Baba Ijesha: TAMPAN Warns Iyabo Ojo, Nkechi Blessing Over Derogatory Statements Against Association

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

The Theater Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) has frown at the unprofessional conducts by actresses, Iyabo Ojo and Nkechi Blessing over what the association described as their “reckless accusations, abuses and embarrassment which have dragged the name of the association and the industry in general in the mud.

TAMPAN made its stance known at a press briefing held on Saturday in Lagos attended by some members of the association’s Board of Trustees and elders in the industry including Prince Jide Kosoko; Mr. Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello); the President, Bolaji Amusan; Lagos Chapter Governor, Yinka Quadri; Mrs Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero); Ebun Olaiya and others.

The theater practitioners’ body said it has observed the continuous derogatory statements made by Iyabo Ojo, in particular, against the association and the industry as a whole but with Nkechi Blessing joining in the ignoble tirades against the association and by extension, the industry, it then say “enough is enough”.

“We couldn’t fold our arms and allow the continuous blackmail that sends negative signals across the world to go unchecked. The current situation that has impugned our integrity will continue to grow to the detriment of humble practitioners, whose only source of livelihood is the practice of indigenous language movies (promoting Language to preserve culture). This is the very sector that started what we now know as the Nigerian motion picture industry and we are proud of what we have achieved,” said Prince Jide Kosoko on behalf of the association. He stated that the association is not against her (Iyabo Ojo) stand on the issue of alleged rape or sexual assault as the case maybe, which the Association said it has equally condemned at one time or the other.

“We believe only a person without conscience will support rape or sexual assault in any form. However, Iyabo  Ojo’s reckless accusations, abuses and embarrassment of our sector is also totally condemned,” he stated. 

TAMPAN declared that the body does not support any form of criminal behaviour in whatever unit. 

“We as an association, have stayed away from making comments on the Lanre Omiyinka (Baba Ijesha) saga because we believe in the rule of law, due process and the ability of the courts of the land to do justice in such a way that it will be deemed to have been done without necessarily been swayed by emotions or influenced by sympathies,” TAMPAN added. 

The umbrella body of Yoruba actors and filmmakers also dissociated itself from a recent statement made by one of its members and veteran actor, Deji Aderemi aka Olofa Ina, concerning the reaction of Iyabo Ojo to him over the alleged rape case against Omiyinka Olanrewaju popularly known as Baba Ijesha.

The 48-year old comedian cum actor was accused by Comedienne Princess of raping a minor (when she was 7-year-old) who was kept in her care.

After many weeks in Police detention, the actor was arraigned beforeJustice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos on charges of sexual assault, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault by penetration. He was later granted bail in the sum of N2 million.

The 71-year old Olofa Ina, who was one of the actors who showed up at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in solidarity with Baba Ijesha, while addressing journalists after the suspect was granted bail, had claimed that Iyabo Ojo was rude to him on phone and went further to accuse the actress and Comedienne Princess of pranking and setting Baba Ijesha up. 

But TAMPAN inferred that tempers are bound to rise under certain circumstances, especially with the way Olofa Ina alleged Iyabo Ojo spoke to him on the phone, the association dissociated itself from his allegation of immorality amongst theatre practitioners and condemned the immoral perception of the Yoruba movie industry as portrayed by the aged thespian.

According to the association, “we condemn bitterly all malicious utterances from any person, persons, group or groups, blogs etc and the views expressed by one of us, Olofa Ina is in no way representative of the opinion or position of the Association, as he spoke in his personal capacity and not on behalf of TAMPAN. 

“The association does not condone immorality, nor is it the standard in our industry. If two consenting adults decide to have things in common, it does not mean that it is the standard practice for the Association or our industry. 

“There is no where it is stated as a rule or practice that a female actor must have sex with their male counterparts or seniors before she can grow in the industry. Those holding such an opinion or notion are certainly doing that in error. The most important ingredients for growth are talent, proper training and the ability to stay focused on what you want to achieve,” the association concluded.