Sharon Adurokiya, Reporting
VETERAN Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has revealed that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo remains his favourite Nigerian politician, citing the former Western Region premier’s vision and development-focused leadership as the reason for his admiration.
Edochie made the disclosure during an interview with Isbae U on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, where he discussed his views on politics, his admiration for the Yoruba people and his decades-long career in the performing arts.
Although the veteran actor said he does not consider himself a political person, he explained why Awolowo stood out to him among Nigerian political figures.
“I am not into politics, but if you asked me who is my favourite politician, I will tell you it is Awolowo. There is a reason for it,” he said.
According to Edochie, one of the qualities that distinguished Awolowo was his ability to present his plans clearly and explain how they would be funded.
“Awolowo will tell you, ‘I am going to build this thing, it will cost this amount, and this is where I will get it.’ There have been no politician to achieve that,” he said.
The actor also praised Awolowo for introducing initiatives that he said were groundbreaking at the time.
“Awolowo introduced so many things in Nigeria that were not there previously. He brought television to Nigeria in 1959, and we in the East started using TV in 1960. He also introduced free primary education,” he said.
Despite his admiration for the late statesman, Edochie expressed disappointment that Awolowo never became Nigeria’s president.
“Regrettably, he never became president,” Pete Edochie added.
Reflections on Acting Career
During the conversation, Edochie also spoke about his lengthy career in the performing arts, stressing that his involvement in acting predates the period when the Nigerian film industry became widely known as Nollywood.
“I started acting before Nollywood was created in 1992. I first appeared in The Merchant of Venice in 1962 at the age of 15,” Edochie said.
The veteran actor also highlighted what he described as the international reach of his work, recalling an occasion when foreign visitors came to Nigeria specifically to interview him.
“I’m the only person who has done a film that made white people fly in to Nigeria just to interview me. Nobody has achieved that,” he said.
Edochie further expressed his affection for Yoruba culture, noting that the connection is also personal through his family.
“I love the Yorubas a lot, one of my sons is married to a Yoruba girl,” the veteran actor said.
The 84-year-old actor, who has been a fixture in Nigerian cinema for decades, continues to be one of the most respected figures in the entertainment industry, known for his deep voice, commanding screen presence and thoughtful commentary on Nigerian society.
