Veteran actor Pete Edochie recently shared his thoughts on why Igbo men often struggle in the political arena. Speaking in an interview with Afia TV, Edochie offered a candid perspective on the challenges he believes are unique to Igbo politicians.
According to him, politics demands a level of tolerance for betrayal and compromise—something he says doesn’t sit well with the average Igbo man. “An Igbo man doesn’t easily forgive political betrayal,” he explained. “Once trust is broken, it’s rarely repaired. That tendency to walk away rather than play along has made it difficult for many Igbo politicians to maintain strategic alliances.”
Edochie believes this inability to endure political treachery twice causes many Igbo leaders to isolate themselves, weakening their collective influence. “They don’t come back for a second chance. Once bitten, that’s it,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another Nollywood moment, actor Yemi Solade stirred conversation by asserting his seniority in the film industry over Pete Edochie—not by age, but by career timeline. Speaking on Father’s Path with Tope, Solade acknowledged that while Edochie is older, he began acting earlier in the Yoruba film space.
He pointed out that while other parts of the Nigerian film industry documented their work and built visibility through cassettes and media promotion, the Yoruba side didn’t focus on archiving its contributions early on. According to Solade, this oversight has led to the widespread belief that Nollywood began elsewhere.
Both actors’ reflections offer a glimpse into two key aspects of Nigerian society—politics and the arts—each marked by history, pride, and evolving narratives.
