tansali paparazzi

By Samuel Olatunji
Sunday, March 14, 2010

As ShowBizNow exclusively reported that contestants threatened to pull out of GUS celebrity edition because Genevieve emerged the host, three of the original contestants billed for the show eventually pulled out.

Star actor, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic and ex-beauty queen, Omowunmi pulled out. A source said one of the contestants pulled out on medical grounds as her doctor did not certify her fit for participation.

“The doctor was not privy to the activities they would be doing as the contestants were not told. If they had asked for medical report before the contract was signed we would have known what to do. She pulled out because her doctor did not certify her fit”. However, people on the side of NBL, Bate and Cosse, the company in charge of the event insist that some of the contestants started raising questions immediately they got wind of the fact that Genevieve would be the host of the reality TV show.

Ramsey was said to have pulled out of the show as he got wind of the fact that Genny was hosting it due to the fact that he and Genny do not enjoy the best of relationship. Ramsey who was once very close to Genny fell apart with her when he called the actress and told her that colleagues in the industry said she is too proud. He consequently advised her to stop giving diva-attitude to fellow actresses as it won’t help her career. We learnt that one thing led to another, the two argued, exchanged hot words on phone and consequently fell apart. However, a source insisted there is more to the feud. The source said it was a romantic affair gone sour that actually caused the fight and that the exchange of words on phone was as a result of a feud they both had before Ramsey placed a call to her using the industry complaint against her as excuse.

From that time on Ramsey and Genevieve have not been on talking terms, and Ramsey is not hiding it. When we spoke to Genny on how she felt that some of her peers pulled out of the reality show, she said, she was not disappointed but surprised. “I am not disappointed but surprised that they did what they did” she said. When pressed further to elaborate she said she won’t speak more on the matter.

But Ope Banwo, the CEO of the company that manages Genevieve said Rita and the rest that pulled out should be sued for breach of contract if they pulled out because Genevieve was chosen as host. If it is true they signed a contract to appear at a show, I don’t think it will be right for them to pull out simply because they don’t like the hostess. And I think that’s part of the problem we seem to have in this country where artistes don’t seem to respect contracts. If you are a professional and you signed a contract then you honor it .

It doesn’t matter who they bring. It will be different if when you negotiated the contract you reserved the right to have a say on who the hostess is going to be. That did not happen because I know that was not in the contract, I have some starson the show. I think this is wrong except of course there are other reasons why she withdrew. If the third party did not breach their side of the contract which to the best of my knowledge didn’t happen , then it would have been wrong for any professional not just Rita now, to pull-out because from what we are hearing they do not like the person that was chosen as hostess for them. But of course we do not know the full story, so I cannot speak for her or the other side. If she pulled out because of the hostess, then it will be wrong .

It is unprofessional and I think it’s the problem in the industry where people sign contracts and they just feel they can walk away from it because they don’t like something. Once you have signed you are stuck. That’s the way it works in the US and that is what they do in any other country. They will be sued for that, you don’t sign a contract and walk away because you don’t like something. You should think of all of that before you sign and once you have signed you are bound, even if you don’t like some of the issues that came up after. We are not babies here , we are professionals and when you sign a contract you need to honor your contract. I think somebody should start holding stars accountable for their contracts.

That is why the industry is not developing, that is why foreigners are afraid of signing Nigerian artistes-on because they don’t know what they are going to get. So I am very passionate about this, a contract is a contract. But when we sign contracts we should honour them and those who do not should be made to face the law. What I’m saying here is that if a professional signs a contract and without the consent of the other party, he walks away from it, an example should be made of him and this is what I’m advising the organizers to do. When you make an example of one, they will learn to honour contracts. There is too much of it in Nollywood and I think they should be sued by the organizers. I will like to be quoted on that. I think they should be sued by the organizers because it costs them money and they have to do a last minute run around to get them replaced. They didn’t get the kind of people they thought they would get.

When we explained that some pulled out on medical grounds, Ope dismissed the talk as cheap. “Well you can read between the lines yourself, at least my artistes that were there all went through the medical test and I was even there when they evaluated two of my artistes. It was nothing invasive. They just checked their blood pressure to ensure they were fit to go into that kind of event. So you cannot pull out when they have not told you you’re not medically fit. After all they said they were going to get them insurance and do you know an insurance company that will insure people without testing them?

The contract says they will be given a comprehensive insurance policy for the duration of the event, so if the insurance company now says they want to do testing to be able to insure them I think as a professional you should not have a problem with that, and nobody else had that problem except those people. It will be different if after they tested them and they said they were not fit. Then, that is a ground under which they can pull out; but that is not what happened here, they were never tested from what I know”, he said.

Mildred Okwo, Rita Dominic’s Manager also had some comments on the issue:
Sam, I don’t understand the need for people to grandstand when there is absolutely no reason to. Our country has become a place where people cheaply market themselves on the pages of a newspaper as opposed to gathering facts and advancing proper solutions for real problems based on those facts.

Rita Dominic did pull out of Celebrity GUS but not before we explained the reasons to those with whom she had a contract . We took out time to explain to the head of the brand and the COO of Bate Cosse why she had to pull out. She pulled out for unavoidable reasons. To the best of my knowledge, they accepted my explanation and aside from those two gentlemen, every other person is speculating for their own ulterior motives and we will not dignify them with a response. It is unprofessional for any person to make sweeping statements when they are not privy to both sides of the story.

A close source to the Chief Operating Officer of Bate Cosse, the agency that handled the reality show, told us that one of the contestants pulled out of the show on medical grounds, but denied that Ramsey, Rita or Omowunmi pulled out because of Genevieve. “We spoke to over 20 celebrities, and some said yes, some said no. Some people who indicated interest earlier later pulled out because of the scope of the programme. That can’t be said to mean pulling out” the source disclosed.

One way or the other, GUS Celebrity edition is generating so much interest that the viewers cannot wait to start watching by end of March or early next month.

•What you won’t see on TV
By Samuel Olatunji
Sunday, March 14, 2010

•Photos by Sun News Publishing

Showpiece Index

When the organisers of Gulder Ultimate Search Celebrity Showdown decided to camp 10 celebrities in the jungle for a reality show, little did they know that they would get more than they bargained for. The reality show, which was recorded a week back, was riddled with rumours of sex, infighting and injuries. It was more than a reality show.
The organizers we learnt have edited a lot of ‘reality’ out of the reality show, we are however serving you a version you will never get to see on TV.

Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey was said to have beaten the comedian , Princess to a pulp and had to be arrested by Mobile Policemen and later released to avoid any scandal. Daddy Showkey was irked that Princess rebuffed his ‘elderly’ attempt to settle a fight between her and singer, Muma Gee.

Another thing you might not get to see is the in-fighting between Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota and Muma Gee. We learnt Chioma was pissed with the fact that Muma Gee sneaked in two full bags of make-up and was always on make-up mask. She poured water on the singer’s face and started to scrub in the bid to unravel the real face of Muma Gee. This led to struggle that was settled by the organisers.

