I might Look stupid,but… – John Okafor

John Okafor, a.k.a Ibu, is known for his comic roles. The actor says people have always mistaken his roles in the movies for his real personality and most times they don’t take him serious. He believes that no matter how people perceive him, if the job is putting food on his table, he is okay. He explained more in this interview with ORJI ONYEKWERE

Yes! The next movie is Ibu runs mad in America. Plans are on and we are about concluding, that’s why I am telling you. It’s a movie that will bring Rachel  Ellams, a Hollywood actress, for the first time to Nigeria and we have about three other actors from Hollywood. The director is also from Hollywood, Goodwill Michaels. He is going to be with us for the Nigerian shoot and the American shoot. We are using high class equipment powered by Big A Entertainment in America .

Are you the producer?

 I will say yes because they are bankrolling and I am doing the production. But I also have somebody who is standing in for me in the aspect of production and it’s under the auspices of my company.

Ibu was not originally your concept, so why are you using the name for your movie?

 Ibu has been my name from childhood. Mr. Ibu is another man’s concept but Ibu without Mr. is my own concept and brand. Ibu is my name from childhood. Ibu runs mad in America is the title of the movie and not Mr. Ibu runs mad in America.

I hope you understand the legal implication of what I am talking about.

 I understand you, it’s about the copyright. The producer cannot take me up on that because it’s spelt out. His movie is Mr. Ibu and I am talking about Kasvid movies. Now, we have Ibu runs mad in America and there is no Mr. in that Ibu. Just like Osuofi a, can actually handle any role they give me in a movie.

You have not been doing much of stand-up comedy, it’s like the movies are taking much of your time?

 It’s been movies. I came into the industry through movies and not stand up comedy but I can talk in the public. I do master of ceremony jobs and I anchor programmes of any class of people. I have taken advantage of the fact that I make people happy acting and I transported such to stand up comedy and it has been working for me. I tried it on a few occasions and it worked. So, I decided to delve into it.

Why are you not doing soap operas?

 No. I don’t want to bring myself down giving them any price. If you are coming for soap opera, all I know is that I am going to shoot a movie and you pay me my dues and once that’s done I hit set.

What if Wale Adeguna comes up with a huge amount and asks you to feature in his soap, will you refuse?

 If he pays me what I ask for, I will go and work for him and the effect is that immediately they start showing it, your market value will drop drastically. DSTV always show our movies and this affects us so much.

But it’s your people that sold the rights to them?

 I am not blaming them for that.

Is “Ibu runs mad in America” your first movie?

 No. I have produced a couple of other movies; Naomi, Inheritance, Fingers, Bora, FrontPage and they did well in the market.

Which is more profitable, acting or movie production?

They are all good depending on the way you handle them. For me, I produce once in a year so that I can keep my acting chances intact.

The industry, at a time, witnessed a drop but recently picked up with quality movies and premiers  Will ‘Ibu runs mad in America’ witness wonderful premier?

 I have a big movie I did in Berlin, Germany, titled Champion Sportsman. It’s a movie shot in Germany with the latest equipment where they used about 22 cameras at once.

Are you still a football agent?

 No. I stopped because I was actually using somebody’s license and the man was exploiting me. I wasn't actually comfortable with the whole thing, somebody using my intelligence and at the end of the day I get nothing from it.

Why don’t you apply to FIFA directly and become an agent?

 There is an examination we are waiting for, after that I will get my personal license.

Aside movie, are you involved in other businesses?

 Well, I am doing some research especially on importation. After that I can go into the business fully. It could be anything, I have not really made up my mind. It could be women’s and men’s wears including shoes of all classes.

Have you sorted out your problem with LUTH the death of your son? Have they apologised?

 They did not apologise, neither did they reply the letter sent to them through my lawyer. But my pastor said I should let go because no amount of money or any form of compensation will be commensurable to  the life of my son. decided to forget . If I continue to talk it, agony and the pains I went through because of his death, my business will not be settled.

Let’s go back to your days as an undergraduate in IMT Enugu, did you at any time anticipate that you would  end up an actor?

 Am I a wizard? How would I have known? (General laughter) How would I have known, even if you will go to anywhere in the world there is a process you must pass through in life. If you studied banking as a course and it is not in your destiny to work as a banker, you will still find your star and when you do that you will deviate.

Which means you deviated from what you studied?

 Of course, though I read Mass Communication and I am still communicating through movies. I believe that whatever God has in stock for you will come to be yours no matter what.

Some of your roles in the movies portray you as a stupid person, is that the way people perceive you in real life when they meet you?

 Yes. People think that I am stupid. What is my business? Let me be stupid and get what I want. If I could be feeding from that, I don’t care. The industry is not giving us the position that we strive for. This is the industry have overseas people are celebrated, cannot easily out like that and with people. They heavy amount money you there can make 10 movies here and there will still be balance and everybody will be well paid. We are laying foundation for those that are coming up and if they are sensible enough, they will stabilize and solidify it. I wonder why the government introduced the Nigerian Film Corporation and who are they cooperating with?

As I speak to you,  Nollywood  as film industry doesn't have a film village. By now, we are supposed to have a village where you will see at the gate, Nollywood headquarters and people will visit there as tourists. There is nothing like that, they claim to have a film corporation in Nigeria and a film institute in Jos, Plateau state.