- Safiu Kehinde
Nollywood actress and producer, Iyabo Ojo, has opened up on feud between her colleagues, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, following their dramatic encounter at Ojo’s movie premiere.
NPO Reported that Akindele and Abraham had on Sunday attended the premiere of the Return of Arinzo movie.
They however had a brief encounter which had since sent tongues waggling.
The controversial moment captured in a now viral video saw Abraham walking up to the table of Iyabo Ojo who had fellow actress, Mercy Aigbe, Akindele, and other colleagues sitting beside her.
Abraham on arrival stopped by to greet Iyabo while also exchanging pleasantries with others.
This would however not go down well with the actress as she approached Akindele who snubbed and ignored her presence while pretending to be carried away by the event anchor’s address.
The brief scene had since mixed reactions from netizens and stirred divides from fans of both actresses.
Meanwhile, some fans and netizens tend to have dragged Iyabo Ojo into the saga, prompting a response from the actress.
Reacting in a post shared on her Instagram handle on Tuesday, Iyabo Ojo slammed those criticising her over the incident.
Iyabo Ojo disclosed having similar clashes with Funke Akindele in the past despite their friendship.
“For those of you maligning my character, insulting me, and calling me unprintable names, this is for you!! Now, I need to set the record straight.
“This is the first and last time I will be talking about anything like this…… Funke and I have been friends for the longest, but there were times we fell out, fault on both sides.
“I once came online to drag Funke because of Toyin’s movie. That was a wrong move on my part, I should have handled it better.
“Funke and I later made up, and we addressed all our issues and put them behind us.” She said.
Ojo further disclosed her last intervention in the clash between Akindele and Abraham.
She said both parties had agreed to bury the hatchet on a condition that none of them will throw shade at the other when another issue arises.
Abraham was however reported to have violated the condition with a video of her complaining about her movie in cinemas while alleging that some people were trying to sabotage her.
Her fan, according to Iyabo Ojo, would then point accused fingers at Akindele, triggering their current feud.
“I tried my very best to settle both of them, cried, knelt down, begged both parties to embrace peace which they both later did.
“Reason you saw them a few months ago interacting with one another.
“But there was a condition, no one was to shade online if any issue arose, they both promised to address it off camera.
“But unfortunately, December came, Toyin made some complaints about her movie in cinemas claiming some people or person was trying to sabotage her, some fans pointed accusing fingers towards Funke, that sparked up a fresh beef.” She wrote.
Iyabo Ojo further explained reason behind Abraham’s absence in The Return of Arinzo movie.
She disclosed that the actress was initially casted for the movie but deliberately pulled out on account of exhaustion.
“About The Return of Arinzo, Toyin was suppose to be in it but she said she was exhausted, and she also had to travel, so she pulled out last minute.
“I was upset bcos it cost me alot, to rewrite the story, but the show must go on, we had a deadline to film if I wanted The Return of Arinzo to make 3rd of April ……. she apologized, we made up, and the rest is history.” She said.
Iyabo Ojo however vowed not to involve herself in the dispute again, stressing that both parties will come back to terms whenever they are ready.
“Honestly, all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all. I have tried my best, but at this point, I can’t beg anyone anymore. I honestly don’t want to get involved anymore.
“Please, you all should respect that… when both parties are ready, they will make peace……….. I love them both regardless…. The Return of Arinzo will start showing in all cinemas nationwide from the 3rd of April” She added.