We don’t think you will also get see the fact that Emeka Ike got a broken nose from the bunk of a bed as Dare Art Alade was trying to climb his bed. The wound was said to be so serious that the actor is receiving treatment at a hospital now. He and Daddy Showkey also sustained cuts on their legs in the jungle.

The rumour mill was agog in the camp that Emeka Ike and Muma Gee got to man and woman business in the bathroom. And the rumour was not helped by both of them as they stayed glued to each other like Siamese twins. Emeka however denied the story when we called him on phone. “How can I be having sex with Muma Gee in the camp? You know me now, I don’t do such things.

We had to form an alliance because a lot of the girls ganged up against her. They wanted to make life miserable for her and I had to protect her. I’ve spoken to her fiancé and she has spoken to my wife. The rumour is not true”. However, a contestant faulted Emeka’s claim saying they all heard the moaning of Muma Gee while they were in the bathroom. Muma Gee who spoke to us on phone from Ghana where she has gone to rest said the rumour is not true. ‘How can I sleep with Emeka where there were cameras everywhere? what Emeka told you is true, we did not do anything’.

Weird MC was said to be the strongest of all the girls, and she emerged the last girl standing. Chioma was described as a master schemer but she had to go out in a contest with Princess as the later pleaded with her that she needed the money more than any other person in the house. Obesere was described as the most gentle man in the house.
Emeka Ike, Dare Art Alade and Daddy Showkey were the last three in the jungle. They would go back in May to shoot the final episode of the show, where the winner would emerge.

Most of the contestants we spoke to said Genevieve Nnaji carried herself well as host of the show. One participant described her as a ‘very good host’. On the whole, contestants however said they all enjoyed themselves in the jungle. “It was like a breath of fresh air. I thoroughly enjoyed myself” a contestant told us.

It would be recalled that 10 celebrities including Weird MC, Funke Akindele, Princess, Chioma Chukwuka, Muma Gee, Bob Manuel, Emeka Ike, Daddy Showkey, Obesere, and Dare Art Alade were unveiled as contestants for the maiden edition of GUS.

By Ifeyinwa Okpara
Sunday, March 14, 2010

•St. Obi •Photo: Sun News Publishing

Obinna Nwafor, a.k.a St. Obi is not a strange name in Nollywood. For some time now, the top actor has been absent on the screen and in movies.
Tall, masculine, soft-spoken and handsome, Obi was the delight of many movie lovers and even now that he seems to be working behind the scenes, the questions on the lips of his fans are : Where is Obi?

What has become of him?
Born in Mbaitoli, Imo State, the ace actor who is a 1991 graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos did not go into acting immediately after graduation. Instead, his handsome face, mien and great physique quickly made him the darling of modeling agencies. He did modeling for a few years before he went back to the profession he spent four years studying at the university - acting.

For those who want to know what has become of the prince of Nollywood , Obi now runs his own production company and he is almost set to hit the market with his long awaited movie titled True Color.
In this exclusive interview with Sunday Sun, the amiable actor and filmmaker bares his mind on his production company, his soon to be released movie and other things you want to know about St. Obi. Enjoy it !

Why are you no longer acting?
When you are in a lucrative business and you realize that you are getting the crumbs, anybody that is serious-minded will think of getting the meat rather than settling for the bone. In the film making business, I realized that the major challenge is distribution and I asked myself, if I remain an actor, would it get me to the Promised Land? I have always said that we have the capacity to enjoy what Bollywood and Hollywood are enjoying. But unfortunately our marketing is at best exploitative and poor. So I’m trying to set up something that will change the Nollywood landscape and it is all about distribution for now. But having said that, I’m always an actor and will remain an actor. As a matter of fact, I have a movie that will come out very soon and it’s called True color. So my fans have something to look out for.

Can you expatiate?
Yes. It is a global distribution framework. Today, Nollywood is a global brand so why should we be scratching the ground? It’s just unthinkable. If you go three quarters of Africa, our movies are popular. If you go to Europe, the Caribbean Island, United States, and Asia, our movies are very popular especially among Africans in the Diaspora. So, why can’t we harness our markets properly? That is what some of us are trying to do.

You once said if you get a good script you would act. Does it mean you have not gotten any yet?
Well, the way it is, my energy at the moment is focused on bridging the yawning gap in the business. Acting will always be there , but I have always said I don’t want the goodies of the business to come during my child’s lifetime because Nollywood has the capacity. This is not 1950 or 1970…. this is 2010. The world is now a global village. You can sleep here and wake up tomorrow in the United States and have a lunch in the UK. That is how small the world has become. So why can’t we maximize the potentials of the global framework that we are part of. This is essentially what one is doing at the moment . That for me is above any other thing but like I said I’m an actor first and foremost but it is important that we get the marketing right so that the actor will benefit from his efforts the way actors from Hollywood and Bollywood benefit. In fact we are second in volume but we are not even fiftieth in remuneration. So, that’s what people like me are trying to change.

How do you want to go about it?
Well, going about it like I said will entail setting-up a global distribution framework. I don’t want to spill all the beans, but we are seeking some investors. You see, it’s not a child’s play. Filming business is not a thing you use one penny to make a million. It’s big business. So many people come to me saying “I want to come into filming business”, and I have always told such people that they are not serious, because any film you start with begging will not take you anywhere. You understand? So, it is a serious business and that’s why in America and Europe, you have to invest a lot of money.

That’s why they make a lot of money, and I am sure you heard about the movie Avatar. Avatar cost over $1billion and that is the kind of vision people should have.
A lot of people in Nollywood think that when they make movies, and they make a profit of about N500, 000, they should rush to make another movie and recycle that one and by the time they act like ten movies and they make N500,000 from each, they would have made N5 million or N10 million. That’s crappy… it’s a bunch of bones. You can make one Nollywood film and make N1 billion, but when you say it, it looks as if you are telling a story. The fact is that when you do the calculations well, it is something you can make like that, you don’t need too much. With 3.5 million people buying your film for instance, you cross over the N1 billion target and we are a country of 150 million people.

So, that means you are out to fight piracy?
Trust me (laughs). That is where our strength lies, I do not want to spill the beans, but when we come on board the pirates will know that we have arrived. Why piracy is still thriving today is that the right people have not come on board; when the right people come on board, the right laws will come out. Most of the people in the Senate and House of Representatives don’t have anything to do with piracy. So if you lobby the National Assembly right, they will make the right laws to combat it.

And I tell you, they want Nigeria to grow, they want this industry to grow because we are one of the highest employers of labour in the country. We create jobs for both skilled and the unskilled people. So, members of the National Assembly want this industry to thrive and they will make the laws and the laws are not gonna be let out of the bag now. When they come, pirates will know it.

