In a press statement released on the movie star’s official Instagram page on Monday, July 11, 2022, he cited the decision of the ruling party to field a Muslim-Muslim presidential candidate for the 2023 elections as a major reason for his resignation.
“If Muslims could voluntarily vote for southern presidents it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a northern Christian vice president,” part of the statement read.
“This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria if allowed to stand. This is in the addition to the failure to protect lives and properties of Nigerians which should be their primary responsibility. The country is also in shatters.”
The actor also said he resigned his membership in the interest of equity, justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
It would be recalled that Sen. Bola Tinubu, APC’s 2023 presidential candidate in Daura, Katsina State, announced Shettima, a Muslim and a former two-term Governor of Borno, as his running mate.
Shettima is currently representing Borno Central in the National Assembly.
Okonkwo is a famous Nollywood actor, director, producer, television personality, entrepreneur, investor, politician and philanthropist.
In 1991, he joined the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) and started attending movie auditions and appearing in television series and soap operas.
He rose to fame in 1992 after starring in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Living in Bondage” a movie that brought Nollywood to the limelight.
Okonkwo is one of the pioneers of the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) and contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood in Nigeria and abroad.
The veteran actor became very famous after playing the role of Andy in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Living in Bondage” a movie that gave birth to Nollywood.
He got married to Ifeoma Okonkwo and their union is blessed with a baby boy.
