In a recent interview with The Punch, Funke Akindele discussed making her most recent film, Battle on Buka Street, while running for governor and dealing with the hurt feelings from her failed marriage. Here are Funke Akindele’s comments.
The sequel to Funke Akindele’s critically acclaimed film Omo Ghetto: The Saga, which broke box office records, is now available in theaters. But a lot has also happened in Funke’s personal life since their previous excursion. She is now vying for the job of Lagos State’s deputy governor. Her union to JJC Skillz, her spouse, also ended in the open earlier this year.
Funke Akindele is campaigning for the position of deputy governor of Lagos State. Speaking about how involved she was in this project, and what the future holds for her if she wins the election, Funke Akindele said:
A great change has happened positively if you noticed. From being an actor, I also write, produce, direct and discover new faces. So, I have passed the baton of production to the young people because I have moved into politics now. So, ‘Battle on Buka Street’ is like a farewell because I am going to be the next deputy governor of Lagos State. So, I am passing the baton to the new ones because we need to give them an opportunity. Yes, I will be in the background to advise and supervise them, but let them be the face, let us celebrate them, are you not tired of seeing old faces?
Speaking about the hard lessons she’s learned from politics, Funke Akindele said:
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Nothing good comes easy; my mum has always told me that you have to work hard, pray harder and you learn patience to get to the top. So, moving into politics, yes there are a lot of backlashes, a lot of no, but don’t forget, I got a lot of no before I got here today. Everybody can’t support you, and if they do so, that means you are not doing something good. So, you must get people to criticise you constructively; you pick the constructive ones and be better with it. I have learnt to be better, calmer, more dedicated and not to give up.
Funke Akindele over this last year also dealt with the very public separation from her husband, JJC Skillz, who used to be a co-producer and co-director with her on projects. Speaking about shooting the movie without him and the process involved in making this one, Funke Akindele said:
It was tedious; I filmed ‘Battle on Buka Street’ when I was really down, emotionally I was down, and this was before politics. So, rather than sitting down crying, I had to braze up because a lot of young people are looking up to me in the entertainment industry as we do work together. So, I can’t just sit down; I just pushed past all the pain, and put the emotions into the project and today we see the big thing happening and I am excited about that.
