Bob-Manuel Udokwu Defends Late Mr Ibu Amid Public Criticism
Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu shared his thoughts on the financial challenges many actors face despite their popularity.
Speaking during an interview on Udala FM in Enugu, he said life is generally easier for women than for men because men often carry more financial responsibilities.
He recalled the period when late actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, became seriously ill before his death.
Bob-Manuel noted that many people questioned what had happened to the money Mr Ibu earned from acting while colleagues were raising funds for his medical treatment.
According to him, many did not understand the financial realities of the acting profession and the responsibilities some actors carry behind the scenes.
He added that he was unaware at the time that Mr Ibu had more than one wife, a situation he suggested may have added to the actor’s personal responsibilities.
He said: “Life is generally easier for female than it is for male. It’s not that Nollywood doesn’t pay, but actors have a lot of bills to settle. It pained me when John Okafor (Mr Ibu) fell ill before he eventually passed away.”
“While we were trying to raise funds for his treatment, some people on social media kept asking, ‘Where is all the money he made from acting?’ people were just judging without knowing the truth. They didn’t understand the realities of the profession. I didn’t even know he had married more than one wife then.”
Doris Ijeoma Israel is an entertainment journalist and a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos. She covers stories in film, music, and celebrity culture. Contact her via email.
About the Author
