Actor Victor Osuagwu Explains Why He Got Married In A Truck

Here is what actor Victor Osuagwu told Leadership magazine about his wife and marriage.

• Why did it take you almost 14 years before taking your wife to the altar? 
• Some people even said it was because I didn’t have money to organise the wedding. But to me, it was a deliberate act. It was a promise made to God that when he blesses me I’m going to celebrate my marriage in a very big way. I don’t  owe my in-laws, everything about marriage was done in 2002 but I promised God that if he keeps me alive by the time my last born would be five years old, I would celebrate my marriage, alongside my children. And that was exactly what I did immediately my last born clocked five. 

• What motivated you to have your wedding in a truck? 
• That was my own way of entertaining people because the entertainment must continue and that is my job as a comic actor. I must apply all the tactics within my disposal to make my fans happy. It is not only on screen that I can make people smile and laugh. I felt that I could also achieve same without being on TV. I was using the occasion to celebrate my wife having endured for a long time waiting for me. I made my fans realise that I’m a core entertainer on and off the screen. Port Harcourt knew that someone was wedding on that day.

Photos: Sound Sultan With His Wife

They got married in 2009 and Chichi converted to Islam shortly after their marriage because of her husband's religion. She adopted the name Farida.

Lovely couple

Photos: Omotola Jalade New Photos For ThisDay Style

Beauty and style

Write-Up: The President's Wife Patience Jonathan's Excesses Must Stop - Punch Report

Read this report written by Punch Newspaper Editorial Board....

Each time the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan, hits the road with her long motorcade, including bulletproof and bombproof limousines, or is having a whale of a time at an event, drivers and commuters who find themselves on her routes always have to live with the bitter experience of the encounter. As police empty the roads of traffic, forcing drivers to wait as her glamorous convoy drifts by, motorists are trapped in traffic for hours on end, while social and economic life of the affected community is brought to a halt abruptly. 

The recent visit of Mrs. Jonathan to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in which her security details forcibly grounded the movement of residents, is the latest of such excesses that Nigerians have been forced to endure for the past three years. This impunity must stop.

Acording to newspaper reports, Mrs. Jonathan’s security arrangement paralysed activities in the Port Harcourt Government Reservation Area for the four days of her visit. Armoured personnel carriers were deployed at two points, while gun-wielding operatives manned the points leading to her private residence. Many people missed their appointments because they were prevented from moving in and out of their houses. 

When she came to Lagos last year, on a “thank-you visit” to some women groups for electing her husband president, she enacted a similar repulsive scenario.  During the visit, Lagos residents were subjected to an unprecedented road blockade, which gave rise to an unnerving five-hour traffic that grounded all human and economic activities. The First Lady was attending that event at Ocean View Restaurant on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island.

Mrs. Jonathan’s misdemeanour, which still resonates more than a year after it happened, forced Governor Babatunde Fashola to lament, “Lagosians were needlessly inconvenienced…. It dawned on me the need for public officers generally to be more sensitive to the people we serve. It is particularly worrisome that this (she) is not an elected person. I think we all must check how security agencies use the movement of high officers, especially VIPs, to disrupt citizens and taxpayers, whose money is used to fuel all the vehicles and all the apparatus that we use to block the roads against them. It should not get to the level that we close the roads in the state because VIPs want to pass.” It cannot be said better. 

But not long after the ridiculous show of power in Lagos, Mrs. Jonathan headed for Warri, Delta State, where she also caused hardship to residents through her security arrangements.  Needless to say, these foul-ups compound gridlocks on our roads.  On a few occasions, the First Lady has also broken protocol. During President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the United States in September 2012, she breached protocol by disembarking from the aircraft before the President, and shaking hands with officials waiting on the tarmac while her husband was still coming down from the plane. The First Lady is setting a bad example for wives of governors. 

The position of the First Lady in the United States, from where the convention spread to other countries, is not an elected one, carries no official duties, and attracts no salary. But it glows with much glamour and the occupier is expected to handle the position with sublime grace. In the United Kingdom, the role of the Prime Ministerial Consort is not official and as such whoever occupies the office is not given a salary or official duties. Many of them prefer to remain very much in the background.  Indeed, the late Denis Thatcher once summed up the role of the ideal prime ministerial spouse as “always present, never there.” This is the ideal.

But operating under the loosely-defined, unconstitutional office of the “First Lady,” Mrs. Jonathan has been bringing the highest office in the land into disrepute since her husband assumed full duties as President in May 2010, by her public conduct. Her behaviour – when there is no reason for it – is leaving many citizens who have had their rights trampled on bitter but helpless. 

This is not the practice in civilised societies. The basic requirement of civilised democracy is that everyone plays by the rules and that the rules command public confidence. In October 2011, it was reported that a stunned 27-year-old Indian woman was so agitated that she enquired from David Cameron, who chose to travel in a tube train during rush hour, “Excuse me, are you the Prime Minister?” The Prime Minister was reportedly travelling on the London Underground for an appointment.  The United States’ security services offer maximum protection to Michelle Obama while, at the same time, causing minimal inconvenience to other motorists and citizens. It is as outrageous as it is gravely uncivilised for official cortèges to take pleasure in inflicting pains on the people that such officials claim to be serving. 

The itinerary of the First Lady can be smoothly planned without compromising her safety and the convenience of the citizens.  Mrs. Jonathan must recognise that power is ephemeral and should learn from the past occupants of the office who history does not favourably remember because they did incalculable damage to the image of the First Family. Fashola, who, as a governor, does not use sirens in his limited convoy, and does not harass other road users, offers a useful lesson in public morality and decorum. Even with the aura surrounding the office of President of the United States, whenever Barack Obama is visiting any part of America, information is fully circulated to the locality well ahead of time, and locals are given alternative routes that cause minimum inconveniences to use.

