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‘It’s not possible to wed another woman when you have a subsisting marriage’ – Solomon Akiyesi

SOLOMON Akiyesi is a Nollywood actor. Last year, it was rumoured that his planned marriage with another woman was botched because he was legally married for six years without divorce or separation with his wife.
In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the Ososo, Edo actor rubbished the rumoured wedding saying there was nothing like that, adding that he fell into that mess out of ignorance, spiritual attack and much more.

Who is Solomon Akiyesi?
Solomon Akiyesi is a 40 something year old man from Ososo in Akoko Edo, Edo State.  The 10th child in a family of 12.  He’s a graduate of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, an actor and a businessman.  He is self made and some say I’m controversial.
Where have you been all this while?
I have been around.  I’m in a profession that doesn’t give you the luxury of sitting at a spot for even few days.  Yes, I’ve been around.
What is new about Solomon Akiyesi?

With Lilian
With Lilian

What is new for Solomon Akiyesi?  Solomon Akiyesi is facing newer frontiers in his chosen field.  I get professional calls across Africa and other parts of the world.  I’m making new friends and getting newer, fresher experiences from those who know better than I do. It’s a totally new experience.
You have been in Nollywood for over a decade, what has kept you waxing stronger?
I tell you this, what you see today as waxing stronger is the cumulative result of the manifestation of God’s unrepentant love for me coupled with a deliberate, planned and sustained personal development of what God gave me. I never planned to be an actor even with all my academic qualifications in that discipline.  I’ve always been a normal every day businessman.  Along the line, I saw a change in the weather and had to embrace acting.  And that was the beginning of a new journey for me and till date I have not regretted that decision though you need a toughened mind to be in Nollywood.
What has been the challenges so far?
Like every other profession, being an actor comes with enormous challenges.  First, it’s not a profession that guarantees you stable income.  You don’t know when your next job will come and so you can’t plan your finances.  You can’t make financial promises because you may not be able to keep them.  Unlike when I managed businesses or worked…when you will be sure of what is coming in another 30 days so you can promise your family a holiday and keep the promise.  Being an actor also comes with its annoying exposure to the world.  So, you can’t cough, otherwise someone out there will report you as having vomited.  I love a quiet, private life but I guess Nollywood robbed off.  A life in which I just sit in my room, watch my cartoons, eat my biscuits and drink my Coke while I watch TV.  But sorry o. Nollywood kidnapped all of that.  Also, as an actor, you are at risk healthwise because you are exposed to all kinds of environment and food that you ordinarily won’t eat.  Above all, as an actor you need to pray to have a wife or husband who will understand that her or his lonely cold nights are not deliberate but for the overall good of all stakeholders.
How have you been able to handle them?

With Uloma
With Uloma

One thing that Nollywood has helped me achieve is the boosting of my patience level.  I’m a very impatient man.  I’m so impatient that I flush the water closet in my toilet before I finish urinating.  But all that changed when I realized I needed patience to deal with Nollywood people. When I came into Nollywood, I could just walk off your set if my food is delayed.  But I realized that patience was crucial in overcoming Nollywood’s multiple challenge.
People would love to know how acting started for you?
I cannot talk about my beginning in acting without mentioning my mentor, teacher and grandfather in the business of acting. He was my Literature in English teacher back in secondary school.  He’s Mr. Awolowo Johnson.  Awo J, as he was fondly called discovered my budding talent and gave me that push when I played the role of King Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame.  That was the encouragement I needed to proceed to the University of Ibadan to study Theatre Arts.  After graduation, I worked in few companies and rose to managerial level before setting up my own company.  I owned a fledging oil contracting company but I needed more, not money this time but inner fulfillment, my passion.  So, I called up a few friends in Nollywood who opened doors for me to come in and in this regard I will not fail to mention the selfless effort of my good friends and brothers, Ikechukwu Okechukwu, Solomon Apete, Ugezu J.  however, in the 80s, I featured in a couple of productions like Third Eye with Olu Jacobs and Zeb Ejiro’s Ripples.
Would you say you are living your dream?
Living my dream?  I will say yes, though there is more to achieve.
So, where are you headed?
I’m headed for the top of the profession when I can work side by side with the masters of this game.
Not long ago, you had issues with your estranged wife, has it been sorted out?
On that issue, let me say this is the first time I will ever grant an interview.  I was shocked to see a lot of idle bloggers and magazines or newspapers claiming I said this and that in an interview with them.  Okay yes, the issue has been sorted out.
Are you guys still living together as husband and wife?
It’s not abnormal to have marital upsets here and there but I guess being an actor made mine worse, giving room to wannabe bloggers, magazines and newspapers to feast on my misfortune.  We are not married anymore.  W have gone our separate ways.
How long were you married?
Our legal marriage was consummated in 2007, so we were together for six years.
Why was it difficult to continue with the marriage?
I was not the one who opted out of the marriage.  My father in-law pressurized my ex-wife to leave the marriage or he would disown her.  Her level of understanding of marriage also made it worse.  So, she had to align with her father.
What happened to the lady you were about to wed in Lagos?
Let me explain this, I was not going to wed anyone.  It’s not possible to wed another woman when you have a subsisting marriage.  My wife…my ex-wife and the woman I was purportedly marrying knew why we did what we did on April 13, 2013.  But the story became so crafted to look like I was actually going to marry another woman.  I took all the shame and shut my mouth.  Maybe one day the truth will be revealed.  But who would marry a woman in Africa without paying the bride price and other traditional rites?  And maybe proper court process.  I challenge anyone to come out and say I did any of those processes on another woman beyond my wife.  Which of my family members was there at the so-called wedding?  Who can stand up to me and say I gave them a wedding invitation for April 13, 2013.  I did not marry or attempt to marry another woman as overblown by idle minds.  I’m a man and if I felt my wife no longer served her purpose in my life, I would disengage through due process and marry someone else.  After all, I’ve seen men who would bring in another woman even into their matrimonial home while the original marriage subsists.  Did I do such?  No, I didn’t.  What happened on April 13, 2013, was a combination of factors, both spiritual and physical.  Whoever will use that against me may as well do that a million times and perpetually dwell on that.  I’ve no apology.
What is your relationship with the lady now?
Everybody went their way that day and I haven’t seen her or spoken with her since then.
Any regret with what happened?
I have no regret at all because a missed step can actually quicken your speed.
So, you think the world still holds whatever happened against you?
The world as represented by the internet reacted to the lies wannabe bloggers threw at them.  I blame no one for any reckless comments made against me because such emanated from ignorance.  Like I said, anyone who wants to perpetually dwell on that may do so over and over and over.  I have no apology to tender.
How did your family react to it?
I’m not used to family fighting my course.  I’ve been a one man riot squad for years.  I was born a warrior.  I fight my battles and I win.  Besides, I cannot say I come from that family that’s so bonded.
So, when are you marrying?
I don’t know really.
What would you be looking out for in your wife-to-be?
Friendship then understanding.
So, are you searching now?
I don’t know if searching is the word, but you and I know I deserve a home and family to run home to after work.
Would you mind her tribe or physical look?
I don’t contemplate marriage based on looks, education and background, tribe and such mundane issues.  It’s love and understanding or nothing.
The trend now is that actors and actresses are into directing or producing, are you thinking about that?
The actors and actresses you see going into producing and directing didn’t just jump into such departments.  It’s all in the course of inner fulfillment.  It’s a good one.  And yes, I’ve a passion for directing too and that’s on the back burner.
Can you tell us some of the films you featured?
I can’t count the movies I’ve featured.  Neither can I remember their titles.

– NIKE POPOOLA

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