tansali paparazzi

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.

 – Dayo (D1) Adeneye
By Taiwo Oluwadare
Saturday, May 30, 2009

Dayo Adeneye, a radio/T.V presenter, has carved a niche for himself in broadcasting as well as entertainment. Prime Time Africa, a programme that he anchors with his bosom friend and colleague, Kenny Ogungbe, is a rave both on radio and television.

But Adeneye aka D1 and Kenny are more visible in the entertainment sector with their record label, Kennis Music, which they floated during their days in Ray Power FM.
When the recording industry seemed dead with the collapse of major labels, the duo of D1 and Kenny went into the business headlong.

They discovered artistes like The Remedy, Paul Play, Tony Tetuila and invested huge amount of money on them. Indeed, their efforts have helped propel the growth of the music industry. In this encounter with Blockbuster, Adeneye recalls how it all started and talks on other issues like piracy, family life, his friend, Kenny Ogungbe and challenges facing the industry.

Beginning
We went into the music business when nobody was there. We invested our money, blood and sweat when everybody said music business was dead. Who discovered artistes like the Remedy, Tony Tetula and Paul Play Dairo? Who invested in them? We invested our money and sweat on them. So, why wouldn’t we always be visible? We can’t take the credit; it is God. But we are glad to be part of the process and for being the instruments to fortify the Nigerian music industry. So, why should we take a back seat having propelled this growth of the industry? We should be at the forefront.

What motivated me into entertainment
I like imparting knowledge in people. I like putting smiles on people’s faces, to make them relax either through music or entertainment programmes. It gives me joy and a sense of fulfillment. Whenever people stop me on the street, saying “we like what you do”, it makes me feel I’m doing what people appreciate and this makes me want to do more.

Economic meltdown and entertainment
Yes, it is a worldwide phenomenon. So, Nigeria cannot be isolated. The financial crunch is affecting everybody especially the multi-nationals. Of course, it is affecting the entertainment industry as people who would normally book like 20 to 30 artistes for shows are now reducing it to 5 or 10. And those who used to pay three or four million naira for artistes are now paying like N5,000. In the area of sponsorship of events, most organizations are pruning down because of financial constraints. Let’s pray and hope that things would pick up soon.

However, our movies and music are beginning to take a centre stage not just in Africa but across the world. The likes of Tuface, 9ice, Ruggedman and D’banj continue to represent Nigeria internationally. They consistently have won international awards. Our Nollywood movies have been quite well. I hope we can capitalize on that and turn it into a vibrant moneymaking machine that government and people of Nigeria can also benefit from.

Challenges facing the industry
There are a lot of things that need to be done. You can have the best idea in the world but if you don’t have a way to execute it, it would remain just an idea. We need to have bigger and better awards. We need to have better technology, music production, video productions, and better film making equipment. All these things cost money. That is why we keep asking government to invest in entertainment. If government invests in the entertainment industry and eradicate piracy, artistes will be able to earn their proper incomes and pay their taxes.

My friend, Kenny Ogungbe
Both of us met in school. We were basically in the same class for almost five years, studying accounting. We became very good friends. We left Ray Power because we just decided to move on. It was just another pace of life. We just felt we’ve done most we could do in that environment. It’s just like a bird, if it’s time for it to leave its nest it flaps its wing and takes off. It was just time to move on and thank God we don’t have any regret.

On Kennis Music and Prime Time Africa
We just get the job done. Here we have a Managing Director; we call ourselves partners and get the jobs done. And that is the secret of our success. The brand, Primetime Africa is what we sell here. We believe if we are successful, everybody gets to share the glory.

Why artistes are leaving Kennis Music
You need to ask them why they left. I’m the wrong person to ask. But I’ll tell you the only thing constant in life is change. Some of them, their contracts expired and both parties agree not to renew. It is not peculiar to Kennis Music alone. Go to Westside Music or Little Fish Record some of them don’t even exist anymore. So, that is the trend in the business. I don’t want to respond to the allegation that we don’t pay royalty to our artistes. You need to bring me those people instigating the allegation. You are a journalist; you should bring me the person that said this artiste is not paid. What you are telling me is a rumour and I don’t respond to rumours.

What fame has done for me
I don’t want to say that fame is a double-edged sword. It opens door for you but at the same time, you lose your privacy. You don’t have time for yourself anymore. But the advantages have outweighed its disadvantages. I love what I do.