We are not trying to take food away from them but all we are asking is they should do things legitimately so that they can benefit and we all can benefit. We are not trying to run them aground, what we are saying is that they should move away from piracy and become legitimate marketers . Legitimate distributors. We want them to make money so that they will survive, and we also want to make money so that we too can survive. There is so much for all of us to benefit from , you don’t need to pirate anybody’s work.

Who are these right people to come on board?
Yeah, if you put like N300 million in an investment, I’m sure you would want to protect that investment. It is because people want to spend N1 million to make N1billion that’s why the industry is not really moving forward but as I said, when you have big money, when you have the Dangotes, the Adenuga’s, all the big names and the power houses.

When people with the right financial muscles come into the business, pirates will have no hiding place because the man wants to protect his investment. For Dangote that is producing cement, I’m sure you know that new laws have been made to protect cement distribution.It’s because a lot of money is involved so when people like that come into the movie industry, the better for us. The truth of the matter is that the film industry is the future. Entertainment all over the world is recession-proof.

Despite the global economic meltdown, Avatar grossed over $1 billion. It wasn’t like three years ago, it is now that America is experiencing financial crunch. When people are suffering and going through a hard time that is when they need a form of escape and that’s what films provide . They make you forget your sorrow for those two to three hours depending on how long the movie is. So, that is what the system is all about, and that is why it is big business, and why some of us are trying to get into film distribution and maximize its potentials .

What does that mean for your Hollywood dreams?
The bottom line as I said earlier is, this is 2010. If Avatar could make $1 billion plus, why can’t I make N1 million naira plus. It’s as simple as that… let me make N1 million plus then I can at least aim at N1 billion. It is so funny; you don’t need one billion people to make N3.5million. So, in Nigeria alone, you can get that money. In a country where you have one fifty million people. Let’s even say you have ten million people, you can even select three million , because any good Nigerian film is watched by a minimum of twenty, thirty people if not 50 million. So, why can’t we get 3 million people to buy?

What’s happening to your modeling career?
Well, I’m not into it totally. Once in a while, if brands wants me to endorse their products then fine and good, but it is not your everyday kind of stuff.

There’s a controversy about your marital status . Some say that you’re not married. Is it true?
The reality is that I really don’t talk about my family and this is because I feel a lot of journalists make us look small. They make us look like we are dummies as if we don’t have nothing in our heads despite the fact that fans want to read about what we do, our love life and all that.

A lot of times journalists talk us into what’s happening to our love lives, our families but I would prefer a journalist asking me about what’s happening to Yar’Adua. Why is he not in town? What do I think about the Nigeria Project and so on. When you write these kind of things, the people you are trying to address will understand that we’ve got something to offer other than who we are hanging out with and that kind of stuff. Deliberately, I do not answer questions about my family.

•St. Obi •Photo: Sun News Publishing

Can you describe the Jos you used to know?
Ah, the Jos I used to know is a true home of peace and tourism. I grew up in a very middle class neighborhood. It was as if I was living in Europe. They used to call it European quarters back in those days. Jos was so beautiful and it is still beautiful. What is going on right now in Jos is most unfortunate. I think it goes beyond what some of us are seeing on the surface and there should be room for tolerance on all sides… Christians, Moslems and the indigenes of the land. There must be tolerance, people must understand we are all one. For instance, I watched this movie 2012. It depicts the vanity of life… the vainness of this is my portion, my land and I own this and that . I just tell people this is small mindedness.

When that avatar came, nobody knew where White House was with all the security and might they have. The ground just opened and swallowed everybody and people were just disappearing. At the end of the day, the ground just shifted and India went to where America was and the two continents were interchanged. That’s the reality of life, as much as we think that Nigeria is one now, the reality is you and I don’t have any home. The only home is Heaven. This is just the reality and every other thing is vanity. Nobody knows what will happen the next minute. In another fifty years you and I will not be sitting here… so is this our home? No! Once we are gone, we are gone and this will happen one day.

We should stop being shallow- minded and realize there were people some years before us and today men have built houses on those people’s graves, built roads on top of them. We don’t know when death will come knocking some day. So we should realize that this journey is not really worth the fight and wars

In your opinion what led to the Jos crisis?
I cannot say what precipitated this particular conflict but from the Grapevine, we heard it is religious intolerance but whatever the reasons are, I feel that we are human beings and we are bound to get angry but our anger should not get to the point that we take-up guns, knives, spears and arrows to hurt our fellow human beings. I don’t think any other human being is worth taking another human being’s life. Tolerance is the word whatever it is. Talk to somebody about it or report to the police. We mustn’t take laws into our hands. It has been reoccurring all the time. I have been in Jos for a very long time, right from my primary school days but not one day did I experience fighting, so what’s gone wrong?

What is your definition of success?
Success is a relative term. I think essentially it is attaining a goal you are passionate about.

So would you say you are successful?
By the special grace of God, Yes! Because God has been very wonderful, so I’m not going to say I’m not since I’m living my fantasy. My goal as a child was to be an actor, to be famous and I have attained all that stuff. So to be successful is not so much about money but attaining the goals one is passionate about whether it is eating eba or drinking kunu or working for the masses, whatever it is, success is a relative term.

What would you like to correct if given the chance to turn back the hand of time?
Ha! That is a tough of one now. My father never saw me get into the university and that is one of my biggest regrets and of course he didn’t see me become what I am today. That is a major regret for me.

Have you ever failed?
There is no human being that has not. Yeah, of course I have , like every other human being. Life doesn’t go so straight. It’s full of ups and downs.

Would you mind sharing some?
There are too many and I don’t know where to start. Like what I just said about my dad not seeing me before he died, I see that as a failure. There are too many others, I am just like every other human being. Life is not so rosy.

Can you share what it was like growing with nine siblings?
Well, just like every other home, when you grow up among women, you tend to know all the tricks that women know because you see your sisters do all the tricks. So, somehow I know all the tricks. I used to be good at the games women play but I’m very grateful for what my dad was able to do, if not I would have ended up growing up as a sisi . At some point as I was growing up, I realized I had to draw the line, to be the man of the house. I love my sisters but I’m the man.

Aside being strict, what else do you miss about your dad?
Everything. You know the love of a father, you can’t imagine. As you grow older, you understand that the time your dad used to flog you, he was flogging you out of passionate love for you. Like when my dad said I shouldn’t go to America, I was so angry and was saying “why will this man do this to me” but today, I am so grateful to my dad because if I had gone to America, probably, I wouldn’t have been where I am today because at that time, my head was in the sky. Probably, I would have gotten lost somewhere but the guy stood his grounds and I went through the mills and today I’m better for it.

Tell us about your relationship with your mum and your advice for youths ?
I’m close to my mum too ,but naturally being an only male child, the mother will always be over- protective, pampering and all that but my dad had to be the man. And I hope I’m educating a child out there who is reading this stuff. You might be an undergraduate but when your parents say don’t do this, we the kids feel they don’t want us to do our stuff and that they have had their own time. No! They just want you to grow and get the best. This is the mistake a lot of youths make and I did the same.

