Nothing wrong with my dress to Aso Villa– Oboli

Jonathan and Oboli at the screening

Actress-turned film maker, Omoni Oboli, speaks on criticism that trailed the screening of her movie at Aso Villa, in this interview with JAYNE AUGOYE

Nollwood actress and first-time director, Omoni Oboli’s movie, Being Mrs. Elliot, was, on Thursday, screened to President Goodluck Jonathan and some members of his cabinet. While the landmark event ordinarily ought to be celebrated, instead, it is being greeted with mixed reactions as Oboli has come under scrutiny by critics and fans alike.

But Oboli, who studied Foreign Languages at the University of Benin, majoring in French, says she will focus on the positive and not the mixed reactions. Narrating how she got the ‘breakthrough’, she said, The Film Producers Marketers Association of Nigeria actually wrote to the presidency.

She said, “To our greatest surprise, they said they would do it. The event had the president,

Vice-President, PDP chairman, some senators and ministers and two governors in attendance. It was huge and it is a big achievement for Nollywood. I sat on the high table with all these men and never expected that I would get to this point. The President said Nollywood had put Nigeria on the world map and contributed to our economy in so many ways and so could not be ignored.”

Also she addresses other issues that have arisen thus far, including the dress that she wore to the event and if she was given any money by the President.

She said, “Before the screening, they asked me what I wanted and I said I didn’t want anything but that the President and his people should see the movie and give their blessings. For me that is good enough for the industry. The first time I ever saw the President was at his brother’s burial ceremony, which I attended. I don’t know him from anywhere or personally.

“During the event, President Jonathan said the government didn’t have money to give me and he said this in front of everybody. So if anybody is going aside to say something else, they are wrong. I returned to Lagos with the small purse I took to the event and after the event I went back to my hotel room and left for Lagos the next morning. I didn’t stay back in Aso Rock or sneak out to meet anybody. I am still hoping they will call us to come and take something, that they are impressed,” she explains, laughing.

Another area where the actress has come under intense scrutiny is on her choice of dress to the screening. She, however, hits back at critics saying, “I styled myself and I thought the outfit was appropriate because there were no vital parts showing. Sometimes the angles with which pictures are taken can portray certain things you do not have intention of portraying. We have pictures from the event and you won’t see what people are seeing.

“The truth is that a lot of people are very bitter and when people are bitter they try to look for a lot of negative things in every positive thing. It is unfortunate that we are in the limelight because if someone else wears that outfit no one will say anything. I don’t even read blogs and see the comments. My true fans know who I am and my intention when I am doing things.”

Controversies aside, the soft-spoken actress appears to have gone all out to ensure that no ends were left untied, while shooting the romantic-comedy flick which is yet to be premiered to the public. It stars funny men, A.Y Makun, Lepacious Bose alongside Oboli and Majid Michel.

Reluctant to reveal the true cost of the movie, Oboli, who played two roles in the film, says, “I did get some sponsors, but it cost quite a bit of money and the logistics took a greater portion of the budget. For me to give an honest estimate I have to cost the things I got for free and I spent over N20m. I didn’t know it would be this challenging, but, thank God, I am not owing any bank. I have shot two other movies, but they are not as big as this project.”

Having shot the movie in and around major cities and tourist locations in Nigeria – like the Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ekiti, Lagos and Delta State, Oboli, who is clearly a stickler for perfection, is still in search of quality.