Nollywood veteran Bob-Manuel Udokwu has dismissed reports suggesting he accused fellow actor Pete Edochie of parading himself as the oldest actor in the Nigerian film industry.
Speaking in an interview with NollyNow, Udokwu explained that his remarks during a recent podcast had been misrepresented, insisting he never made any derogatory statements about the respected screen icon.
“The line that I said Pete Edochie is parading himself and deceiving others never came from me. That was a complete misrepresentation, that is very wrong for me to do,” he clarified.
Udokwu explained that in the context of modern Nollywood, his acting career began before Edochie’s, but noted that the latter had already starred in Things Fall Apart, a production that predates Nollywood.
He referenced fellow actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, who had previously made similar observations about the industry’s timeline.
He further stressed that Edochie’s contributions remain significant, highlighting that works like Things Fall Apart should be recognised separately from Nollywood’s later emergence.
Bob-Manuel Udokwu, who serves as Special Adviser on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism to Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, emphasised his admiration for Edochie, describing him as an elder deserving of utmost respect.
“Pete Edochie is far older than me, and in our culture, we never disrespect our elders. I admire and respect him greatly and will never disrespect Pete Edochie,” he said.
The actor’s clarification comes amid online reactions to the alleged remarks, with many fans calling for mutual respect among Nollywood veterans.