When I was growing, I used to think that passing my exams was doing my dad a favour and if I failed , he will be the one to be ashamed. But at the end of the day I realized I was passing for myself . If you fail , you will be the one to suffer. When your dad says read your books so that you can make a two-one or a first class, you would think the guy is talking crap. But if you are through and you come out with a two-two or third class; you would be the one to carry your bag from office to office begging for employment and those that made first class are smiling and getting the better jobs.

So I want to tell youths that if they want to “do guy”, there is too much time to do that but first get serious and do the right things now. Get serious with your studies. Your foundation is very necessary for the good time. When you see an elderly man pushing a cart on the street and sweating and then you look at another elderly man driving and enjoying his life, you will understand that when the other man had time to prepare he didn’t. So, don’t hate your parents when they shout at you to study hard. It is all for your good.

Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

By Jayne Usen

March 13, 2010 08:07PM

Genevieve, Rita Dominic & Mercedes carpet Dejo Richards
By SAMUEL OLATUNJI
Sunday, September 20, 2009
www.sunnewsonline.com

•Genevieve Photo: Sun News Publishing

Showpiece Index

The crash of Monalisa Chindah’s marriage with her estranged husband, Segun Dejo-Richards is already having a ripple effect with Dejo’s interview in some national newspapers.

Dejo had claimed in an interview that Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic and Mercedes were once living with Monalisa and living off her. This did not go down well with the people mentioned and most of them, except Genevieve are already contemplating lawsuist against him for dragging them into matter that does not concern them.

Genevieve is backing down simply because Monalisa sent her an apology via a text on behalf of her estranged husband.

Speaking to Sunday Sun, Genevieve wondered how Dejo would drag her into his ‘mess’ as the questions directed at him have nothing to do with her. ‘First of all, who is this chap and how does he know my name? As the time Lisa and I were friends, she hadn’t gone to London. And according to him, that is where they met. In other words, he never knew me and still doesn’t know me, so he should know better than to mention my name in their issues. I don’t want to say much on this because Monalisa sent me a text today apologizing on his behalf. And I really do understand the cheap publicity stunt he is trying to pull. I will not indulge him further’.

Mercedes, a friend of the trio who claims she hasn’t seen or spoken to Monalisa in five years is also angry that her name could be dragged into the matter, considering the fact that their friendship nose dived the day Monalisa and her brother (whom Monalisa was dating at that time) broke up.

Speaking to Sunday Sun from Ghana, where she went to for a business deal, Mercedes spoke angrily and only stopped when the reporter’s credit ran out on her. ‘I can’t still understand why this guy would mention my name in his woes. I don’t know him and I’ve never met him before. I don’t think I will even recognize him if I pass him on the road, so why should I be an issue in his mess? I never lived with Monalisa. She was dating my brother as at that time and we were all friends, Genny, (Genevieve), Rita, Monalisa and I. So we hanged out together. Sometimes they were in my place at Marwa Gardens, (Ikeja) or Rita’s place at Hospital Quarters where she was living with her sister-in-law. We could stay at each other place for days or weeks as most girls do.

So I can’t turn around to say Rita or Genny lived with me; that would be a lie. As at that time, Lisa could not even afford to feed me alone not to talk of five people, so how could all of us with family be living off one woman? She and my brother were dating and when their relationship packed up, my relationship with Monalisa did not go on smoothly again. We stopped being friends then. So, how can I have anything to do with their break up? I think this guy is just trying to cause unnecessary trouble. He was not even in the picture when we were friends. The only guy I know with Monalisa, aside my brother that she dated, was a Lebanese guy who rented the Lekki house for her. That guy was also a platonic friend of Rita’s. So, this Dejo guy is just talking about things he knows nothing about. He needs to be called to order’, she thundered.

Ms Dominic who is holidaying in United States says Dejo Richards must be delusional to say she was living off Monalisa or blocking her from getting roles when she was the one that introduced her to Zik Zulu Okafor and Chico Ejiro. 

Responding to our email enquiries, Rita wrote: ‘I want to say that I am away on vacation and have not read the interview. But from the little read to me, it seems that Mr. Richards is using the press to expose private conversation he may have had with his wife while they were married. His actions were undignified to say the least and I will not be part of the dirty games. My advice is that he should focus on his family and stop defaming innocent people to sell his story.’

On the allegation that she advised Moanlisa not to marry him because Dejo-Richards is from the South West part of Nigeria and that she continued to stand against her marriage, Rita says nothing could be further from the truth. ‘The truth is, I don’t know this man. I was living and working in Nigeria when he claims to have met Lisa in London. Lisa and I had lost touch so, I was not privy to her relationship with this man. I did not know when they got married; I only found out a few days ago that they are no longer together.’

On whether she lived off Monalisa when they were friends, Dominic reacted that Dejo Richards must be a delusional soul to have said that. ‘Mr. Richards must be delusional (for saying I was living off Monalisa). At one time, I moved in with my sister-in-law at General Hospital’s Doctors Quarters, Lagos Island. When she moved to England to meet her husband (Rita’s brother), Monalisa started staying with me. It was not just Lisa; I had other friends who stayed with me from time-to-time. Later we moved to Lekki, after which I travelled to England.

We were struggling actors waiting to make it, so, how could Lisa who had no job be feeding us?’ She asked.

On the allegation that she was calling producers not to give Monalisa jobs and ill-advising her not to take major roles, Rita says it is pure lie. ‘Basorge cast me in my first role. After that, I started getting roles offered to me.
I was the one that recommended and introduced Monalisa to Zik Zulu and Chico Ejiro. They started giving her roles to play after that. You can call them to verify this statement. By the time Lisa came back from London, my career had already taken off. So, I don’t know where Mr. Richards is getting his information from.’

Segun Dejo-Richards was the husband of star actress, Monalisa, until their marriage broke up recently.
Since the break up, Dejo Richards has been saying he wants his wife back, pointing fingers at Mr. Kool, Monalisa’s relative and some of her friends for ill-advising her.

Source: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showpiece/2009/sept/20/showpiece-20-09-2009-002.htm

•Real reason she left
By SAMUEL OLATUNJI
Sunday, September 20, 2009
www.sunnewsonline.com

•Monalisa Photo: Sun News Publishing

Showpiece Index

Facts emerged during the week that Monalisa’s estranged husband, Segun Dejo-Richards was married for six months before getting married to the Glo Ambassador.

Sources told Sunday Sun that Dejo had an elaborate wedding reception at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos and was married for six months before the lady (name withheld) in question packed her load and fled.

Dejo, however, denied this, saying someone was out to ruin him.
Meanwhile, Monalisa has added another twist to the story, saying she did not know about the marriage until she got married to him and it was too late for her to leave. ‘Those are part of the issues’ (for the crashed marriage), she said. She then went ahead to plead with us not to publish the story because she wouldn’t want people to think she said so.