Most embarrassing moment
It was some years back in AIT when a female presenter and I were presenting the morning show. She dropped a pen during a commercial break. I tried to pick up the pen and she also tried to pick up the pen not knowing we were live on TV. The situation was really awkward. It was like we were doing something we were not supposed to be doing. That was quite embarrassing but we laughed over it.

How I met my wife
I met my wife through my father. He introduced her to me. That’s all. Today, I’m happily married with children. My wife supports me; she and the children enjoy what I do. I love my family life.

Written by Ekerete Udoh

Saturday, 23 May 2009

*In love with a Jamaican actress , *His grouse with Nigerian women He  has been variously described as Nollywood’s playboy -a serial heartbreaker, one whose motto vis-a-vis relationships with women, appears to be “use them and leave them.” Tabloid stories about his sexual escapades are in volumes, leaving many to wonder what he is looking for in a woman or if he will ever find that unique woman who will melt his heart and make him entertain the thoughts of walking down the aisle.   Jim Ike During a recent encounter with Jim, in New York, the issue of his play-boy image and stories of his sexual liaisons were exhaustively probed. As reported before, he vehemently denied being a playboy, however, admitting that “a million women may pass through your life, but only one will stick and strike that chord in you.” It appears that that one woman may have finally materialized, and struck a strong chord in Jim Iyke’s life.   There have been some rumors and published speculations that the handsome actor may have finally found a woman of his dreams - a fact that he has neither denied  nor confirmed, until now. Jim Iyke was asked explicitly if he had finally found the elusive dream woman, and if so, what qualities stood her out of the numerous others that competed for his heart, love and affection? Smiling infectiously, Jim volunteered, “I am going to tell you everything you need to know. As a matter of fact, I am going to use this opportunity to finally break my silence over this issue. As you rightly pointed out, a lot has been written about my new found love, most of them largely speculative in nature. “Yes, it is true. I have found the woman of my dreams, and we are in love in totality. She is the embodiment of all that I have been looking for:  tall, pretty, exotic and supremely intelligent. I was looking for a woman who would complement and reinforce my intellectually curious mind -someone who would add and not subtract, and I’m happy to admit that I have finally found her. Her name is Phil, and I would leave it at that.” How They Met “I  met Phil sometime last year in the United States. She’s of Caribbean ancestry - more specifically Jamaican. We had a movie shot in Baltimore and Phil was invited by her then friend, Ruth Okoro, to the set, and we had an instant connection. Initially, I thought I was just going to have a good time with her, and keep it moving. But her beauty, intellect, deeply ingrained values and an abiding capacity to understand and deconstruct me struck me. No other woman I had met ever took time to learn who I was, and what elements and values define my entire being. On the to the alter will he ever get there?   Phil’s love for me was not based on my fame, rather she cared much about Jim Iyke, as an individual and not Jim Iyke as a star-actor and Nollywood superstar. I have always believed in the partnership of body, soul and the mind. Oftentimes, the women that crossed my path in the past were more interested in the partnership of the body. But Phil possesses both the intellectual ability and the traditional values that were in short supply  with my recent past relationships.” In  the   past   few   months, the tabloid newspapers had regaled their readers with the case of betrayal on the part of Jim’s new found love.  According to reports, “ Phil, supplanted and betrayed her close friend,- Ruth Okoro, who was said to be seeing Jim Iyke at the time she introduced her then best friend, Phil to the Nollywood Sexiest Actor.” As a result of this betrayal, the two erstwhile friends are mortal enemies today. Asked if he ever had an affair with Ruth, Jim replied in the negative.  “No. Ruth is not my kind of woman, and the notion that I was seeing her is totally preposterous. How could I be seeing Ruth, when she was even married to my boy, Philips Ehigiwina? She was sleeping around with Emeka Ike. I have values and moral ethos, and those values were in conflict with what I was seeing.  That was the reason I called Ruth’s husband in Texas, and asked him to come to Maryland and see what his wife was doing with Emeka Ike. Ruth was caught red handed in bed with Emeka Ike, and she knows this to be the truth. All the nonsense that was written about my alleged jealousy because Ruth was seeing both Emeka and me, were pieces of junk journalism. It is true that Ruth introduced me to Phil. I didn’t need to deny that. I saw a winner in Phil and I went for her. I have no regrets. What Ruth wanted from me, unfortunately, I couldn’t give it to her because of the fact that I have some morals in me. All the negative things she has said about Phil never bothered me because I know who she is, and I am comfortable with who she is.” Marital Plans “Yes, we have discussed it. But we are taking it one at a time. I am actually at a point where starting a family is becoming an attractive proposition, and I am seriously exploring it.   • Keturah ...Jim’s most romantic man Phil and I have been to Nigeria. She has met with my parents and family members and they all love and adore her. Her values and background mirrors ours and it’s a great feeling. I would say that it appears as if we have the same DNA.” Why Jamaican Woman?     “I have nothing against the Nigerian woman.  As a matter of fact, I think some of the most beautiful women are in Nigeria, and indeed Africa in general. But I have made my choice, and my choice is a Jamaican woman, someone who has come to understand and appreciate me for who I am . I do have my grouse with the Nigerian woman, though. Our women often go by the dictates and symbol of status, parental influence or pedigree as opposed to substance. I struggle hard to make them understand who I am, but I am always unsuccessful. I am tired of that struggle. I have come to realize that it is better to deal with a foreign woman. With our women, you struggle to define yourself. Foreign women are willing to take you for who you are, as opposed to what you are, which our women tend to emphasize. If I am in a relationship with a Nigerian, and I am seen outside chatting up another girl - innocently, with no strings attached, I will have a lot of explanation to make to gain back her trust - even though I have nothing romantic to do with that woman. It’s always a struggle to prove that you are not the person the society has defined you to be, and I am really tired of that struggle.”

