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John Okafor (Mr. Ibu)
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Nollywood star actor and comedian,John
Okafor,popularly known as,Mr. Ibu, in this interview expresses his reservations
on the efficacy of the current anti-corruption war even as he revealed
that Enugu State has abundant latent Nollywood potentials yet untapped,
according to Vanguard.
The picture I
foresee for the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN,in 2016 is big. But,there is a
clause. The clause there is that we should stop attacking each other. If we
stop attacking each other by going to court and police every minute including
washing our dirty leaning in the public, we will go far. AGN is one all over
the world. Our own should not be an exception. Good administration has eluded
us for so long now. We do not have people that can pilot the affairs of the
AGN, told Vanguard.
"Now, I
sent a proposal for Film Village to the Federal Government. Only God in Haven
knows weather it has gotten to the designated point or not. The same thing was
sent in to the government of Enugu State. We are conducting a poll to
ascertain where will be most suitable for citing a Film Village. Enugu State
scored 83%. It means that if ever we are going to have a film village, Enugu
State is the most suitable nationwide. Second to Enugu is Lagos, with 53% then
Owerri, Asaba, 38%,34% respectively. That is why if you watch most Nollywood
films, there locations are shot in Enugu."
"So we
have more advantage than any other place. We are looking forward to having that
film village in Enugu. It is very important. Let government make us responsible
rather than looking beggarly,going to government houses and so on. I promised
myself that I will never be part of the people going to government houses
seeking alms. Our people should stop piling themselves in government
houses. When ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was in office,every minute they
were there asking for all maner of favour. And the ex-President loved us
so much that he gave them huge money. All those who diverted monies
meant for AGN or Movie Makers will die because they do not know the souls they
have killed. For 2016,if all these things are taken care of, AGN will do
better. I am promising one thing, am not contesting anything on the AGN but, I
have a lot of surprises."
"A woman working with me has sent in the proposal. The federal or state
government might not spend much because we will go ahead and get sponsors. They
will come and build a five-star hotel with a big gate carrying a neon sign,AGN.
All the things one may need from all accredited members of AGN will be there.
We will be resident inside the village. People will come in,shoot
pictures,shoot musicals among others. I have all these things inside. I equally
have friend who are not Nigerians willing to come and invest."
When asked
about the fight against corruption, he said it is too early to fight
this. I would have preferred the government to set their house in order first.
Set the administration going,make the people who voted you talk good of you as
you are coming in. The corrupt people know themselves. While your good work is
going on,you can then start picking them one after the other. Whoever that has
offended government knows he or she has done so.
"Government
should set its house in order first. Let the good things about this
administration flow first before the arrests. Let Nigerians talk good of you
first, then you can now tell them,there are people who did this and that,that
need questioning. But starting with this quarrel,fighting as a new government,I
do not think it will help. Many people are talking about hunger,no
money,collapsed businesses among others. They would have first of all laid good
foundation about their administration so that people will feel them first. The
change should be seen in the peoples’ welfare and every other thing will
follow. That’s my own idea."
He said, films are a reflection of the society when asked about Nollywood
films tilt towards,ritual and affluence that are perceived as lacking
morals. "Nobody
believes he is a poor person in Nigeria. We are trying to give proper
interpretation of what is happening in the society. Films give back the life in
the society. But,already,we have held a meeting that all things should go and
give way for films dwelling on family,tragic,comedy stories. The issue is that
the ritual thing can’t even go in the society. My father for instance, was
poisoned to death by his best friend. I was small then. When my father
died,he told my mother in a dream about three weeks after, that it was his best
friend that killed him. In that dream,my father told my mother,invite the man
who killed me but nobody should hurt him."
"My
father equally instructed my mum to invite my brothers and relations inside our
compound. Tell them what I said. My mother invited the man, as my father
instructed and other relatives. My fathers instruction was done exactly
as it came. They told the man what my father said. He denied and they said
okay,you will eat the yam roasted on my father’s grave. If you did not do
it,you will go home, but if you did it,you will die here. The yam was roasted
on my father’s grave in the presence of the man. All the elders in my village
ate the yam and said the yam was sweat and that we did not put poison in the
food roasted on father’s grave. Then came the turn of the man. The elders asked
him to say that if he was responsible for the death of my father,Emmanuel
Okafor,let this food be the last food he will eat."
"But if
he did not know anything about my father’s death,let his life span be
increased. The man who killed my father refused to eat it. And remember,my
father had warned us in the dream,that we should not touch him. When he
refused,nobody touched him and he left. That is to tell you that the rituals we
are shooting is real. But the new generations coming up,they are oblivious
about these concoctions. That is why we shoot films to highlight these things
so that people will know and shun such evil ways."
He laughs,
when confronted with the question of "what happened to the
money,ex-President Jonathan allegedly gave to the AGN as loan?" I do
not know who processed and collected it. If the money was released,I do not
know. If they did not release it,I do not know. The people who were supposed to
give us information, talking about the leadership of AGN, did not tell us
anything even the first $200 million,nothing was heard of it. What am looking
for is hectares of land for the Film Village,then I will leave acting.