It is President Jonathan’s duty to caution his wife to stop this regime of offensive illegality that has tainted the Presidency and presented Nigeria in a bad light.

Photos: Mercy Johnson Celebrates Baby Purity's 6-Month Birthday

The star actress and her hubby celebrates their baby's 6-month-old birthday with friends and families. Also she's back on set. See a photo of Mercy on location and her tweet tag below...

Interview: Actress Benita Nzeribe Opens Up On Her Life Issues

Benita Nzeribe started out as a teen star in Nollywood and later grew into adulthood long before the industry started experiencing the boom it now enjoys.

That is why her endorsement as Ambassador for two separate institutions is not a surprise. In this interview, she talks about her career, endorsements and refutes  the rumour making the rounds that she has a love child.

It seems your love for acting has vanished ?

How do you mean ? I’m still and will remain an actress.

But you’ve been away  from the big screen for some time now. What have you been up to ?

I was really not away . One thing about entertainment is that no one ever leaves it . I have been around and I’m active. I do jobs that come my way but I am a very patient person and not swayed at all . I have not been away from the big screen. I just have a different project and responsibility on my shoulders and I’m moving on by the grace of God .

What are some of those projects you’re currently handling ?

As you very well know,  I am a UN Peace Ambassador and as such stand for world peace . Ambassadors work towards peace from the grassroots. Personally, I am more convinced than ever before that there should be peace in the inner mind of every human being created by God. Sadly, not every human being has been able to discover that inner mind and access the peace that is much needed for  its growth and development for success .

World peace is still a tall order in our world today.  However, nothing is impossible with God . I shall continue to call on Him for strength and direction as I pursue this awesome assignment. World peace must be achieved to an impressive  percentage .

Secondly, as the Air Safety Ambassador of Nigeria which was bestowed on me by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), there is also a job to do . The aviation sector has recorded huge achievements under this present administration . Furthermore, I will be on location in less than two weeks from now  for the shoot of their international classic  TV commercial, It’s a big project; I can tell you that .

Also, I am presently recording the Malta Guinness Low Sugar Game show with Emeka Enyiocha as my co- presenter . It’s hitting the screen soon and I can tell you, it’s going to be a great show . I will be on location immediately after the NAMA TVC and thereafter, I will embark on an official trip out of the country as NAMA Ambassador .

How did you secure all these deals?

Well, let’s say that it’s God at work and the fruits of my labour  as an actress, On the UN Ambassadorship, I was called upon to come and receive it. The fact that I grew from a teenager to an adult in Nollywood and have contributed to the growth of the industry and written my name in gold opened those doors for me .

So you must be swimming in money now ?

Swimming in money? Hmm. Well, I have always believed in sacrifice first before reaping, and that has worked out well for me. God has been putting smiles on my face little by little. I must appreciate Him for that. But swimming in money? Not yet.

So what was growing up like for you?

Growing up was fun because I have disciplined parents. I went to a Convent school and I think that explains how I came about my disciplined self.

Could you share  with us some  of those boring experiences  you had while growing?

All I can remember  is that all the partying that has to do with teens was never part of my experience. But I guess, it helped me to keep disciplined till date.

Do you regret not being allowed to enjoy your childhood days?

I don’t feel like I missed out at all. In fact, it’s rare to see me in a night club because I have been fashioned that way. It’s not like I’m saying it’s wrong to party, everyone should just do whatever makes them happy.

Since you attended a Convent school, how did you come about acting?

My getting into acting was never planned. My debut role in ‘Beyond Our Dreams’ was just meant to be.

So, acting was an accidental thing for you. What were you doing before acting?

I was in school then. So, my girlfriend and I came to Lagos for holidays in my elder brother’s house, Hon.Chuma Nzeribe. One day,  we decided to just stroll around for sight seeing and we stumbled on  an audition for a soap. We wanted to just see what they were up to and why so many people gathered there. It was curiosity and one thing led to another. I was called upon to be tried because they were actually searching for that character of a female lead. I was auditioned and the rest is history.

Did you have plans on being a Reverend Sister?

That’s not true. I just went to a Convent school because my father believed there is more discipline and a better quality of education there. I didn’t attend the school because I was aspiring to be a Reverend Sister.

So, weren’t your parents disappointed that you chose acting after  the discipline and values instilled in you at the Convent school?

There was nothing to feel disappointed about. It’s a profession just like every other one. My parents are educated so they understood that I was doing my job. I have my limits as an African woman.

What are your limits?

I can never go naked!

I overheard you calling someone ‘Daddy’ on the phone?

Ha! that was my father in the Lord, my pastor.

So, who is the lucky man?

Soon, you will find out.

Does that mean there’s a man in your life?

I’m sure you don’t expect me to have a woman in my life. Well, it’s not yet ripe to talk about that for now. But I’ll surely inform you at the right time.

How’s your daughter doing?

My daughter? Which daughter? Where is the daughter and from whom? This is really funny, and the first time ever a journalist will be asking me about a daughter. I have none for now but will definitely get one once I’m married. Don’t be in a hurry.

Are you a single mother

Wow! I’m not, please. That’s definitely not true. Why would I hide my blood from anyone if I had a daughter? Children are blessings from God so I would flaunt her to the world if I did. Relax, I will soon get there by God’s Grace. People saying that should take a chill pill and wait.

Photos: Julia Roberts Kid Visit Her While She Was On Set

Julia Roberts' husband Danny Moder and the couple's three kids visited the Oscar-winning actress on the set of "The Normal Heart" yesterday (June 29) in NYC.

Twins Phinnaeus "Finn" and Hazel, 8, and their younger brother Henry, 6, stood close to their dad as they watched their famous mom prepare to shoot the TV movie, which co-stars Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Mark Ruffalo.