Government should stop giving actors money — John Okafor

POPULAR actor, John Okafor has decried the
absence of adequate structures in Nollywood.
Also he criticised the recent visit of the Actors’
Guild of Nigeria to President Goodluck Jonathan,
which did not appear to go down well with some
people who queried the motive in the first place.
For these critics, the actors only went to grab a
‘piece of the national cake.’ And though the actors
concerned have since defended their decision to
pay the President a courtesy visit, popular Nigerian
comic actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr.
Ibu, is still not pleased.
According to the actor who rose to prominence
after his breakout role in the 1997 movie, Agony,
where he portrayed an imbecile, the Federal
Government has yet to set its priorities right with
regard to Nollywood.
“The government should stop giving Actors’ Guild
cash, because we don’t know how to handle it.
Some people will go to the office, process the
money and squander it and we (actors) never
benefit from such goodwill.
“If they (government) can give us a structure or
land, we (actors) can go ahead and secure funds
from investors to build five-star hotels and other
facilities on it, because it will be a tourist haven.
We can bring the Nigerian Censor’s board into the
same arena.
“How can we be paying N50,000 to have one
movie censored and then generate N5m from over
100 movies produced in a month and yet there
aren’t any structures in place for Nollywood? “With
such amount of money, government should be able
to cater for us. If this is done, the industry will
make a giant stride.”
Besides the lack of infrastructure, Okafor also
drew attention to what he described as an ‘ugly
trend’. “Homosexuality is very rampant in our
industry and it is one thing that aggravates my
anger many at times,” he reveals.
Okafor would not go into details when this
correspondent probed further. Although he made a
name for himself playing ‘unserious roles,’ Okafor
said many fans were unable to tell when he was
serious.
“Many people do not take me seriously because of
the kind of roles I play in movies. But the truth is
that those who know me very well know that I am
a very focused and principled person.
“In fact, I teach and mentor many upcoming actors
and also organise workshops and seminars
regularly for them.”
The actor said his love for acting dated back to his
childhood days and that the streak ran in his
family.
“I think I got the gift of acting from my grandfather.
I discovered this in the early 70s. My grandfather
was a foremost comedian in his own right. Back in
the days, he would take me to places where he
performed. Growing up, I realised that I was going
to become an actor somehow,” he recalled.
The journey to the top was not an easy one for the
determined actor. Having worked as a hairdresser,
butcher, wait-and-get photographer and soft
drinks seller at various points in life, he claimed to
have found fulfillment in the world of make-
believe.
The year 1994 proved to be the turning point in his
career after he landed his first movie role in the
movie, Rolling Stone. Okafor was paid a paltry
N5,000 to star in the film, but that was then. Today,
he has emerged one of the most sought-after and
highly paid Nollywood actors who charges ‘six
digits’ to feature in a film.
He said of his new status, “Acting has not made
me rich, but I’m very comfortable. I am able to feed
and adequately take care of my family; neither do I
borrow money.
“It has also opened many doors for me and it has
taken me far and wide beyond my wildest
imagination. It has exposed me to certain level
where I can say that God has done it for me.”
Despite his ‘unserious’ and hilarious imbecile roles,
Okafor is one comic star who is blessed with a
very beautiful wife. Although this is peculiar to
most Nigerian comedians, the Institute of
Management and Technology, Enugu, Mass
Communication graduate, is of the opinion that she
saw through his innate attributes before making a
choice.
“First and foremost, I am man in all ramifications
and she has seen that in me,” Okafor said coyly.