Nigerian Newspapers
Why my husband doesn’t complain when I am away
She came into the industry in 2010. Some would say it is a short time to make it big in the motion picture world, but the actress disagrees. Maureen Okpoko says that hers is a different tale as she has become a household name when it comes to sitcoms.
Of Nigerian and Jamaican parentage, the mother of three, in this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, talks about career, the project Golden Egg, her preference for low cuts, family and other issues.
WHAT exactly is The Golden Egg about?
The Golden Egg is a movie owned by an independent person. He is a House of Assembly member and is one of the honourables there. This is actually his first movie. He actually drew me in because he found out that my mother is Jamaican and what they speak is patois. So when he found out, we started flowing. I got to learn patois when I was in Jamaica, my mom’s place.
Somehow, we don’t speak it as often as we did when we came back. Somehow it disappeared a bit but it is still there. Once we start flowing, I go with it. In the movie, it was patois I spoke all through with the Executive producer, the owner of the job, because he could speak a bit of it. I acted as a detective that came in from Jamaica. It is my very first movie with patois.
Who were the others in the movie?
The movie featured the late Justice Esiri, Chika Eyikwuba, Elvis Obi, Jim Lawson Maduke and a host of others. These are the people I can remember.
What stage is the project now?
I gathered from the Executive Producer that he hardly finished the job before Justice Esiri passed away. They are still editing it because we shot in Abraka, Warri and Asaba. It is a very big project, but they had to pause for a while for reasons best known to them. I can assure you, it is something that will come out with a bang because I am waiting for it anxiously.
Why the preference for soaps?
Will I really agree to the word preference per se? It is probably because I am a face that is frequently seen or watched on series. It does not have anything to do with my preference for them. Sometimes I have a lot of soaps coming my way and I just grab what I can get because I have to work and my face has to be there. Though I have done a lot of series, I am cutting down on them.
This year alone, I have just done like two sitcoms but if I see very good ones, I could delve into them. Right now, I do more of Nollywood movies, though I was still doing alongside soap operas.
Why are you cutting down on soaps?
You know my face is already there. I started with them and, believe me, no one can take that away from me. They already know the face. Right now, people are beginning to approach me with movie jobs. From the soaps I have done, I am beginning to get movie jobs. I guess they enjoy what they have watched
Between movies and soaps, which would you say is more profitable?
(Laughs) Well, both are. They are profitable in their own ways.
How do you manage your home while on the move?
I put everything in place and off I go. I don’t need to bother myself. Because I know my itinerary before hand, I put everything in place so that nothing is missing. That way, nobody comes looking for me for anything. That does not bother me because I know how to take care of him. That is what I usually do when leaving home.
Don’t your children get to miss you?
What I’m I suppose to do? I call them from time to time. They know how my job goes. So they have gotten used to it somehow, but they can’t completely get use to it.
How does your husband take it leaving the home most time?
Let’s leave him out of that. The man of the home is completely taken care of, so he has nothing to complain about.
You have come to be known for keeping low cuts. Is there any possibility that you will change it for?
This brand is my look and I have had it for nine years now. It has come to stay, there is not going to be any change. This is my own personality; I intend to keep it as long as I can.
Are you saying, this look is not borne out of your present career?
No, I have had this look even before I started in the industry. So it has always been my look. This brand, this face, this hair cut has come to stay. I am not ready to change my look for anything or anybody. Sometimes when I am on set, I could use a wig, but not in all movies. Some of the time, the attraction to most people who want to use me is my looks and probably the way I speak. You know you first admire one before you get closer to the person and have a chat.
Was there a period in your career you felt it was not worth the effort?
It happens to everybody, but the possibility to forge ahead, to think positively makes one go on. At some point, I was still getting jobs but not as frequent as I am getting them now. I kept encouraging myself, telling myself I will get there. I have this inner thing propelling me not to give up. That is what has sustained me and made me carry on. It has made me who I am today. If you have a focus and believe in yourself, the sky is the limit. I don’t easily give up, I am a determined person. If I am determined to do something, I will see it through. When I try and see that it is not working, that is when I retrace my steps. I know I have put in a lot in this industry and I am still putting in a lot. I am gaining recognition. I work hard, in this industry you must work hard.