Source - www.vanguardngr.com

Bob Manuel has made a name for himself in the movie industry. The current Gulder Ultimate search anchor spoke with Funmi Elugbaju and Ada Onwuanum ... Being a celebrated artiste in the industry, how does that make you feel?

It makes me humble, really, because I didn’t start out thinking about the fame and what comes with it because I had always been a performer all my life. My first recollection of performing for the public was in primary school, my mum tells me about all the traits I displayed when I was a toddler, things I cannot remember anymore. I was trained by the late Professor Ola Rotimi who wrote The Gods Are Not To Blame. With this, I was able to tap very deeply into the man’s reservoir of knowledge in theatre. He was a very strict theater practitioner and of course with the training and experience came the good fortune of being part of what is today being called Nollywood pioneer. We did Living in Bondage in 1992 and the industry sprang up from there. So, I can’t say that I walked into this line of business with my eyes open. But, of course, you can never tell the picture so you won’t pretend to know everything that is going to happen because one had the idea that actors were popular people, judging from what we have in America. We didn’t have an industry and even those who were doing TV soaps were quite recognized. But the dimension it would take, one did not know until it became apparent that one was a force to reckon with. With that in mind, the answer to your question is it makes me humble, it gives me a very large sense of responsibility; that I have a lot of people who look up to me, especially young people. I have parents who admonish me and I have older people who draw inspiration from me as well, so it cuts across and it is a huge responsibility.

Was Checkmate your first exposure to the industry?

Nationally, yes. But before Checkmate, I was doing things. Before I got admission to study theater professionally, I was already doing stage performances. I was a presenter on FRCN Enugu. I was a guest presenter and I was also doing Television presenting. So, by the time I got admission to do that, I was already familiar with studio life for radio and on TV and of course performed as an amateur on stage. And so for me, it was a natural step from one end to the other. But even then, while I was in school, I was doing something for the TV in Port Harcourt. I did one or two things for national television but they were all one-offs. People usually know you for soap operas because you are on air almost every week especially when you play a vital or major role. In a sense, Checkmate was a drama series that gave me national attention and people could see me and call my name saying this is this person as opposed to when I was doing one-offs. Yes those who knew you before would still identify you but for Checkmate it was different. It became such that even when you go to Kano, Bayelsa, kogi people recognized you because every week on TV, 8-9 pm, they stayed glued to their TV sets and watched us display

You have really done a good job at remaining relevant in the industry. What would you say has kept you there?

