43
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo says she will no longer mediate in the ongoing dispute between her colleagues, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, following renewed tensions that have reignited industry conversations.
Ojo shared this in a lengthy post on her Instagram on Tuesday, addressing criticisms about her involvement and clarifying her previous efforts to reconcile the two actresses.
“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……”
She revealed her relationship with Akindele stretches back years, though it has had its disagreements.
“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.”
According to Ojo, she later reconciled with Akindele and intentionally worked to repair her relationship with Abraham.
“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.”
She explained that the reconciliation involved an understanding that both parties would avoid public disputes and resolve issues privately.
“…but there was a condition, no one was to shade online if any issue arose, they both promised to address it off camera…”
However, she noted that the agreement fell apart following controversies in December over a cinema release.
“…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, which sparked up a fresh beef.”
Ojo also addressed why Abraham was absent from her upcoming movie, The Return of Arinzo, stating she was initially part of the project.
“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 because it cost me a lot, to rewrite the story, but the show must go on… she apologized, we made up, and the rest is history.”
Despite her efforts, Ojo said she’s stepping back from further reconciliation attempts, emphasizing she no longer wants to be involved in the dispute.
“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.”
She also promoted her film, noting that The Return of Arinzo will premiere nationwide in cinemas starting April 3.
This development follows renewed public interest in Akindele and Abraham’s relationship after a viral video from the Sunday premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s film at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos.
In the clip, Abraham was seen greeting Ojo and other colleagues, including Mercy Aigbe, while Akindele appeared to ignore her, keeping her gaze elsewhere as Abraham moved on.
The incident has generated widespread reactions on social media, with fans speculating about unresolved tensions between the two actresses.
