One actor who is living it up as a star right now, is Jim Iyke. The Enugu State born actor has simply moved to the next level. He just opened a shop as a transporter in the Oil and Gas Sector. His company, is called Jimke Oil and Gas. This is apart from his car dealership. A few months back, Jim bought a multimillion house in Lekki. He also took delivery of a Chrys;er 300 Touring Sedan among others in his garage. He also spoke about his romance with top American model, Katura Hamilton and his widely reported fights with fellow actor, Emeka Ike and top broadcaster, Olisa Adibua.

What is new about Jim?

What is new is basically nothing extraordinary, it is an awareness of certain consciousness that brings me to different platform that is different from the level of my scope of operation. I am aware of my powers than before. I mean, I am now aware of certain things that could put me in a different pedestal than my peers. I also plan to be most expeditious at achieving my goals. I no longer make so much noise on it, because I get distracted and subsequently lose focus on it. A lot of things have been happening to me which is to my advantage. I went through training with a certain guy in America, my manager, Mr. Courtency Boyd and he taught me the wisdom to manage these things and how to do things in a very structured way. More is happening but I can't reveal it, right now, it is controlled information.

How do you combine you movie roles in Nigeria with your runs abroad?

I am simply the hardest working act in the country right now. There is ascertain transition the movie industry is going through, it is called the Ghanaian Take Over. This has adversely affected a lot of my colleagues.

A lot is happening because marketers sell their movies in Europe and America and the Caribbean. There are only 3 people who are being sought after and without being immodest, that is myself, Van Vicker and Nadir Buhari. Most producers prefer to have us in their movies. I try to draw a balance between my schedule in Nigeria and America.

For instance, I spent 7 months in America. When I decided to come to Nigeria, my management team planned jobs for me. The movie am about to star in America right now, features Ice Cubes, Joda Kris and Paul Campbell. I am excited because I am playing the lead in the movie, it's a dream come true.

Was it your accident that made you quit your NGO?

I was not discourage when I had an accident, but I felt bad when people think that I have ulterior motive for doing something selfless in the country. A young man is driven by dreams and aspirations of what he has in mind for the society, only for some people to misconstrue the idea.

I was in pains, I broke my ribs and arms. I was on the hospital bed when all sort of things were written about me.

That was one of the reasons I decided to travel to the United States for a while. It is just the other side of Nigeria, and I have since laughed over it and picked myself up. We are planning a big thing in Ghana, it is going to be a symposium and workshop in conjunction with Dr. Jennifer Atiku's foundation.

It is called Youth Emancipation and Fight Against HIV/AIDS. It will run for a week and we will have a lot of resource persons speaking on various issues at the event. We are going to have volunteers from each Local Government from 5 States. We are expecting lots of people from different parts of the world at the event.

Are you saying that you are done with Nigeria and that most of the initiatives did not work in Nigeria?

Frankly speaking, I am reluctant to start another project in Nigeria. But that is not to say that I am not going to carry my people along. For instance, the workshop we are having in Ghana, all the participants are coming from Nigeria. I did not invite a single participant from Ghana, so that is to say that I am in tune with what is happening. But I am approaching the whole issue with a lot of caution. The support we get from Nigeria is very minimal, I am not taking away the foundation from Nigeria entirely.

How true is it that you are now into Oil and Gas?

I have cousins who are involved in Oil and Gas and I have a passable knowledge of the business. What I am working on is to acquire some trucks and send them into the country. We are starting with transporting the products first. With time, hopefully by the grace of God, we will diversify

Initially, you were involved in car business?

I have always loved cars. Anytime I travel, I still get involved in car auctions. The car business has always been the big cash earner for me. I have middle men who do the business on my behalf.

Let's review your career and what you have done in the last few months?

I cannot say that professionally, I am just there. I am a young man who started my career in movie earlier than most of my contemporaries. I try to keep myself informed of all the happenings in the industry, both home and abroad. I can say I am better informed than most of my colleagues. In my recent movies, there is a better interpretation of the characters portray. I am more matured now and more wiser in how to handle my roles and deliver better. I still take decisions on which movies to star in and the ones to reject. I think the progress has been tremendous. I am happy to be at the helm of affairs in the industry. If you are on top of your game in Nigeria, you can definitely excel in any part of the world. In Nigeria, only the best excel.

Although you have been keeping your moves close to your chest, reports of you these days is that you have been fighting with everybody?

One thing I have is my dignity and pride. I will not disrespect you by lying about the fact that I do get into one or two brushes with people here and there. I will not give any excuse that I have never been that kind of person. I am taking a Anger Management Session now, it was advised not only by my fiancée, but also by my agent. It is a very interesting session for my well being. One thing about our society is that we have not accepted celebrities with their whims and caprices. An actor is allowed to be eccentric. There is a thin line between the person you see on stage and the real actor. A lot of people do not understand that.

We are talking about fighting?

I just don't have the temperament to control it. I am a person that shies away from the public. I am not an outgoing person, I can't tolerate a lot of things that happens to my colleagues that allow themselves to be harassed. For instance, I am not a party freak. An area boy who sees me on the road believes I have to give him money because he has bought the movie.

His explanation is that he has supported my career. Sometimes, they employ physical means to take money from me, but I am not the kind of person that can be intimidated by such means. If you check the history of what is happening, it is usually when someone tries to intimidate me.

For instance, I was shooting in Asaba, Delta State, and I was exhausted and some boys came saying they were area boys in Lagos asking for money. My producer gave them N20,000 for protection of the area. It is unfortunate that practitioners of the industry are not encouraged.

On walking back to my car, they accosted me that I have to give them another 20,000. I told them I was not going to give them money. I detest being bullied. If he acted nicely I would have given him the money.

What is your problem with Emeka Ike?

Emeka is not such a young man anymore who should involve himself in some things. We had a mutual friend who I have a lot of businesses with. Emeka talked to him into allowing his wife to come shoot a scene in a movie with us in America.

There is a super model who is half Jamaican and half America. She wanted to meet an actor from Nigeria. Eventually we started going out. By the time our friend's wife came on set, it was obvious she started sleeping with Emeka.

Whenever her husband called, Emeka will tell him I was busy because my phone was bad. The husband will ask her what is going on between herself, and I and she will tell him I was chasing her around. When he called Emeka, he said yes, that I am actually messing with his wife on set. Continued   

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