.

    It is said that you charge as high as N2m per movie. Could you react to this?

    Well, I wouldn’t want to discuss my fee because you are being unfair to me. You don’t go and ask a civil servant how much he or she is earning. But the fact remains that from Living in Bondage Part 2, I have been earning what I love to earn. It is satisfying; it is just good enough because we are in Nigeria.

    By next month, I will be due to make a movie, Eye of the Eagle, in the United States. It is a very fantastic story and you will fall for it.

    Is it a Nigerian/Hollywood production?

    Yes, Nigerians are involved. Basically, it is by a Nigerian over there and he wants to do a collaboration work with Hollywood. So, that is why we are going to do it there.

    You’re one of the best actors in Nollywood. So, what are those qualities that stand you out?

    Should I not allow you to answer that (Laughs)? If you put it to me, I will say thank you for saying nice things about me. But I think it is basically the grace of God. There is this thing about charisma, which is a gift. I’ve seen a lot of actors and actresses who act very well, but are not being liked. You see, likeability is different from the acting and I think that’s a gift. I think the grace of God contributes a lot to entertainment. You see, before Living in Bondage, Nigerians would not even want to be patient enough to watch a local movie. I went to one video shop and the man had this inscription: “No local video is allowed here”. But immediately Living in Bondage came out, though we didn’t even advertise it, it was like there was an outcry. People were rushing to buy it. And with all due respect, it was the story of my character from beginning to the end. So, you can see the likeability. The real first one that came out was not subtitled. But Hausa and Yoruba people wanted it subtitled because they loved everything about it. So, we had to take it back to subtitle it. Likeability! So, that’s the grace of God, working in its highest form. And I’m grateful to God almighty for that. What can I do?  What can I say? I didn’t contribute anything to the way I look or the way I talk. I didn’t go to any school of Theatre Arts. But I always carry myself into any movie and I am just accepted. That’s the grace of God. Then, do you know the secret of my success? I read a lot, think a lot and work a lot! That’s what Henry Ford told the businessmen who wanted to be successful.

    So, when you are not on screen, what do you do?

    I read a lot and I’m a born-again Christian now. I wasn’t a good guy from birth. So, that helped me also to cut out a lot of frivolities and I keep praying to God that I fall not into temptation. Also, I pray that ladies do not lead me into temptation because the beautiful ones are coming out every day! You don’t just need prayers only, but you need to do the biblical injunction too.

    At what point did you become a born-again Christian?

    It was in 1994. You know, when you think that material things, fame and fortune will make you happy and God deposited all these things in you, yet you are not happy, then, you just know that there is a vacuum.  God must be interested in me. The story of my salvation is determined by the God Almighty. I just knew that truthfully without Him, I can’t do anything.

    Do you have any regrets regarding your past life?

    No! I don’t have any regrets about the things I did. When I was doing them then, I was enjoying it; so, I have no regrets. I thought I was having fun.

    You are very stylish. What informs your style?

    I think by nature, I’m just stylish.

    Though the way you walk is stylish, I think it is not natural…

    The truth is that, if not that people are saying it, and everybody is saying the same thing, I would have argued that it’s not true.  That is the way I’ve always walked from day one. As a matter of fact, at times, I try too hard not to walk that way. But once my mind gets off it, I just return to it.

    You must have a lot of admirers. How do you cope with your female fans? 

    What can I say? I just try to be nice to them.  I relate to some of them as very good friends.

    How do you handle the persistent female fans?

    How are you sure that there are persistent ones (laughs)? Hmm! One of the best things that God made on earth is the woman. There is something about them. They know more than we think. They know the sincerity of your heart. When you’re very honest to them, they will see the real thing God has deposited in them. Some of them may feel hurt when you say no, but they will understand, especially when they know that you mean it and your standard is the same for everybody. And that initial feeling of hurt will transform into big love, respect and truth. When you get your act right with women, you will know that they are the sweetest things on earth. If you start messing with women, you can only have one at a time and eventually it will limit a lot of things for you. But when you’re good to them, without asking for anything in return, you have all of them at a time. Women have a way of contributing to a man’s success, if they know you are genuine. And so, I’m having a very good relationship with them now. But, at the initial stage, it was bumpy. However, it later became beautiful.