These days, it is trendy for actresses to venture into movie production. Any plan to join this trend?
At the moment I don’t have a personal project. In time to come, I will have. Right now, what I want to do is to get to a certain level. You see majority of those who have produced got to a certain level. Most of them didn’t want to go ahead with acting. It is not easy to get there and you could find out that it is not working and decide to go into producing. Once you are known and you go into producing, it open doors. Right now my main focus is to act.
How much does it take to maintain this look?
I don’t put in much. I don’t do much to myself, except from the exercises that I do. I try to rub a bit of cream on my body to look like every other person. There is nothing special that I do. Look at me, this is me. I don’t do heavy makeup, I just come out as simple as I can. Most time they see me makeup on set and look different. Everywhere I go, I look a bit different.
Why is it so easy for everyone to come to you to greet and hug you? As a star shouldn’t there be a limit?
You know there is something about personality. I don’t think being a star would take anything away from me. Naturally it is me as I am. My friend, I call her big sis, calls on me to sell things for her, and I am here to help. You see why all these stars do that. I don’t blame them, because people take advantage of your being down-to-earth and start misbehaving. We were at a meeting one day and somebody got up and said when you see these stars and you go to hug them, they snob you. I then asked why one should hug a star. You don’t know her. Because if you are coming to hug me and I don’t know you, I move away to look at the person. Some of them are not naturally pleasant, others are nice. I can’t see a star and go to hug them. It is not right in all sincerity. You can say hello, how are you? Hi, nice to meet you, but to hug someone is out of it. You have to get used to the person. People don’t like it. If you hug me, I hug you back.
So why are you not averse like your colleagues? Is it a strategy to gain more fans?
That is me. Sometimes you might not really be in a good mood and somebody comes up to hug you. Maybe later, if you are this kind of person and you are like oh God, I should have done that. You can go back to apologise. But it is very difficult for them to go back and say I am sorry. Do you know what it took for most of them to get there? It took them a lot. Most of them suffered in the hands of producers, directors. I advise the upcoming not to overstep their bounds. In one of my interviews, I said acting keeps me in check. You know we are all human, sometimes you just flare up when you have had it. For me, it does not happen all the time.
How long have you been in the industry?
I started in 2010, worked for six months, left because I had some challenges then and came back fully in 2011.
You have done quite well for yourself within a short period. How did you do it?
I don’t know, I guess it is just me, my personality. I think I am good at what I do and people that are my age in this industry. Nobody looks like me and nobody speaks like me. In all sincerity I don’t know and you can’t compare me to anybody in the industry, because I am different entirely. And I do jobs, good jobs. I don’t do waka pass.
When you are not acting, what other things do you do?
I am into modeling as well. But I am waiting for the big cure in the modeling industry. I buy and sell as well. I relax at home with my children and take care of some personal things. And you know our job is like a back-to-back thing. Once you are done, you want to rest.
You put so much time into your career, but how much time do you give to your children?
Well my children are not here, Just the small one who is in primary school. The other two are in Secondary School, boarding in Abuja. At least I still have time for them when they are back. They are not always with me. They are with their daddy in Abuja. So I am the only one here now.
How do you cope with his absence?
I still shuttle. As artistes, we have to make out time for ourselves. If not, nobody will give us that time. You have to make out that time to be able to take care of them. It is as simple as that. (Laughs) At least the children are proud of their mother.
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: The Nation Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
Kamaru Usman has raked in a mammoth £1.1million, about N584.2 million after his impressive knockout victory over Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night, Sportivation.com.ng reports.
The Nigerian Nightmare has been handsomely rewarded for his stunning performance and he was the best-paid fighter on the card which was witnessed by 15, 000 fans in Florida.
According to Daily Mail, Usman earned £538,000 to show up, £459,000 pay-per-view bonus, a £43,000 sponsorship bonus and a well deserved £35,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Jorge Masvidal also earned £358,000 to show, £186,000 in pay-per-view money and a £28,000 sponsorship bonus.
This is the biggest payday of Usman’s career so far and the Welterweight champion also benefited from the fact that Masvidal is also a top draw for the fans.
Kamaru Usman is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler.
Sourced From: Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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