Our source, however, insisted that Monalisa knew about the first marriage before she married Dejo. ‘A friend of hers warned her but she chose to look the other way’, our source said. ‘She cannot claim to be innocent now that the marriage has collapsed. Her eyes were widely open before she walked into the man’s life. ’
Meanwhile, another source who does not want his name in print said Dejo Richards is economical with truth on issue of beating his wife. Monalisa was said to have attended one of Globacom’s numerous unveilings with wounds believed to have been sustained in one of her squabbles with Dejo. Dejo had, however, claimed in an earlier interview with this reporter immediately we broke the news of the break up that the last time he laid his hand on Lisa was in 2006. He said all that has been put behind them and Lisa was, in actual fact, the first person to hit him in their marriage.

But a very close and knowledgeable source to the couple said that Segun has been consistently beating his wife out of insecurity. ‘The girl had to pack out of his house when he could no longer control his temper. He almost killed her. She went to Glo function with a red eye, yet he goes about in the press trying to paint himself as a saint and others as being responsible for his woes. Did those people ask him to be beating his wife? Her family has been agitated since she announced her plans to get married to Richards. Her colleagues at work know him as wife batterer.

They just chose to look the other way. Her state governor had called her to comfort her. Segun is just insecure and looking for cheap popularity. Are you not surprised that Monalisa is not talking to the press, but he is the one granting interviews. The girl knew she was in a wrong marriage from onset, but she believed she could make it work, not knowing that she was deceiving herself. Call people and ask them about how he has been molesting his wife. Why is it that his in-laws are not friendly with him? Now, he wants to turn around to say it’s because of money she left him.

The girl would have married a richer person. If money was her mission, she wouldn’t have married him in the first place. She married him out of love, but when love was almost killing her, what do you expect her to do? She had to leave when the guy almost killed her.’
When contacted, Monalisa refused to talk, saying she wouldn’t join issues with her ex-hubby. She, however, confirmed sending an apology to Genevieve via a text.

Source: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showpiece/2009/sept/20/showpiece-20-09-2009-001.htm

Tansalites REE D (Rita Dominic) and VAN VICKER may have signed multi-million naira deals to become ambassadors for Nigerian Telecom giant GLOBACOM.  

There has been a rumour for months that Globacom signed up Nollywood and Gollywood actors to become ambassadors for the brand. Van Vicker has been participating in the Glo Rock and Rule tour for months but had not signed on to become an ambassador until now.

When contacted, Rita Dominic would not confirm nor deny the good news. However, some soft sell magazines are already reporting that she along with Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot and Mike Ezuruonye were spotted recently entering Digitrack Studios in TBS Lagos Island where Glo was purportedly conducting a photo shoot.

Actress Uche Jombo may have confirmed the rumours when she uploaded her picture taken at the photo shoot to her Facebook Profile.  Other confirmed Ambassadors are Ramsey Nouah, Nnoso Diobi, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Funke Akindele who recently starred in the blockbuster comedy JENIFA, Ini Edo-Ehigwina who was added just a few weeks ago and Mona Lisa Chinda.  The deal is rumoured to be for 2 years and will cost the company billions of Naira.

Apart from Gollywood's Van Vicker, it is rumoured that the Company is currently in negotiations with Jackie Appiah and Nadia Buari to represent the brand.  Globacom has opened up operations in Ghana and is looking to expand business by signing these bankable stars who are popular all over Africa.

Globacom has shown its commitment to Africa through these deals and we hope that fellow Tansalites wish them well. 

JANE BOND
Sunday, June 14, 2009

Dove Media Controversy
I never threatened to sue RCCG —Ope Banwo
By Samuel Olatunji
Sunday, June 14, 2009

• Ope Banwo Photo: Sun News Publishing

Showpiece Index

Today, we bring you the concluding part of the Ope Banwo interview which we started last week. In this no-holds-barred interview, the former CEO of Dove Media spoke on the RCCG politics that drove him out of Dove Media, his deals with Charles Novia and other issues.

What went wrong with Dove Media?
First, I will like to say that I have nothing but love and appreciation for Dove Media and Redeemed Christian Church of God because they gave me the opportunity to get into the industry where I’m getting a lot of benefits from now. But I would say I made mistakes and everything was my fault because the CEO takes responsibility for everything. 

The mistake was that I trusted people I shouldn’t have trusted. Moreso, I knew nothing about the entertainment industry and I didn’t play the politics the way it was supposed to be played. Fourthly, business and religion don’t mix too well and I did not understand that very early. Dove was a great idea; Daddy G.O (Pastor Adeboye) was very supportive, contrary to what some people were saying. He never muscled me when I was running Dove Media, except towards the end based on what people told him. I have no problem with him to be honest. 

People expect me to come out and criticize him, but I’ll never do that because he’s a man of God and my spiritual father and I respect him a lot and appreciate him. Now, could I have done a lot of things better? Certainly yes. I would have played the politics better, and probably not have gotten myself to a situation whereby I became an employee because I came into Dove as a consultant to raise money for them, not to come and run the company. I came in to raise the fund which was my special area, I didn’t know anything about the entertainment industry. 

Somehow, I ended up being the Managing Director of the company after raising funds for them. We were getting powerful and prominent. Like every set-up, it had its own politics, intrigues and I think I did not play it right because really, my problem with Dove was not what we were doing, contrary to what people thought. The chairman did not give us problem, he allowed us do whatever the vision was, even though he kept changing plans at the board meetings we had, we would be told to do a particular thing. 
But beyond, that I was given a free hand and needed not seek approval from anyone before I did my things. But unfortunately, I basically picked a fight with the wrong guy. 

That is the CEO of Dove Media, USA. He was my boss, my Provincial Pastor and there were things he was doing that ultimately led to where we were which I was not happy with. I was vocal about it and unfortunately he was much stronger than me within. He played the politics better than I could play it, and had access to the G.O and had ways of doing his things because he’s been with the Redeemed Church over the years, coupled with the fact that he’s an older man. My biggest mistake was that he played the politics than me. 

Some people tried to capitalize on the Charles Novia saga. They said I was reckless, mis-managed funds by giving so much money to Charles Novia and I just laughed. To be honest, people did not know the true story. I felt sorry for Charles Novia and myself because I was naïve and I should have known better because I was better trained. I’ve been to management school, so what happens with Charles Novia? I was accused of giving him N19 million to make movies. Yes, I gave him that much, but not in the way they said it. As a matter of fact, I think Charles Novia was not even paid enough. Because N19 million was not enough for the movies, it was about 26 movies. 

How could you do 26 movies with N19 million? That was what people did not get. Charles Novia was introduced to me by another pastor. I never knew him from Adam. He was brought to me by a pastor I trusted and we started talking. Along the line, I agreed I could work with him. I wanted to use a central person because I didn’t know the whole of Nollywood. So I thoughtthat if I could use somebody I trusted, he could be the link. 

