Emeka Ike, though controversial to many people, is seen by
few others as a very blunt and fearless actor. He is one of the actors who has
been in the movie industry in Nigeria and still wields much influence.
Few years ago, he was in a tough power tussle with the
immediate past President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Segun Arinze,
who handed over to the incumbent, Ibinabo Fiberesima. Even after the tenure of
Arinze has expired, Emeka is still fighting on to unseat Ibinabo, who he
claimed shouldn’t have been sworn in as President of the recognized actors body
in Nigeria because, according to Emeka, Segun shouldn’t have conducted as
election, which eventually produced Ibinabo as winner.
Apart from acting, Emeka is into some other things. The only
winner of the Gulder Ultimate Search, Celebrity edition, runs a school in
highbrow Magodo Estate of Lagos. The school, according to reports, is also
co-managed by his German wife.
Recently, the Yabatech graduate was made an ambassador of
Federal Government’s Rhythm N Play along with Ice Prince and Victor Moses.
Emeka runs an NGO and also has a business outside Nigeria.
Some months ago, there were reports that Emeka Ike had vowed
to stop acting.
The actor recently disclosed
in an exclusive interview why he’s hated by some movie producers and
directors in the industry. He said that his stand on not allowing up and coming
actresses to be used for s3x-for-movie roles has made him to be hated in the
film industry in Nigeria.
“If you knock at their office and you can’t sleep with them,
you won't be allowed to act. Is it fair to tell a girl that ‘if I don’t sleep
with you, you won’t get my favour?’ if God does that to us, where would we be
today? the actor asked.
He added that, “this situation is a general norm. Ask the
smallest artiste about my position on the situation. I have stopped productions
severally because of this (s3xual harassment). That’s why sometimes they get
issues with me.
Emeka narrated an ugly incident he witnessed on a movie set,
he said, “There was a day I saw a girl crying at a corner of a movie set, her
name is Esther. She is a make-up artiste now because she has stopped acting for
them (emphasis).
“I approached her and asked why she was crying. She was
lamenting like a girl who has just lost her mother. She told me that ‘look at
the girl going with my script, that ugly animal. The producer said if I can’t
sleep with him, I can’t get the script.’
“She mentioned the name of the person. So because she can’t
sleep with that man, she has to be marginalized, Kai! I have something against
that. If a girl wants to sleep with you because you are a star or because she
likes you, so be it. Don’t arm-twist someone, that is rape. Abroad, they will
go to jail for even suggesting it to her.
"You need to be responsible and responsive to the young
people you have exposed acting to. You need to stand up and fight for them.
Right now, they are interested in acting and there is no place to go to. They
go to Ajao and they tell them open your legs, is that what we made the industry
for?
“I gave the lady her artiste fee that day. Go to Enugu and
ask of Esther, the make-up artiste. She will tell you about this story. That is
why they don’t like me.”
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