Popular Nollywood actor
Emeka Ike talks about the movie industry, his marital crisis and the
role played by a named man of God as his marriage was troubled…
What is your assessment of Actors Guild of Nigeria at the moment ?
I don’ t have any comment on that .
Some
people feel that you are no longer relevant in the industry as
producers don’t call you for movies . What do you have to say about
that ?
It is not just about me ; it is about all the
actors in my set . You don ’ t see Jim Iyke , Ramsey Nouah , Genevieve
Nnaji and Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde as often in movies any more as you
used to . So , it is not about me alone. It is the new trend that came
about when cable television operators came on board . The home video
system was not properly structured ; so, people started buying decoders .
The level of politics in the home video sector was so high and our
economic value became affected because initially , we got paid from the
funds got from the sales of movies . As an actor , you can determine the
fees you will charge for a movie . When cable television was introduced
, it drastically reduced the sales of movies because some of those
movies were already being aired on TV. It is not a personality thing but
the lack of structures in the industry . And see where it has brought
us .
What are some of the pressing changes you will like to see in Nollywood ?
I
have gone beyond that . I have stopped wishing Nollywood anything
because I see that change is far . Some years ago , you could hear me
say Nollywood was dying , but you will never hear me say that now . I
realised that whenever I tried to speak with people on how we could lift
Nollywood higher , they didn ’ t do anything . Some of them are not
even informed about what is going on in the industry . Now , it just
seems like I am a noisemaker but I keep praying that God helps us in
2019 .
Some people feel that Nigerian actors are poorly paid . Do you agree ?
Producers
don’ t make ( as much ) movies anymore ; the issue of being poorly paid
is out of it . I haven ’ t made movies in over six years . However ,
last year , I was begged to go to a location for a movie which is all
over the Internet now . This is because the industry is no longer what
it used to be . Cable television has taken over everywhere and the
producers and marketers that used to be popular then are no longer
famous because nobody is buying their CDs .
Some people feel that you are very aggressive . How true is this ?
Please
, this should stop . There has never been a report of me involved in
any altercation with any person before. If someone is pushing an opinion
that is not true , it tells a lot about that person . Somebody should
come out to say if I have beaten him or her before. I am very blunt and
don’ t give my time to people who try to destroy me . However , whatever
I do is nobody ’ s business because no one is an angel that has the
right to judge others .
Do you have plans to remarry anytime soon?
When I am ready to get married , it will be known .
How do you cope with raising your four children alone ?
It
has been God and I thank Him for his grace and mercies . I also thank
him for giving me love because that is what matters . If you love your
children , you will sacrifice so many things for them .
What is your relationship with Pastor Chris Okotie ?
I
don’ t know him beyond the fact that he didn ’ t play the role of a
pastor in my marriage . I thought he was a good man because while
growing up , I used to read about him as someone who spoke ambiguous
grammar. Then , his music career also died. He said he is a pastor and
the Bible says that , ‘ Let him that nameth the name of the Lord depart
from evil’ . If he says he is a pastor , then we should celebrate him as
one . As a man of God , if a woman runs to you , you should chase her
back and try to settle the dispute in her marriage . The cleric is
supposed to be a mediator . At least , that was what I was taught while
growing up .
Do you think Pastor Chris manipulated your wife ?
It
is a known fact ; I don’ t need to say it . Everybody knows that the
man doesn ’ t have a second church . He speaks English to manipulate the
things he cannot explain properly .
Punch