Stephanie Peter – Uyo
The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie Success, has condemned the timing of Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli’s announcement of the release of her tribute movie, The First Lady.
The film stars Oboli alongside the late Alexx Ekubo and, according to the actress, marked the beginning of their friendship. However, Ovie disagreed with the manner and timing of the announcement.
In a Facebook post, the governor’s aide criticised Oboli for unveiling the project on social media just hours after the actor was laid to rest.
“I am disappointed in Omoni Oboli for using Alexx Ekubo’s burial to promote her movie and cash out,” Ovie wrote.
Although the actress explained in her announcement video that proceeds from the movie would be donated to Ekubo’s family, Ovie described the gesture as a smokescreen, arguing that “it’s clear this is a way of leveraging people’s emotions to subtly promote her YouTube channel.”
According to him, if the intention was truly to honour the late actor, the announcement could have been postponed, The PUNCH reported. He further urged the public to call out such actions, stating that “tragedy should not become a content calendar event. Let’s protect the dignity of the dead and stop monetising people’s pain.”
The controversy has once again raised questions about the growing trend of posthumous publicity surrounding deceased entertainers. From “Top 10 Movies” to “Top 10 Songs” lists published shortly after the deaths of actors and musicians, opinions remain divided on whether such efforts genuinely help preserve their legacies and support their families, or merely seek to
capitalise on public grief and heightened attention. Time, perhaps, will provide the answer.
