By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Iyabo Ojo, has broken her silence on lingering rumours surrounding her relationship with colleagues Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, while also shedding light on behind-the-scenes developments involving her upcoming movie, The Return of Arinzo.
This is coming after the alleged snub of Toyin Abraham presence by Funke Akindele at Iyabo Ojo’s ‘The return of Arinzo’ Movie premiere held in Lagos last weekend.
The episode draw massive reactions from fans and Nollywood lovers on the alleged act, drawing comparison on both recorded success in the industry.
In a lengthy statement shared on her Instagram handle, Ojo pushed back against critics who have “maligned” her character and called her names, stating that she felt compelled to set the record straight for the first and last time.
Addressing the much-discussed tension between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, Ojo revealed that the two actresses had enjoyed a long-standing friendship before falling out.
According to her, she once made the mistake of dragging Akindele online during the release of Abraham’s film, an action she now admits she should have handled better.
She explained that both parties eventually reconciled after efforts were made to settle the dispute, noting that they had agreed not to engage in online shade.
However, fresh tensions reportedly arose when Abraham raised concerns about alleged sabotage of her movie in cinemas, with some individuals pointing fingers at Akindele, reigniting the controversy.
Ojo also disclosed that Toyin Abraham was initially billed to appear in The Return of Arinzo but pulled out at the last minute due to exhaustion and travel commitments.
The development, she said, forced her to rewrite parts of the film despite the financial implications and tight production timeline.
“Though all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all, I have tried my best, but at this point, I can’t be anyone anymore,” she stated, adding that she no longer wishes to be involved in the dispute.
Calling for respect and understanding, Ojo expressed hope that both actresses would eventually resolve their differences, emphasizing her continued love for them.
She reiterated that her movie ‘Return of Arinzo’ is scheduled to premiere in cinemas nationwide on April 3.
