WOW Fresh Controversy :Actor Jim Iyke

Another day in Nollywood,Actor Jim Iyke is still swimming in the pool of drama his ex-girlfriend Tutupie pushed him into. And now, there’s yet another controversy that may well drown the scandal-prone actor.

NET investigations have revealed that, contrary to widespread belief that Iyke has adopted two kids from a Kaduna based charity which he is also funding, the actor has only ever given N40,000 to the home, and has not been there on visit in a very very long time.

Jim Iyke launched his debut music album (’Who Am I?) last year, promising to devote a large chunk of the proceed to the Adonai Orphanage home and Widows Centre run by Mrs Margaret Afuwape.

But, following allegations by Jim’s ex Tutu, that Jim never remmitted funds to the home, NET reporters took a trip to Kaduna, to find out whether Jim’s lover is telling lies in a desperate bid to get back at her ex; or the actor actually has skeletons in his cupboard.
Adonai is located at Salama Close, Gwari Avenue, Garnawa, in Kaduna. Running now for over 10 years, the orphanage is home to 38 children and 52 widows. And the proprietress Mrs Afuwape tells NET ”we’ve been surviving through the grace of God and the goodwill of religious institutions”.

”No Jim has not been sponsoring any child here; the only time he gave money to us was last year September when we went to Abuja for his foundation launch. He gave us N40,000 when we were returning and promised to give us more but we have not received anything from him because he said the people who pledged have not paid.

They said they were going to sponsor two children, I sent their names but up till now, we have not gotten a reply. So they have not sponsored anybody here”

”What he told us is that the people who pledged have not redeemed their pledge hence he can’t get money to us. When he doesn’t owe me money, I can’t force him. What are we to do then?”

Afuwape also adds: ”He visited us last in year 2005 and we have since moved to another place and Jim doesn’t even know our new place”

”He called two days ago January 29, 2010 and complained that I was telling people he gave the orphanage N40,000 and that he doesn’t care. He said he was very disappointed in me so I told him I couldn’t lie since I am a minister of God. I told him he has not been here to see us, he only sent his manager to invite us to Abuja last year that’s all”.

However, the now embattled Jim Iyke insists his hands are clean; very clean. Speaking through his publicists BigSam Media, Iyke explains: ‘‘We didn’t want to trade words with this lady but since it is an issue of integrity, we will be issuing a press release regarding the allegations that Jim has been diverting money meant for his orphanage. Jim never said he was raising money for an orphanage at his album launch. He only said he’ll be giving thirty percent of the proceedings at the album launch to the orphanage. Go back and listen to the tapes but unfortunately, most of the people who pledged have not redeemed their pledge”

”The likes of Terry Waya, Moses Oliseh , Don P and other influential Nigerians in Abuja (made pledges) but they have not given money to Jim. Even the lady in question Tutupie can testify that Jim sent her to Terry Wayas to inquire about the money he promised”, his spokesperson said.

Nollywood blogs according to

nigeriafilms.com

I don’t play stardom in My Marriage – Bob Manuel

Bob Manuel and his family

Last week, star-actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu and his wife marked their one decade of marriage. As a king pin in the Nollywood industry, where divorce has almost become elevated to the status of a tradition, the Udokwus’ achievement in succeeding to live happily together, as married couples became something that called for a celebration.

It was for this reason then, that the celebrants last week, called together their friends, fans and colleagues to felicitate with them at Grasshoppers Suit , 24 Road, Festac Town. At a quite party that marked the occasion, and as people happily helped themselves to good foods and choice drinks, one question continued to prop, seeking for answer.

The question was: what is the magic? How does Bob Manuel and his pretty wife overcome the threatening and infectious divorce fever that afflicts Nollywood stars?In this interview conducted on the eve of the ceremony,Bob Manuel attempts to provide answers to the question.

With all divorces all over Nollywood, how have you been able to sustain your marriage for a decade now?
First of all, I am a family oriented person. I believe in the family unit. God left some aspects of creation for man to continue. And, of course, we have all come to accept the fact that the family is the first institution which God himself established.

And my upbringing and lifestyle generally lean towards family oriented life. I am among those people who believe that without a family unit of your own, you are nowhere. I cherish that value system. And I guess, it’s part of what formed my view about things in marriage, relationship and business, relationship as one person to another, where everyday life interaction is concerned. I believe in the connection we have as human beings. And I also believe in the family unit that begins to grow into something bigger and wider.

In the last ten years of your marriage, how would you describe the challenges of marriage?

Marriage institution is not a bed of roses, neither is it a bed of thorns. But in that mind set, you have to be very careful concerning how you navigate because trials will come; so also, temptations and good times, as well as hard times. That’s why I believe that most times, when new couples wed, people advise them to learn to solve their problems by themselves. The truth is that no two marriages bear the same resemblance.

This is because two people from different cultural and family backgrounds are coming to spend the rest of their lives together. More so, when you are in the public eyes, there’s always the tendency of being monitored concerning the way you live your life.  For some people, you become their role model for good, and for others, you are a role model for bad. To answer your question, it’s a combination of factors. Do I want my marriage to work out, or do I want it to be seen as a failure?

A combination of factors formed what one can call the sustenance of my marriage. I look forward to such good example of someone who is in the showbiz and is able to hold his own marriage together.

That my family is not so much in the public eyes is deliberate. I don’t think many people know Professor Wole Soyinka’s family. It takes awhile for a woman in the house to understand that if you are a star, you will always be in the public eyes.

Unfortunately, I don’t see myself as a star. Rather, I see myself more as someone who has a talent to expose to the world. I do my work and return to my family to be the husband and father that I should be. I don’t play stardom to my wife and children. I don’t play stardom to anybody. By virtue of what I do, the world accorded me the status of a celebrity. You see, celebrity has to have  limit, where it starts and where it ends and where the real individual begins and ends as well.

That’s where most people miss it because if I am not who I am in the place before becoming Bob-Manuel the star, perhaps, you and I will not be sitting here. When I send you an sms, inviting you to my event, you would have ignored it based on your own judgement.

First of all, I believe in that one on one interaction as human beings. Stardom comes in different ways, if you a very successful businessman, you are a star. What about those who are banking wizards.  So, some people always make the mistake of thinking that it is only when you are in showbiz that you become a star.

Stars are created everyday from different fields of endeavour. It’s the totality of the personality of the individual and my world view is wide.

That’s why I try to accommodate all shields of opinion, and that which forms me as an individual takes over to shape the things I see in such a way that they can enhance my life as a performer, a family man and my life in one on one relationship with individuals that I come across on daily basis.

That is not an easy thing to do. How are  able to keep your family and sibling away from your journey to stardom?

First of all, I’m very grateful to God for my wife. She’s quite understanding and highly objective about a lot of things. She’s also my fan, and the mother that I have, and who I go home to meet every night to share my story with.

I’m very grateful to God for my wife, and this has also wrapped up on our children who are still very young but are intelligent enough to understand that Daddy is a very special person, who’s virtually known by everybody. My son has starred in the same movie with me. Also, both my son and my wife have  starred with me in one or two commercials.

Nollywood blogs according to vanguardngr