On banning entertainers; I think the Minister was misunderstood-RMD
No doubt, Richard Mofe Damijo better known as RMD, is one entertainer who has made his own mark in Nollywood as he has virtually touched so many lives as an actor and has featured in so many movies. Not only has that he been in Nollywood for a long time now and remains one of the relevant veterans in the entertainment industry. In his early days of acting, he was our own Nigeria’s Denzel Washington; despite leaving the industry for a while to answer to clarion call. RMD came back to industry just like he never left proving his enduring connections with his multitudes of fans. Cornered on the set of Cross Road movie where he is playing the role of an inspector, RMD disclosed what attracted him to the set of the movie, his driving motivation as an actor, thought on the supposed banned of entertainers from shooting abroad, his take on domestic violence and jungle justice amongst others.
Excerpt:
Is this your first time playing a police role?
No this is not
How interesting has the set been for you so far?
It been good and pleasant and at the same time, I am happy that the movie is portraying the Nigerian police in good light and I am super excited playing the role of inspector Joseph Kilanko
Knowing that there are lots of negative opinion about the Nigerian Police in generally; in what way is the movie Cross Road going to make a change?
Well, Cross Road tells the good story of Police at work and it also shows some the challenges Police officers face in the cause of carrying out their duties. This is not a movie to launder the Police image; it’s a movie about a guy who is upstanding and who happens to be a Policeman and also further shows the need to be patriotic and be dedicated to their job no matter the field of work you find yourself. Kilanko Joseph is just an upstanding man who is a goal getter and always dedicated to his job always.
So what got you attracted to the script?
Definitely the story line, and the fact that the man in question in the movie loves his family, his country and work. The script is a fantastic one that no actor will want to miss out in the production stages. The script is technical and I must say I find every part of it interesting.
In essence what is the take-home for audience who are anticipating the movie?
The take-home will be that everyone should rededicate his/herself not just within the family setting alone but so also in all works of life. The habit of taking things with levity should be stopped. The nation will be a better place if we all contribute our own little quota.
Knowing that Bayelsa has been tagged the militant zone and part of the movie will equally be shot their; in what way is the movie going to preach against militancy, bunkers amongst others?
We all should understand that the movie is telling a story and there are people that are drawn from the different part of the country and it traps every character which all have something to tell. One of the thing you will find in the whole militancy hitch is the issue of neglect; which is why you will see in the movie that the guy moved from Bayelsa to other region in search of greener pasture. The movie, Cross Road, is not just your regular kind of movie as it touch around several societal issues and at the same time proffering solutions at the end of the day.
Has anyone told you the uniform looks perfect on you?
Yes!! Everybody likes the man/woman in uniform; more importantly I have a got a good body structure and so clothes fits so well on me.
Not considering the age, will you take the job of a Police Inspector?
Not at all, I am 56 years old and I have been working for 34years, what am I looking for again. I am fulfilled already and perhaps the Police job will not even employ a 56 years old man into service.
As one of the veteran who is still very much relevant in the industry, what has kept you going this far?
The fact is dedication because I am 100% dedicated to the job I do and anywhere I work I put my best to it. Like I said earlier, one of those attributes that got me on the job of Cross Road is the fact that the role I am playing ‘Kilanko’ is a dedicated man. I am a patriotic Nigerian because I love both my country and my job passionately. Another thing is when you have any opportunity to work, it is key that you treat such work with lots of respect. Also the kind of work I am doing is that which is gauged by an audience and I can never take my audience for granted because the day they start noticing that you don’t give them any regard which is not paying attention to your work or craft; they walk way. I thank God that I have that sensibility and the strength to work and in the process of doing it, it is the work of my hand and God has continuously bless me and I cannot toil with it because toiling with it is like playing with my destiny.
How do you always feel when you work with the younger generations in the industry?
I feel excited and happy that through my own little wealth of knowledge, I can still imbibe in the lives of others, I am the industry where we the older generations like Uncle Olu Jacob, Pete Edochie and the like are always willing to work with the younger generations. We were given the platforms when we also started; why not let them too. I am always super excited because we are also helping them grow to success. I love young people because I taught Sunday school for a very long time and I have children early; my first son is 33 years old and my second is 32 and 30 respectively, so I am a grandfather twice over and because I had children early, I am always readily available to interact with young ones
Social Media these days; you have turned a motivational speaker?
That’s part of what I am saying, I was a young father and have a lot of catching up to do, my children have turn out right and I need to keep trying to inspire other people and in my interaction and works with younger people; I found out that there is constant need for direction and so I feel if I can give direction at any point in time; so what is my point been on social media if I cannot pass social values. Is it to just wear good clothes and show it?, I just feel I should add values because I see lots of people like my pictures and works once posted; so in the process of doing that, I just felt it is needed that I drop something in there because I have an audience that I am growing genuinely. I read their comments and I equally learn from them too. For instance if I am attending an event that deals with lots of younger people, I need to be punctual, respectful and I try as much as possible to be upstanding.
Do you think it is right for the Federal Government to stop entertainers from filming work outside the country?
I think the minister was misunderstood, I feel the Minister was just saying that we should be more internally focused than going elsewhere to do that. My call to him is to first create an enabling environment where we would be able to work here apart of Lagos; there are lots of places people are scared of going due to insecurity to shoot their work. Taraba has one of the most beautiful cinerary in the world; if you some beautiful images from there, you will be amazed but we cannot go their shoot without fear. Odunlade Adekola was attacked in Ijebu-Ode alongside Mr. Latin, we were sitting together for hours before he left and thank God the story was not something else and all this still boils down to insecurity which the Federal Government needs to focus more on.
There have been reports of lots of jungle justice in parts of Lagos and other states; do you think that is the way to go?
That is completely unacceptable and complete breakdown of laws, it is in our stem to decide or kill a fellow human being. The society must have structure to address things like that no matter how oppressive they may look in the crime committed; we cannot instantly pass judgement on our own and kill the person because people can hijack that process and many innocent people will be affected. Already an innocent person was killed, that is the one we know; it does not make any other person outside the comedian that was killed guilty. So that is why it is a most for the state government to act fast.
When was the last time you read a book?
Well, I am currently reading a book
Title?
Actually, I am constantly reading books, and presently I am reading against the Run of plays by Segun Adeniyi
A philosophy that keeps you going?
Keep it simple always
Do you patronize made in Nigeria?
I am an advocate of made of Nigeria, I have been made in Warri and others since I became an adult. Mudi today is one the biggest name in Nigeria fashion, before Mudi in 1996 when I started wearing his cloth; I started wearing Dakovas clothes since 1985, there were people like Vivid Imagination amongst others. I am a complete made in Nigeria person.
These days the society has been thrown to several cases of Domestic Violence; what is your view on this?
It’s disheartening, I also campaign against domestic violence in any forms that it raised its head not just the female alone. Any kind of violence is unacceptable.