We got talking and a lot of ideas kept coming up. I was so excited, and new in the industry. We made Covenant Church with about N6 million and I think we made more than three times of what we paid him because on the first day of the film’s release, we sold about 67,000 copies. We didn’t have enough copies. We only went with about 70 000 copies. Nobody had ever done that in the industry, the movie was fantastic. It means day one we made about N7.6 million profit and we had an endorsement of about N6 million before it was released. 

Intercontinental Bank gave us money and there was a management company which paid us N3 million for the right to market Covenant. That was how I promoted the movie. They actually paid me to do the markettting right. The point about Charles Novia was that we started talking and an idea came because we felt that the strongest asset that Dove Media had was Daddy G.O and the Redeemed Christian Church of God and we felt we could leverage that into the product. There, we would dramatize the spectacular miracles that came out of the Holy Ghost service. 

It would be an evangelical movie, commercial and truly Redeemed, it meets all the criteria. I thought I was being smart, that was why I was called being naïve. Remember, one of the objectives of Dove Media was to build a satellite television network. The rest of the idea came as a means of income to service that vision because I realized even after being given the job that in 20 years, it will still be profitable, I mean the Christian television base. While we were at it, we only had N510 million which was peanuts in the TV business. We now said rather than going straight for that channel where we may not be able to re-coup more money, we should create income streams. We would then be putting that into the channel development. 

That was the strategy I came up with that brought about the idea of movie distribution, having a studio, Internet; we have the Dove Link. People don’t even know about that. Coming back to Charles, we now came about with the idea of the encounter with the Holy Spirit and that it would be in series on Dove TV. It would run for 13 weeks for a quarter, but there will be a one hour movie, a soap. I now had a deal with Charles that there would be an hour movie dramatizing miracles that came out of the Holy Ghost service. After finishing the movie, it would show as a series on Dove TV and we would market it because it came in different names. 

Out of it is what we called The Ovary, The AIDS patient, we released three before I left. So there was supposed to be 13 movies and I told Charles that one of the ways we could make money on it was that if we shoot all the movies at once. Perhaps, one month, get the cast, mix up the casts but for different story lines. So when we do that, we don’t need to pay them for individual films. He now agreed they could do the encounter for the Holy Ghost for N800,000 per movie. To me, I thought I was scoring a spectacular deal, because then I thought good English movies were made for between N2 million and N3million.

We had just agreed to pay N6 million for Covenant Church. All of a sudden, I was going to get equivalent of 13 movies for an average of N800,000 and that to me was a bargain and that was the problem. If I were to do it now, I would pay him more because you can’t make a very good movie for N850,000 . But Charles Novia, whether out of naivety on his own side or greed, I don’t know, agreed for 13 movies at N850,000 each. He now said for that to work, he would need 70 percent of the money up front which makes sense and that was what I paid him. We paid around N9 million for the Encounters with the Holy Ghost. We were supposed to come there with 13 movies, not a series neither soap. 13 individual movies with different titles, story lines; The Ovaries, Aids Patients, The Blind Man. He wrote them out and I have a copy with me. 

So, that was that. He came to my office virtually daily. There was a day he came, which was like about four days after that, he came up with idea of making parables, making movies from the parables of Jesus Christ. For example, the parable of the sower, parable of the prodigal son. We could do a 70-minute movie on the parables of Jesus Christ which we could use on the TV channel for a whole quarter. Parables also were supposed to be 13 movies that would be shot as parables series and we agreed that would cost about N650,000 per movie and that was about N9 million in addition to the first N10 million for the first movie and that was where the N19 million came from. 

Did he get some percentage from that?
Yes, he also got 70 percent of it. So the idea was that at the end of the day, I thought I was making a kill because when you have a wonderful idea and it doesn’t work, you will look stupid, but when it works they would have been hailing me as a genius because we would have gotten 26 movies for the price of N19 million, which is at an average of N750,000 per movie. These are movies that have big stars in them. He did a good job, not these chicken change movies. But now, I think where the whole thing unraveled was when it was time for delivery and Charles did not deliver. And this is where my naivety came in and I said I made a mistake. 

Rather than fighting him, I could have reached a compromise with him. I kept holding him to the contract. I should have been realistic as a business man by giving him more money provided he was out of cash that is why he was delaying. He delivered two and started telling stories because apparently he gave the remaining movies to different directors that did not deliver. 

Did Pastor Adeboye speak to you all through the saga?
No. They never let me see GO. They kept telling me he was busy. I wrote him a letter and told him I was sorry if I disappointed him in anyway because to me, the man gave us all the support we could ever hope for in terms of raising the money and promoting it. If there is anybody that should be angry, it should be the GO because he put his name on the line and supported us. I felt bad about that and wrote a heartfelt apology for that. I never got a response. I even copied Elder Ohiwerei because I believe I should take responsibility for my actions as the CEO. I let them know things I did were not out of malice or recklessness. I did my best and if I made a mistake, I was sorry. I even travelled back the second month from the US to Nigeria to see the GO but couldn’t see him, after sometime, I just gave up. 

Have you been able to see him since then?
No. But I know that one day I will. I don’t have issues with him and I don’t believe he has issues with me other than Dove Media did not go the way it was supposed to go. Dove is not dead, it is still there. It is just that it has different focus from the way I was taking it. Towards the end, I heard they complained that we were making too many secular movies. I heard people said Two Brothers and The prodigal son was too secular. But please if you are going to depict the story of a prodigal son who came back to the Lord, how are you going to do it other than smoking and carrying women? Which is what we did. Some people criticised it, wrote petition to the GO.

Did you have issues with Pastor Adeyokunnu?
He was chairman of Dove Media, US and he was Daddy GO’s brother-in-law, he could do anything he liked. I was a nobody in the Redeemed Christian Church, but I felt he caused Nigeria a very big opportunity with Wal Mart in US by writing that letter he had no business writing. The whole idea behind the deal was to control the means of distribution after which you can now control the content. We were almost on the way to controlling the content of Nollywood. We had started telling producers what we wanted and what we did not. I have no regrets. I did the best I could. There is nobody who worked then that won’t tell you I did my best. I was there 18 hours a day. 

But some people were alleging financial misappropriation.
No, I don’t think anybody is alleging that, if they are, they can come out, the records are there. What they said was recklessness, that I spent money anyhow. 

Did you speak with the new MD, Patrick Abraham after you left?
We did. We were exchanging texts and he was the one that went to tell GO that I was going to sue RCCG. I don’t know where they got that from. How can I sue The Redeemed Church? For what? I will never do that. I will not join issues with him or anybody. Like I said before, I have nothing but love, thankfulness for Daddy GO and Dove Media for giving me an opportunity to get into the industry.