First of all, I will talk about Providence. In this country where we are used to mounting guns all the time, even when it is obvious that people are conscious about religion in this country, but without saying I am not into the line, God has kept me where I am, personal effort and also hanging in there. I am from Anambra State, core Igbo land, where people look at the entertainment industry with disdain. Going to study Theatre Arts at that point in time when somebody was telling my father that how could you allow your son study Theatre Arts? And that what would he do when he comes out? That was the mentality, it still hasn’t changed much. Even Nigerians as a whole , the attraction to the industry is more of curiosity to survive and of course in this era of “Yes We Can,” we have shown that we can. So, personal discipline, because a lot of people do not believe this, but as an individual I am reserved, very quiet and shy and that is why I draw the line between those who I call fly shiners who create the impression that for you to be an artiste, you have to either look weird or act silly or downright stupid. Like they say, the robe does not make the priest, its only costume. For me, when talent comes into play, I play. That means, I remove myself as Bob Manuel and play the role so I can do any creative thing. It is creativeness drawn from the source of creativity which is God because the world was created out of nothing. So, when you finish that, you drop your costume and be yourself. It is that discipline, it is that not playing to the gallery; that thing that makes me not to be noticed when I shouldn’t be or when I basically want to keep my peace, even as an actor I draw a line between my work as an actor and myself as an individual. Yes, they say as an artiste you have no privacy, however where your right to invade my privacy starts, that is when my privacy begins, I discipline myself, I don’t do anything in excess, but I try to key in to what will help the industry and I have sincerity of purpose. Finally, being relevant, because what am doing in the entertainment sector is a calling that was dropped upon me when I was born and so it is something that you can’t keep me out of, like the musical birds that reinvent itself I guess somehow God helps me to keep reinventing myself, there is so much to be done and I work hard to be a catalyst to bringing back the industry to where they should be in the world of entertainment, am not talking about Africa but all over the world. For example Slumdog Millionaire the movie that swept the Oscars was shot in the slums of India. It cleared eight awards in the Oscars. God where are we?

Since you have been in the industry for a long time, how rich are you?

In terms of money, I can afford to eat my daily bread, because I work to get paid and people can see my means of livelihood, it is very visible. It is not like somebody who is nobody today suddenly becomes somebody tomorrow and we don’t know the source and yet we shout Hallelujah. So, in terms of physical cash, I work to get paid and I get by. But in terms of goodwill acting has put me in a pedestal where I can walk into Aso villa without an appointment and am admitted to see who I want to see, it has also earned me real star treatment on an international airline precisely north American airline, flying back from New York in march last year. They recognized me in John Kennedy airport in New York. They didn’t weigh my bag out of courtesy and while the flight was just starting, the flight attendant came to me and said you act in African movies, and they moved me out from there to the First Class and gave me the star treatment. These are just a few things. I mean people want to be associated with you. You go into the bank, and most of the bank staff will want to know why you are standing on the line. They will remove you from there and attend to you and majority of people want to do stuffs for you. During fuel scarcity, you park your car across the road, walk in to see the manager and he makes fuel available for you, of course not free of charge but there are things people want to do for you because they recognize the importance of your job. In a nutshell, I am very rich, not in terms of physical cash but the goodwill I have is much more than money. A phone call for me can open a door for me and I think the goodwill and the ability to do a lot without carrying cash means more to me than physical cash, I want to build a reputation that I should be able to move things in a positive direction without having to struggle to do that and helping others in the course of doing that as a result of what God has deposited in me from my ability to create things.

Are you married?

I am married with two children. The girl came first, her name is Hellion it’s a Hebrew name meaning Most High and my son, I named him after the great African Jamaican called Marcus Garvey and so my son’s name is Garvey. My wife's name is Cassandra and she understands what I do although she is the only one that can answer that question. I give her a lot of credit because the truth is it is not easy to be Bob Manuel, to be who I am, so how easy will it be for me to be the next person in the world of today where there are so many things calling for your attention at the same time. I am hardly around but when am home I try as much as possible to be with my family, play pranks with my kids and do lovey dovey with my wife. I always try to strike a balance but they are very understanding. I love my family.

What can you say went wrong at this year's AMAA as non-Nigerians carted away the awards

Well, as an individual I didn't even attend the Award because of some other engagements but we had a dismal performance at this year's AMAA. Well it goes to show that we need to buck up and do a lot of work. I must say that the organisers of AMAA too should think of investing in the industry. AMAA is an award that came as a result of the works we do. Millions is pumped into AMAA by the Bayelsa State government and U.B.A. I think it is not fair of the organisers of AMAA, to just organise AMAA ,bringing Americans actors and actresses and pay them well to come and enjoy themselves without even putting them here to do a film with us. Bring these people, yes but as they are coming let them know that under one week they will shoot a film with us. It is not enough to bring them here pay them money, give them all the necessary things they need and then they go back. Of what benefit is that to us? AMAA has not to put food on people's table in the industry.

