The Kingsley Ogoro Interview

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Kingsley Ogoro was in a very sour mood when he walked into THISDAY newsroom. Some journalists are bent on ruining his marriage, he told Clementina Olomu. He also insists his marriage to singer, Esse Agese, has not been dissolved

What are you into now?

This is a year of new things to come, more achievements. Right now I'm embarking on finishing touches to some of my production that I've done. There is much pressure from my fans and colleagues to release some of my movies into the market. One of them, Widows, will be coming out soon. I want to raise the stakes once again in the movie industry by doing what no body has done. I'm not going to disclose what it's all about, but it's going to be one of the biggest thing in my life, because I've not shot anything since 2003. As usual, there will be some international imput. As usual I will be partnering with some international organisation. I'm also into music and I will be coming up very soon with my new act. I have Gbenga and Eva on my label. These are up coming new artiste, who don't have the opportunity. I'm assisting them

Why are you reluctant to release Across the Niger into the market one year after its premiere?

I want to contribute to our industry and the cinema culture which I adore. I can recall that I once said that I wanted to do it the way it is done abroad. When the movie is ready, there are world premiere. After people have seen it they make their observation and review the movie. In holding the film back, it makes people realise that when I make a movie, I don't release it quickly. So if people are interested in the movie, they go to the cinema and watch it. I remember when I did the premiere of Osuofia in London, we were asking for one thousand naira and people were reluctant. When I did the premiere of Widow, the hall was full, I guess we are succeeding If you have a good movie, what you do is hold it back, since the only way they can see the movie is to go to the cinema or attend the premiere, people will start demanding for it.

Osuofia in London is regarded as one of the best sold movie in Nigeria yet there is no statistics to show the number of copies sold?

If you ask for statistics, I won't tell you that I have one. But I will tell you that it is the highest sold movie till date. The marketer, Azuka Odunukwe, popularly known as Ulzee bagged some awards to this effect. The only thing I will say is it scored close to a million mark.

There are reports that you intend to remarry?

In fact, I'm very surprised. I was on a ride when I saw the write up on the cover page of a magazine. Meanwhile I just came from Ireland where I went to see my kids and they were all interested in coming back home. I'm quite surprised, because I'm not aware of this.

So what is your relationship with Angelica, the artiste you've been linked with?

She is on my label, infact she is Kingsley Ogoro artiste. I work with any of my artiste who is on my account, because I'm the producer and also the director of her album. That is the relationship.

But it's said she drives all your cars. As a producer do you also extend such privilege to other artistes?

Yes, she drives my cars, likewise Segun Arinze and my production manager in Lagos office because the car belongs to Kingsley Ogoro Production.. But she does not drive my personal cars.

Does Eva, the other female artiste you're producing, drives the car as well?

She does, she is my niece.

So how did the story about you getting married to a second wife emanate?

It Is very unfair for a magazine to start writing about a marriage when the person himself is not even aware of the marriage and for God sake has not even divorced in the first place.

Are both of you planning to reconcile?

I reserve that to myself and my family because it is my business not every body's business. All I want for my family is happiness and this is what I've strived for. I don't need to tell everybody what is going on in my house.
The magazine wrote an article and used pictures of me and my children in that paper. These were pictures I gave the magazine in question during the period I was shooting my movie, Osuofia In London. When Esse read it and saw our children in the publication, naturally she reacted but that was in my absence, because she got counsel from people who wanted to become head of the in-laws association. I want to believe that what she did at that point in time, was reacting from pressure from people. If she had thought about it, she would not have done that. My detractors took advantage of my absence, knowing fully well that Esse and my children don't live in Nigeria.
All these contributed to the crisis that engulfed my marriage. Since it became a public affair all sort of people got involved. By the time I came back things had escalated, that I was not able to manage anything anymore.
I repeat there was no divorce, so there cannot be a second marriage.

What is your relationship with Angelica right now?
She is still my artiste.

The last time I spoke with your wife Esse, she told me that God will restore her marriage in his own time. Do you believe this is the time?

As I told you earlier, marriage is not about two individuals coming together. It involves a lot more than that.

How do you see Esse right now: simply the mother of your children or your wife?

Esse is a good girl, no doubt. Her only problem is that she listens to people. This allows her enemieas to penetrate. The press has always supported my career, but I don't want them to destroy that which stands behind it

He should release Across the Niger and Widow abeg.

In which country is the Widow out? It certainly is not out in Nigeria.

A journalist explained to me a few days ago that their job is to ask every question possible, and it is up to the person not to respond. He was interviewing Najite Dede and Iyabo Amoke (2 brilliant actors). They refused to answer all those questions that I normally read nollywood actresses answering. The interview went from soft sell stuff to hard core issue oriented stuff. And I think it was their maturity and level of intelligence that helped move the inteview that way.

Now, if one is going to "produce" and "executive produce" and expert to sell anything in Naija you have to talk to the press. Unless you are a paid director with no stake in the sales, then you can hibernate.

I don't think I said it anywhere that you did not know the press Sola unless you find that it was impled in my post which is certainly not the case. All I did was clarify they way you did not in your first post. I am mindful that there a film makers here who may not know much about dealing with the Nigerian press like you do. In fact, your present post buttresses the point I made in my post that the interviewee determines where to draw the line.

The Widow is not out in Nigeria.

Widow is not yet out in lagos.