Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Iyabo Ojo, has said she will no longer mediate in the ongoing rift between her colleagues, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham.
Recall that Funke and Toyin made news at Iyabo’s movie premiere which took place over the weekend after Funke snubbed Toyin. Toyin had gone to a table where Funke and Iyabo were seated to greet them. After greeting Iyabo, she moved to greet Funke, who did not respond.
In a lengthy post shared via her Instagram page on Tuesday, Iyabo said she was addressing those who had criticised her following the incident between the two actresses. She disclosed that her relationship with Akindele dates back years, although it had experienced periods of disagreement.
Iyabo said she and Funke had been friends for a long time but had disagreements in the past, admitting that she once publicly criticised Funke over Toyin’s movie, which she described as a wrong approach that should have been handled better.
She said she later reconciled with Akindele and took deliberate steps to mend the strained relationship between Funke and Abraham. She explained that the reconciliation came with an understanding that both parties would avoid public disputes and resolve issues privately.
However, she noted that the agreement broke down following controversies that emerged in December over movies released in cinemas.
Iyabo further stated that she will no longer attempt to reconcile the two actresses.
She said she made several efforts to bring both parties together, including pleading with them to embrace peace, which they initially did, but a fresh disagreement later emerged after Toyin raised concerns about her movie in cinemas and some fans allegedly linked it to Funke.
Iyabo also explained that Toyin was initially billed to feature in The Return of Arinzo but withdrew at the last minute due to exhaustion and travel plans, a development she said affected production and required changes to the script, although they later resolved the issue.
She added that the situation saddened her, stressing that there is enough space for everyone to thrive, but maintained that she would no longer вмеш involve herself in their differences, expressing hope that both parties would reconcile when ready.
She wrote, “Funke and I have been friends for the longest, but there were times we fell out, fault on both sides. I once came online to drag Funke because of Toyin’s movie. That was a wrong move on my part; I should have handled it better.
‘’For those of you maligning my character, insulting me, and calling me unprintable names, this is for you!! Now, I need to set the record straight. This is the first and last time I will be talking about anything like this…… Funke and I have been friends for the longest, but there were times we fell out, fault on both sides. I once came online to drag Funke because of Toyin’s movie. That was a wrong move on my part, I should have handled it better. Funke and I later made up, and we addressed all our issues and put them behind us. I tried my very best to settle both of them, cried, knelt down, begged both parties to embrace peace which they both later did, reason you saw them a few months ago interacting with one another, but there was a condition, no one was to shade online if any issue arose, they both promised to address it off camera, but unfortunately, Dec came, Toyin made some complaints about her movie in cinemas claiming some people or person was trying to sabotage her, some fans pointed accusing fingers towards Funke, that sparked up a fresh beef.
“About The Return of Arinzo, Toyin was suppose to be in it but she said she was exhausted, and she also had to travel, so she pulled out last minute, i was upset bcos it cost me alot, to rewrite the story, but the show must go on, we had a deadline to film if I wanted The Return of Arinzo to make 3rd of April ……. she apologized, we made up, and the rest is history.” Honestly, all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all. I have tried my best, but at this point, I can’t beg anyone anymore. I honestly don’t want to get involved anymore. Please, you all should respect that… when both parties are ready, they will make peace……….. I love them both regardless”.
