ZIK ZULU’S STATEMENT FALSE, MALICIOUS, AND INSENSITIVE - SAINT OBI'S FAMILY REPLIES THE NOLLYWOOD PRODUCER
ENTERTAINMENT - Posted on: 20th May. 2023 at 10:56PM
After the news broke that the Ace Nollywood actor, Saint Obi had passed, many of his colleagues in the movie industry were shocked as they had not known much about his illness or heard from him in months. In fact, none of them in Nollywood had heard or confirmed his death until Emdee David's Blog reported the news after several days of thorough investigations.
Suffice it to say that before the news broke, several calls were made to Saint Obi's former colleagues, friends and the few that were close to him, including former AGN President, Segun Arinze, and some present members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria. There was no hint of whatever was happening to our dear James Bond of Nollywood. It was after the calls that many of them started asking themselves if they had heard anything about Saint.
So, it was surprising that the respected producer, Zik Zulu Okafor, would take to the media and claim he was the first to hear about Obi's death on Sunday 7th of May 2023. But that was not even the main issue. More disheartening is the content of his article in which he tried to demonize Obi's ex-wife, Lydia Nwafor as the cause of Obi's predicament and consequent demise. This is, to say the least, preposterous, as those who were truly close to the family, knew that this was far from the whole truth.
Part of the falsehood Zik Zulu had spread was that Lydia never allowed Saint Obi to invite his colleagues to any of the children's christening. But pictures that could be found on the internet and other magazines have proven otherwise.
This, and many other issues raised by Mr Zulu were the reasons the family of Saint Obi had to release a press statement titled, "RE: DEMISE OF SAINT OBI (MR. OBINNA NWAFOR)" in response to the viral article. The family categorically stated that what Zik Zulu Okafor had written was false, malicious, and insensitive. Of Course, who brings us such issues barely a week after the death of one they claim was their friend, when the family was still mourning and his remains had not been laid to mother earth?
The Press Release by the family reads:: "Our attention has been drawn to the publication by one Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor concerning the death of our son, Mr. Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, and the accompanying negative commentary in social and other media portraying his widow in an unfair and most defamatory manner. This is in no way, shape or form an accurate portrayal of the Lynda that we know and relate with.
The Nwafor family also views the said article by Mr. Okafor as sad and most unfortunate. It was neither written in consultation with any member of the family nor authored with our consent or authority. We totally disassociate ourselves from it.
The views and allegations contained therein are entirely the opinion of the writer. They are false, malicious and insensitive to the wife, children and entire family he left behind.
This is a mourning period for the family, and while we appreciate the condolences of friends, fans, and well-wishers, we ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.
The funeral rites will be communicated to the public in due course.
May the soul of our dearly beloved brother, son, father and husband, rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Signed,
Ugoeze Edith Chinyere Obichuku
Mrs. Freda Nwachukwu
Eldest Sister (Texas, U.S.A)
Elder Sister (Jos, Nigeria)
For: The Nwafor Family of Umuezealaeze, Alaenyi, Ogwa, Mbatoli L.G.A, Imo State."
This release did not come from Lydia or her family in defence of Zulu's unfounded claims, but from the family of Obinna Nwafor, aka Saint Obi, to say, this woman is not what you claim she is. Allow her to mourn in peace.
Saint may not have been a saint, neither is his widow. Every family has its own challenges, and when relationships go south and issues are being narrated, it is wise to depend on one side of the story and work with rumours and assumptions, just as Mr Zik Zulu has done and thereby misleading and misinforming the public. There is no point maligning the woman, just because Saint is dead and won't be there to say this was it or not.
After the news broke that the Ace Nollywood actor, Saint Obi had passed, many of his colleagues in the movie industry were shocked as they had not known much about his illness or heard from him in months. In fact, none of them in Nollywood had heard or confirmed his death until Emdee David's Blog reported the news after several days of thorough investigations. Suffice it to say that before the news broke, several calls were made to Saint Obi's former colleagues, friends and the few that were close to him, including former AGN President, Segun Arinze, and some present members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria. There was no hint of whatever was happening to our dear James Bond of Nollywood. It was after the calls that many of them started asking themselves if they had heard anything about Saint.
So, it was surprising that the respected producer, Zik Zulu Okafor, would take to the media and claim he was the first to hear about Obi's death on Sunday 7th of May 2023. But that was not even the main issue. More disheartening is the content of his article in which he tried to demonize Obi's ex-wife, Lydia Nwafor as the cause of Obi's predicament and consequent demise. This is, to say the least, preposterous, as those who were truly close to the family, knew that this was far from the whole truth.
Part of the falsehood Zik Zulu had spread was that Lydia never allowed Saint Obi to invite his colleagues to any of the children's christening. But pictures that could be found on the internet and other magazines have proven otherwise.
This, and many other issues raised by Mr Zulu were the reasons the family of Saint Obi had to release a press statement titled, "RE: DEMISE OF SAINT OBI (MR. OBINNA NWAFOR)" in response to the viral article. The family categorically stated that what Zik Zulu Okafor had written was false, malicious, and insensitive. Of Course, who brings us such issues barely a week after the death of one they claim was their friend, when the family was still mourning and his remains had not been laid to mother earth?
The Press Release by the family reads:: "Our attention has been drawn to the publication by one Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor concerning the death of our son, Mr. Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, and the accompanying negative commentary in social and other media portraying his widow in an unfair and most defamatory manner. This is in no way, shape or form an accurate portrayal of the Lynda that we know and relate with.
The Nwafor family also views the said article by Mr. Okafor as sad and most unfortunate. It was neither written in consultation with any member of the family nor authored with our consent or authority. We totally disassociate ourselves from it.
The views and allegations contained therein are entirely the opinion of the writer. They are false, malicious and insensitive to the wife, children and entire family he left behind.
This is a mourning period for the family, and while we appreciate the condolences of friends, fans, and well-wishers, we ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.
The funeral rites will be communicated to the public in due course.
May the soul of our dearly beloved brother, son, father and husband, rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Signed,
Ugoeze Edith Chinyere Obichuku
Mrs. Freda Nwachukwu
Eldest Sister (Texas, U.S.A)
Elder Sister (Jos, Nigeria)
For: The Nwafor Family of Umuezealaeze, Alaenyi, Ogwa, Mbatoli L.G.A, Imo State."
This release did not come from Lydia or her family in defence of Zulu's unfounded claims, but from the family of Obinna Nwafor, aka Saint Obi, to say, this woman is not what you claim she is. Allow her to mourn in peace.
Saint may not have been a saint, neither is his widow. Every family has its own challenges, and when relationships go south and issues are being narrated, it is wise to depend on one side of the story and work with rumours and assumptions, just as Mr Zik Zulu has done and thereby misleading and misinforming the public. There is no point maligning the woman, just because Saint is dead and won't be there to say this was it or not.
Posted by: Emdee David
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