Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has dismissed reports claiming he accused legendary actor Pete Edochie of “parading himself” as the oldest actor in Nollywood.
Udokwu clarified that his comments, made during a podcast appearance, were taken out of context and misrepresented online.
Speaking in an interview with NollyNow, Udokwu emphasised that he never made derogatory remarks about Edochie and would never disrespect him.
“The line that I said Pete Edochie is parading himself and deceiving others never came from me,” Udokwu explained. “That was a complete misrepresentation. It is very wrong for me to do such a thing.”
Udokwu went on to clarify what he actually said during the podcast. According to him, his comments were intended to provide historical context about Nollywood’s origins rather than to discredit Edochie’s contributions.
“What I stated was that if you’re talking about Nollywood as an industry, I started acting before him. But he had already done Things Fall Apart, which was not part of Nollywood. Even Kanayo O. Kanayo once made a similar point,” Udokwu said.
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He explained that Pete Edochie’s iconic portrayal of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, the acclaimed 1980s NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s novel, came before the formal emergence of Nollywood in the early 1990s.
Udokwu noted that while Edochie’s work was pivotal for Nigerian screen culture, it should not be conflated with Nollywood’s official beginnings.
Udokwu himself is regarded as one of Nollywood’s pioneering actors, with early roles in series such as Checkmate and films like When the Sun Sets. However, he pointed out that even those works predated what many consider the true rise of Nollywood as a film industry.
Beyond setting the record straight, Udokwu used the opportunity to reiterate his deep respect for Pete Edochie.
“Pete Edochie is far older than me, and in our culture, we never disrespect our elders. I admire and respect him greatly and will never disrespect Pete Edochie,” he stated.
Udokwu added that African cultural values place a premium on honouring elders, a tradition he says he personally upholds. His comments appear aimed at calming tensions stirred by viral headlines that attempted to pit the two veteran actors against each other.
Currently serving as the Special Adviser on Entertainment, Leisure, and Tourism to Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, Udokwu has continued to be an influential figure both within Nollywood and in Nigeria’s creative policy space.
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Industry watchers have commended Udokwu for clarifying the matter before it escalated, noting that conflicts between respected veterans could cast an unnecessary shadow over Nollywood’s history.
Pete Edochie, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most revered actors, has not publicly commented on the controversy. Known for his baritone voice and commanding screen presence, Edochie has become a cultural icon whose work continues to inspire new generations of performers.
With Udokwu’s clarification, fans and colleagues are hopeful that focus will return to celebrating the contributions of both men to Nigerian cinema rather than fuelling divisions.
