Emeka Ike Says Pastor Chris Okotie Did Not Play The Role Of A Pastor Concerning His Crashed Marriage..

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