Source: www.sunnewsonline.com
All men are dogs 
She insisted she was the girl next door. The okada riders in Mazamaza, Lagos, didn’t think so. They saw through her designer sunglasses and collected N250 for leading her to The Sun Corporate Office, a service that ordinarily cost only N50. Their rationale for charging her 500% more than everybody else was because she is now a star. They are right, aren’t they? But the journey has been long for this once troublesome girl who preferred football to dolls. Uche Jombo let us into her world: the intimate details of her hero, her father, Nelson Jombo, the man who shaped her world view of men and marriage and why we should stop blaming men for not being able to keep their zips up. In tears, she told the story of the father she loved to bits but who ‘refused’ to live beyond 57 years.

Mike Awoyinfa, Dimgba Igwe, Funke Egbemode and Sam Olatunji were there.
Sunday, June 14, 2009

Uche Jumbo Photo: Sun News Publishing

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I was such a difficult child that my mother told me I must have at least one child to do to me what I did to her.

I was born in Enugu. Later, my dad moved back to Aba. My childhood is a huge part of where I am today. I was not an easy child. My mother used to say I must have a child like me and I would say no, what if I don’t want to have a children and she would tell me I must have one and go through what I made her go through. I did everything a teenager would do and more. I climbed trees, played football and played cowboy. I’m short-sighted and that is as a result of a clothes hanger entering my eyes. I was the only female playing football with boys. 

At that point, my mum had given up because she felt I thought I was a boy. It was then that a friend told her to put me in a drama group in church. They called the group Children of the Lord. We ministered every Sunday but I was not happy because I thought my mother wanted to curtail my excesses. Later, when I heard they gave scholarship every quarter, I started competing to win. That was the only time I had acting experience. I have played every woman in the Bible (laughter). It was a very good starting point for me. When I told Fidelis Duker I still remember some of the lines I played in the church, he told me to read the last one I played. I read the lines of Ruth and he was impressed that I could still remember my lines of over six years.

My father said Abriba girls don’t act.
At a point, my dad said, ‘you are an Abiriba girl, you cannot act or disgrace the family name.’ Ten years ago when I was starting out as an actor, if you say you wanted to act, it is like you had given up on life. That is why it gives me joy when mothers stop me to say I should help their children that want to act. And now my uncles refer to me as their niece in interviews. It is a lovely feeling. I never thought that would happen.

An Abiriba girl is expected to go to school, marry and make babies but I broke the myth
An Abiriba girl just goes to school, prepares herself, gets married and stay there. Sometimes, an Abiriba man will tell you to sit at home and be a full-time housewife. He feels it is an affront if you go out and work. I sit back and hear lots of stories come out of my culture. Where I’m coming from, I’m larger than life because you have so many things in front of you telling you you cannot break out of this chain or life. But I have been able to break out.

Some say it is even unheard of for an Abiriba girl to marry from outside Abiriba.
But my mother is not Abiriba. Even my elder sister, who is the first child of a first son, did not marry an Abiriba man. That is to tell you how strong my mum is. I think she was able to give us the opportunity to be whatever we want to be irrespective of the culture. 

So far, I have not dated an Abiriba man. I’m not saying I have not dated an Ogbo man but an Abiriba man, no and I cannot say who I have dated in the papers. Maybe somebody dey there dey count for me (general laughter). 

Today, I’m an Abiriba girl who stood for what she believed in and is living her dream
I’m just the girl next door. What I mean by that is those close to me know me as Uche Obi and not the popular Uche Jombo that people know. I think at a point you have to surround yourself with people who know you and can tell you the truth. 

The Jombo name is both a blessing and a curse. Jombo is my real name. In Abriba, the Jombo is a popular family name. It is not a nickname. Every Jombo in Abriba is related to me.

Every Abiriba person is believed to be strong in business and I am no exception. 
I think I work harder because of where I come from. In the beginning, my father would not hear jack from me as per acting. He went on and on to tell me I’m an Abiriba girl because at a point Abiriba girls were seen but not heard. So, I’m proud to be an Abiriba girl who stood for what she believed in and is living her dream. 

Fidelis Duker gave me my first on-screen opportunity.
It happened by accident. I had taken a letter to Fidelis Duker as one of the marketers of REEL Awards. When I got there, there were so many people; I think I was number 50 or so. When I got inside, he did not even look at me, he just pushed the script in front of me and said read. I said, ‘I’m not here to read; I’m here to give you this.’ He looked up from his table and said, ‘what’s that supposed to mean?’ He said, ‘you are not an actress and you can’t act.’ I said, no, ‘I’m not an actress but I can act.’ He asked how I knew I could act. I told him three years of my secondary school was sponsored by a scholarship from an Acting School. He asked if I had acted in front of a camera and I said no. He told me to read for him and I did. I walked away with the Linda role. Fidelis Duker was the first person to give me the on-screen opportunity. That was in Images. I don’t think he has paid me for that job (laughter). Actually, he was the first person that made me believe I could do this aside my sister.

Being an Igbo girl does not guarantee success in Nollywood
After Images, I started working with people that were on the same set. I did My Visa To Hell and Adure, which was my first lead. People always thought it was my first film. It wasn’t; it was just that it came out before My Visa To Hell.

Being an Igbo girl does not give you an edge in this business. I don’t think so. If anybody should know I think I should because I don’t think I saw success like this five years ago. I don’t think there is any tribal sentiment. People that say that are just too lazy to go out there to look for job or package themselves for the job.

The famed sex-for-role does not exist
Anybody coming into the industry must first believe in himself. It starts with believing in yourself. Trust me, the disappointment will come but your belief in yourself will keep you going. As for the sex-for-role thing, it doesn’t exist. If it does I would have been a star long before now.

My father, my hero and why I think men are dogs
My father is dead but he was my first hero. He is the reason I think there is love and I also think men are dogs. The truth of the matter is, it is not their fault. It is the way they are built. It is not possible for a man to be faithful no matter how much he loves a woman. Remove religion out of it; it is not just possible. My dad is an Abiriba man, He was the first son and he was married to someone from Mbaise. You can imagine that. I watched my parents’ drama unfold in front of me. I sometimes blackmailed him at a point when I caught him with a woman (laughter) but I never squealed to my mum. Why should I tell when I was busy collecting money from the man? (laughter) . I cannot tell you how many times I caught him with girlfriends because I’m only running my mouth now that he is dead.

My mum was strict. She was always cancelling stuff from the list we brought from school. It was what she approved that my dad would buy. I would wait and just go and meet my dad in his office. I would tell him I wanted to collect money for the stuff my mother cancelled from the list and he would give me. I have not seen any man who loves a woman the way he loved my mum but if he could do that, it means love does not guarantee faithfulness. There was pressure on him to marry an Abriba woman when they were giving him a chieftaincy title but he refused. That still did not stop him from having girlfriends.

