His Political Ambition and Dream of A Nollywood City JOHN ‘MR. IBU’ OKAFOR
The name ‘Mr. Ibu’, is synonymous with comedy and drama. But not many people know that the award-winning actor has been ‘Ibu’ since childhood. With well over 300 movies to his name, it appears the Enugu-state born superstar has more talents than just acti
Although it wasn’t the first time, the news about armed robbers invading his Lagos home recently and carting away valuables worth millions of naira was rife. Most especially so was the cash amount alleged to have been stolen by the robbers which was put at 14 million naira. Though the Nollywood ‘buffoon’ John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, has since come out to clear the air and put in context the exact loss at the time of the attack, events following the incident appear in good course as arrests have been made as the case is being investigated.
The jolly good actor, on the set of a movie sometime in November, just weeks before the robbery attack, had celebrated his birthday organised by his protégés, with the cast and crew at a location.
His bulky frame looms larger than ordinary, on this very day he was cast for the role to man the gate, not of his slightest imagination that men of the underworld would ironically come lurking at his own home weeks later.
However, it is not the first time the comic maestro will be cast as a gateman. “But you know this stereotype thing in the industry”, he noted. “I’m a versatile actor. But this man (a producer) puts you in the cast as a gateman and then it worked for him, another man will still cast you at the gate. I’m a comedian actually, but I can play any role.”
Playing comic roles most often times have affected his personality that people often think or described him derogatorily. In the real sense how would he describe himself? “Highly tactical person”, he responded, placing his harmonica on his right thigh. He would explain what he meant by ‘highly tactical’. But first had beckoned on a crew member for some form of assistance.
He had also called on the production manager to help him - while he undresses – pull off his security boots as it was a wrap for that day. “I see myself as a disciplinarian, I attach so many affairs of humanity to my community”, he continues. “I settle so many cases from people near my town, near my community, people around my village come to me for settlement of conflict.”
Really?! But all that does not portray him as such, not even when with “his humorous acting is often characterized by stupidity, hilarious imbecility, and a sharp disconnection from reality”. The unimportant image his make belief characters have cast on him beggars belief. Especially that in addition he claims to have lost count of the list of his movie appearances after it got to three hundred some years ago.
With his status now that gives him a feeling of weariness and disgust that had made him turn down movie roles “so many times for same reason of no suspense in the stories”, believes he has grown in the industry and needs to correct some impressions. “Slapstick is not my idea I have grown and like a raw material which people use in the industry to achieve their production, therefore I should be essential enough in the area of correction.”
Like some of his other colleagues who have ventured into politics, he’s not ruling out the chance if the opportunity comes but had promised never to go into politics. But leaves it open for his state governor should he find him