Iyke, in a still from the video
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, is the subject of yet another controversy on social media, writes JAYNE AUGOYE
A video and photographs showing
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, undergoing deliverance at the Synagogue
Church of All Nations went viral on Sunday. In the video, the actor is
seen rolling all over the floor as ‘demons and evil spirit’ are cast out
of him by a minister in the church.
Although it is unclear when the event took place, it was broadcast at the weekend on the church’s cable television channel, Emmanuel TV. Later, the church went on to explain why the actor had to undergo deliverance on its Facebook page.
Four days after the news of the event
went viral on the Internet, there have been mixed reactions from many
movie fans across the country.
About 2000 fans commented on a statement posted on the church’s Facebook account.
The statement reads in part, “..As Wise
Man Daniel ministered prayer in Jesus’ name, Nollywood actor Jim Iyke,
of international fame, was arrested by the power of the Holy Spirit. The
evil spirit that had tormented his life for many years began to
manifest, confessing that it was the cause of his setback and
disappointment. It (evil spirit) confessed that it was the biggest and
that it was only God’s grace that had kept him (Jim).”
Just as some persons dismissed the story
as a mere ‘film trick’, a two-minute video recording of what transpired
in the church surfaced online. The result has been a blend of spiteful
and complimentary remarks targeted at the actor and the ministers of the
Synagogue Church.
Some eye witnesses commenting on major
social media accounts insist that the actor did not set out to be
delivered of any ‘evil spirit’ in the first place. They say Jim Iyke
only accompanied his mother to the church when a pastor spotted him and
subsequently set out to exorcise the ‘demon that had plagued him’ for
many years.
However, the actors’ bewildered fans and
colleagues have since spoken out against the video and the rumours.
Others, who have yet to fully comprehend what happened, have commented
on the subject on various social networks.
Some of the respondents are movie fans
resident outside the country. Lampooning the actor on his Twitter
account, a popular Ghanaian radio presenter, Kwame Bee’, inferred that
it was all a ploy by Iyke to win the heart of Ghanaian actress, Nadia
Buari, who was rumoured to be his love interest.
Tweeting in Pidgin English, he wrote,
“As Nadia chop Jim Iyke im money finish, way he nod dey get payroll for
Naija movie. Na im he start dey act for Emmanuel TV,…oh Nana Eyema help
us. Sic.”
Also, controversial Nigerian adult film actress, Afrocandy, who is based in the US, joined the debate on Twitter. She said, “Na waah for our actors, Jim Iyke took his stunt to the altar. I wonder how much he got paid for this ‘movie.’ Nevertheless, he is a very good actor.”
But some of Iyke’s colleagues, including
the outspoken filmmaker, Charles Novia and former president of the
Actor’s Guild of Nigeria, Segun Arinze, are not eager to treat the
matter lightly.
In a purported Blackberry broadcast
message, Arinze expressed doubt about the origin of the video. He was
quoted as saying, “This Jim Iyke’s deliverance video at the Synagogue
trending looks too contrived. It’s a big embarrassment. Has anyone ever
seen demons come out live and speak? Una fit stand demons? Una carry
Nollywood enter Church, abi? How much did he get paid? I’m just
wondering. Make una stop all these nonsense play. Haba, this is stranger
than fiction!”
In a series of tweets, Novia said, “So,
Jim Iyke got ‘delivered’ of an evil demon in a popular church recently?
Chai! Strange things happen. And after Jim Iyke’s deliverance, the ‘new’
Jim Iyke barked out at his PA about his shoes coming off his legs? All I
can say is that ‘whatever floats your boat, brother’. Better send those
poor women you have dated to the same church for the same.”
Surprisingly, Iyke, appears to have
chosen to remain silent amid increasing public criticism. Occasionally
he lets some tweets that have further heightened the suspense.
One of his messages read, “Lol,
witchcraft?! It is imperative that I underscore the fact that some
people are oblivious of what transpired [during my deliverance].
Ignorance is no excuse. Tailor your opinion to who you know.”
Another tweet read, “Met more miserable
billionaires than unhappy income earners. Success is relative. I want it
wholesome. It is either your bond or free. #Urchoice. It’s beautiful
that is the least I can say. Nothing else truly matters. Absolutely
nothing! God lives, whether you are a believer or not. #bless.
“About 99 per cent of celebrities wake
up daily on wet pillows with fat bank accounts behind Versace shades.
Christ’s made me part of the one per cent. Its profoundly disturbing to
certain people.”
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