Every woman deserves a man who loves her more than she loves him
It is not the men’s fault; it is just the way they were made. Trust me, my dad is everything I want in a husband if I eventually see one. I want a man who could root for me; who could trust me when everybody is against me. I think every woman deserves a man who loves her more than she loves him. Because of the animalistic thing in man, they have tendencies to take a walk. But a woman, especially an African woman, cannot take a walk because when you are divorced whether you like it or not you are a tokunbo. Even the men that come to you feel you should be happy they are coming.

I wish my father had lived long enough to see where I am today
He had family values. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t know a better Abiriba man than my dad. He always spoke his language to you whether you understood it or not. He was proud of his heritage. My only regret is that he is not here. I would have loved to tell him I told you so, see where I am. He didn’t believe I was strong enough for this. 

I’m a combination of both my parents. I want to believe I took after their strength but I don’t know whom I took the stubborn thing from.

Here’s the point she broke down and cried. We switched off our recorders in memory of Chief Nelson Jombo.

My dad died at 57 but he smoked actively for 35 years
My father’s death is something I don’t want to talk about (sobbing). My dad is the reason I can never smoke or marry somebody who smokes. I don’t want to talk about my dad (crying). My dad didn’t die by accident. He died of bronchitis. That is what you get when you smoke for too long. He lungs were infected. 
In this industry, most people feel they have to smoke to be hip.

I was shocked when someone called me to say they wrote that I smoke. I had a good laugh. I could do any other thing but smoking is something I will never do because it killed my dad. Those close to me that smoke don’t feel comfortable doing it around me. Smoking is not something people can give up for you. My dad was still smoking while undergoing treatment because it was an addiction. My dad died at 57 but he smoked actively for 35 years. The man smoked a major part of his life. I always argued with him not to smoke. If you presented your reasons against smoking, he would tell you he had been smoking before you were born.

I cannot accommodate a cheating husband
I can’t. My dad is the reason I see that that is the way men are created. But that does not mean I will accommodate it. I take pride in being an African woman. I can’t take the fact that someone should tell me there is nothing I can do about a cheating husband because I’m an African woman. I don’t think that should be the case. To whom much is given much is expected. I demand as much as I give. When I give you so much in a relationship, it is only logical that I demand as much. 

I don’t know if I can accept a man who is unfaithful. I don’t think I can accept a man who doesn’t have family values or who thinks I should be happy that he is in my life. He should be the one that is happy I’m in his life. Anybody who is going to end up with me is the winner. There is nothing saying I must get married as an African woman. I have not seen the right man. Someone can be a perfect boyfriend and not be a perfect husband. 

If you can get 70% on the list of what you want in a man, then you have gotten your perfect man. 
In a relationship, there are things you can take in a marriage and there are things you wouldn’t. The transition from being single is drastic. Most men still prefer women to sit at home and not work and I wonder why. Yet they are still attracted to women who are working. That goes a long way to tell you about men. There is no perfect man. All those people who say they are waiting for a perfect man are deceiving themselves. If there is a perfect man, there won’t be God. If you can get 70% on the list of what you want in a man, then you have gotten your perfect man.

The media and Nollywood marriages
It is the same press that say Nollywood marriages don’t last that always ask when we will get married. The fact that somebody is on the screen does not mean the person is not human. The only difference is that everything you do is under scrutiny. It annoys me sometimes when people look at you as different from other human beings. I guess it is just one of the curses of this job. It is just that the blessings are more. 
People who don’t know jack about you talk about you. The junk journalists supply them with stories that are not true except the correct spelling of your name. Sometimes they get mine wrong. They spell Jombo with a ‘u’. So, you have to defend yourself to people who really know you and you wonder what you have to do with people who don’t know you. 

The media can only speculate about my relationships. They can never hear it from me. I know that if you want your relationship to grow, you have to keep it out of the press.

Life is one big stage and we are all actors
What you become in life is not about what you read in school; it is all about talent. I think all of us are actors. It is just that some of us have decided to make money with our talents. If you check out life, who you are in the presence of our kids is different from who you are in the presence of visitors. We all act at different levels of our lives. It is just that we don’t realise it.

I have no regrets dumping statistics. Luckily, my dad is not alive to hear that. I don’t have regrets at all. Two of my classmates are in my employment now. One is actually my primary school classmate while the other was my classmate in secondary school. It is just about them knowing who I am from when I was born.
So, it is about what you do with what you have acquired. I don’t think any knowledge gained is wasted.

My first script, Ordained, was produced eight years ago
I started writing when I started acting. It was just that people did not know. My first script that was produced, Ordained, was about eight years ago. It is just that I’m mostly known as an actress. But I will not tell you how much I earn.

I am a success story
I am as successful as I can get. I think my career speaks for itself. Success is being fulfilled at what you do and in all modesty, I am a success story. As for failure, I think you cannot know success if you had not known failure. I have known failure in every area of my life. For me to get here, I must have known failure. For you to say you are successful, you must have known failure.
There had been times I felt like quitting. when my career wasn’t going the way I wanted. People were telling me to go and get (another) job. There was a point I felt I was tired but I never stopped believing in myself.

I cut my dreadlocks to repackage myself for new roles
It’s showbiz. At a time I was always getting a particular role and I needed to prove that I can act other roles. So, I cut my hair because I had dreadlocks and I totally repackaged myself. And you won’t believe it, I started playing other roles. The truth is, if producers see you in a particular role, you have to do something drastic to convince them that you can play other roles. You have to be able to look at your jobs and learn. That is why I find it funny when people say they don’t watch their own films. You must not get to a stage where you stop learning. I never stop learning. Every day is a learning process. I watch my films to learn more.

Kissing on screen
I don’t think kiss on screen is real kiss. I have not really played kissing on the screen.

I’m a sucker for good dialogue 
I’m a sucker for good dialogue. When I see good dialogue I sink into it. Being an actor is a privilege because you are able to live another life and come out of it and still be you. I had to first of all fall in love with the script. 

The characters I play do not affect me. Rather they teach me. When you play the role of a drug addict, you know the evil of drugs. I learn from the character I have played.

My rating of actresses
Mercy Johnson is drama queen, Ini Edo is charismatic, Omotola is lucky. It is not easy to be having kids and still remain on the A-list. Ramsey is a cross-breed. Emeka Ike, that is my bros now. Bimbo Akintola, she is just Bimbo. And yes, there is rivalry in the industry. It might not be on the surface but it is there.

Ini Edo and I
She is my friend and still my friend. 
That is the press trying to find something out of nothing. They said all kinds of things about why I was not at her wedding but the truth is i didn’t because I was working. I wasn’t released and she understands. Ini is my friend and she is still my friend. As far as friendship is concerned, you hear things about each other. I saw it in the paper and we spoke about it.

Journalists make up all kinds of stories about how there is so much in-fighting in the industry. They need to make some people scapegoats. For instance that one actor ended up playing a role originally cast for another person is nothing new or unusual. I don’t think there is any actor alive who has not played somebody’s role.