    How has marriage helped to stabilise you?

    Since I got married, I have not had carnal knowledge of any other lady. But I have been very close to it. But with Jesus Christ helping me, it has not happened.

    Since when?

    2007.

    What do you love most about her?

    She’s very beautiful and very brilliant. She also understands me. And more importantly, she loves me very well.

    Sorry to take you back, you must be a strong man not to have played ‘side-betting’ since 2007…

    (Cuts in) For what ‘side-betting’ is (pauses)… But you know, as an actor, she understands. I don’t count the ‘peripheral’ thing that we even do publicly, but I mean the real thing.

    Are there not times that you guys act to things and you get some feelings for the person?

    You get used to what you are a professional in. It is like asking a doctor, ‘Don’t you get tickled?’ Doctors are even closer than us.

    Every chance you get, you celebrate your present marriage…

    (Cuts in)The only thing I’m going to say is that this is the real time that I have a privilege to settle down with a woman and marry her. This is really the first time that I can tell you that I settled down in a marriage made for two of us without any third party.  As a human being, I have very soft spot for women. That’s known. I have not brutalised any woman since my adult age and the facts are there. So, anybody telling you that I brutalised anybody is telling you a lie. But I’ve always told people that I am not going to put my neck for my enemy to cut it off. I have said it before and I am saying it again. If you leave at the mercy of your enemy, you are simply making your enemy merciless. So, the mere fact that I have not placed my neck for anybody to cut it off does not mean that I have anything against anybody.

    How do you reconcile the fact that you are born-again and you are divorced?

    I don’t want to go into that. But there is nothing contradictory about it. Any relationship that you get into that is made of more than one person, the destiny of that relationship does not lie in your hands alone. That’s why we are men. We are not God. And I’m not the kind of man who wants to live a lie or live in lie. A lot of people are separated and are doing certain things, but they will come out and pretend they are not doing anything. I know myself. I know the limit of what I can sustain and with my profession. So, I know I can’t stay alone for a long while without really messing up. You know the Bible says that it is not good for a man to be alone.

    So, how do you cope now, since you are always on locations?

    What does it take? If I’m in London and I feel so, I can fly in, see my babe and fly back to location (laughs). At times, I would be on location and after a while, I will scream, ‘Hey! Hey! I just have to go home. I don’t know how my body is feeling.’ I’m that straight forward. I will announce it in the public. And if I don’t run that time, something will happen.

    How did you meet her?

    She is from my place. You know what? This is the truth of how it happened. It was my mother who introduced her to me.  My mother sat down and said to some people: “If there is anybody who should have a problem in his marriage, it should not be this boy. I can vouch that this guy is a Christian and a born-again one.” So, when my mother saw this lady and she knows my ‘spec’, she called me and said she had seen a lady I would marry. My mother is a very fashionable and beautiful woman. I was like, ‘Me?’But she wasn’t aware of it. And I’m like, this one that my mother is talking like this. Then, she started enticing me, telling me about her physical attributes and so on. Then, I got interested. I called her and the rest is history. I talked to her in a manner that she just couldn’t let me go. She has been known in my town as a very decent lady. My mother has eagle eyes; and since I’ve been with her, it’s been bliss.

    But you were not born-again when you were married the first time?

    I was. I got born-again in 1994 and I got married 2000. I can tell you another thing: from the time I got born-again till I got married, I didn’t have a carnal knowledge of any woman. And that’s me. When I am here, I am here. That doesn’t mean I don’t get tempted; I do. But I have told you the secret. When I can’t hold my body, I run away.