Oh! Yes, the Award is about actors and actresses. Let me tell you what it should be, Nigerians should expect that immediately after AMAA comes a major movie follows. Even if it is one every year. A major movie involving American actors and actresses with some of us that are here so that they will truly know that they came to Africa. Take them to our villages and shoot films. Let them feel Africa. It is not about putting them in a big hotel in Lagos or Abuja or Yenagoa and then they go back home without even tasting the soil of Africa or smell Africa. Most of them, when they come here during press conference, the first thing they will say is I'm so glad to be here, why wouldn't they be glad to be here. They are paid to come, they are given the best treatment, let them come and see how we do movies.

Are you now blaming the organizers of AMAA for Nigeria's poor outing?

I'm not casting blame, I'm just stating facts. I don't believe in blames, other people can see it as blame but for me any objective thinking person will know that Bob Manuel is stating the facts. I mean it may not occur to them but this is a forum for them to know that some of us don't feel what is going on. You see the height and excitement is all long gone. Now AMAA has to re-event itself. It is not a question of blame, if anybody sees it as blame all well and good but I think there is something called constructive criticism.

What is really Nigerian movie practitioners?

There is meltdown. A meltdown is effecting Nollywood in fact it is a pity, It is horrible. Go to Winnies

a lot of our practitioners have falling on hard times, many people are in poverty and you don't shout praise the lord on empty stomach . You can't effectively entertain when people are hungry. Some of those awards should even be extended to veterans in the industry who have falling on hard times, give them hundred thousand of that millions that they vote for AMAA every year. Call some of them recognize them and give them two hundred thousand each from AMAA'S money . Five of them is one million and ten of them at hundred thousand each is one million, vote it aside and give it to this people they are falling on hard time.

Let us talk about your contract with Gulder, How did you get the job of anchoring the Gulder ultimate search?

I was auditioned, we were ten that were auditioned . After the audition by insight, the insight is the company that handles the Gulder account. We were auditioned on recorded and camera after that they sent it to Nigerian breweries. Well they know what they are looking, I believe that they looking for the best, eventually I was the person they selected. I'm glad, so far so good will be on it and I have a good relationship with them and the brand also, the ultimate Gulder.

Your face is scarce in movie now, will it be a sign or an indication that Gulder ultimate search is bringing more money?

My face is not scarce, I have been shooting films. There is a number of films I have shot that have not released, beside how many people's faces are all over the places now? How many posters do you see on street of Lagos? Is not only my face. How many films has any body featured in this year, this is first quarter of the year before Mile 2 you will see space, Ojuelgba you will not see space. The meltdown has melted everybody but we are still surviving. In this meltdown were screaming I was far away in America shooting a movie. The ultimate search is still done on T.V it is still the media. What if I become a governor tomorrow would you say you are no longer acting because you are a governor. Richard Mofe my friend is a commissioner if you give him a script he will do it fast and go back to his commissioners job.

I noticed that former Gulder ultimate search anchors are both tall guys, is it meant for only tall guys?

It will not be out of place if you say that height also enhances charisma. How many shot people have you seen cast in roles of king in films even in oyibo land? Height has a role to play. How many short people have won Miss Nigeria or any beauty pageant for that matter. I'm talking about short people not average, they have their place. In real life a short person can be a king but there must a reason for you to cast a short person to play the role of a king. But like I said if it is my height alone there there were those who came for the audition that were taller than me. There are combination of factors that only Nigerian breweries can answer.

What impact do you think that Gulder Ultimate Search is making in the life of youths?

Oh! It is changing a lot. Now if you bring 10 young people, I mean the age rate and none is up to 30 years yet but once they enter successfully as one of the 10, they don't go home empty handed. It is not a winner takes all event, the exposure is also there as a spring board. Most of them in the past are gainfully employed. Now, those that are still in school are doing very well, after the search all of them get paid very well and they have open access to Nigerian Breweries. They are free to come and do things and Nigerian Breweries does things for them as well. So it changes their lives a lot, and not just Gulder Ultimate Search only. All the brands are targeted at helping the youths.

How long are you staying with Gulder Ultimate Search?

It is left for the owners of the production of show to say. But for me, they have not given me any cause to say I'm not happy with them and I believe that I have not given them any cause to say they are not happy with me . So I think we have a wonderful relationship.

Is it true you are a friend of Wesley Snipes?

It's true. Wesley is a good friend of mine. He is having some problems lately, but I pray he gets over it.