Mr Dominic Nwuzor, manager of Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor, a.k.a ‘Mr Ibu’, says the late comedian used his craft and popularity to make people happy, build bridges, reconciling warring communities across the continent.
According to Vanguard, Nwuzor, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Don Singles International, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Nwuzor said the late veteran comedian was given several honours and recognitions by leaders and communities across Africa during his lifetime.
“I remember vividly, how two warring tribes in Ghana came together for the first time because of John’s performance and he ended up reconciling them.
“He was thereafter given a Chieftaincy title as the ‘Malangula I of Tamale Land’, meaning the peacemaker, and I was named the ‘Ngulala’, meaning the mouthpiece of the peacemaker.
“When we went to Botswana, he held the Nigerian flag when we landed to show how proud and patriotic he was because they were hearing a lot of negative things about Nigeria then.
“He was a man I would say made Africans laughed and was held in high esteem like a people’s leader across Africa,” he said.
“I signed John in 2004, and then our relationship grew beyond that of business to become that of friendship as we have become so close till his death.
“The deal started with first two years, and I did not bother him with the aspects of Nigerian movies, so he could deal with anyone on Nigerian movies.
“But for anything concerning international showbiz, I have to discuss with the promoters on the basic access requirements and then we would move.
“There was no airport, especially in Africa, where crowd of fans would not gather to welcome John, and that was how I realised his popularity outside the shores of Nigeria.
