A Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie, has criticised Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli for releasing a movie featuring the late Alexx Ekubo shortly after his burial, describing the move as an attempt to profit from grief.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Ovie expressed disappointment over Oboli’s decision to premiere The First Lady on her YouTube channel, arguing that the timing of the release was inappropriate despite her pledge to donate all proceeds from the film to Ekubo’s family.
“I’m disappointed in Omoni Oboli for using Alexx Ekubo’s burial to promote her movie and to cash out,” he wrote.
According to Ovie, Oboli’s explanation that the movie marked the beginning of their friendship over a decade ago did not justify announcing its release immediately after the actor’s funeral.
“I just watched her video where she announced she’ll be releasing The First Lady, a film she said started their friendship 11–12 years ago.
“Using someone’s death as PR to gain subscribers is disturbing and to cash out under the pretentious ‘All proceeds from the movie go to the family of late Alexx Ekubo’ or to keep his memories alive is disappointing,” he stated.
The governor’s aide argued that the promise to donate proceeds to the actor’s family did not erase what he described as the promotional value the release would bring to Oboli’s YouTube platform.
“I know the ‘proceeds donation’ line will distract people from the real intent, but it’s clear this is a way of leveraging people’s emotions to subtly promote her YouTube channel.
“Grief is not content. A funeral is not a launch event. Alexx Ekubo deserves to be remembered for his life, his work and his impact, not repackaged as a trailer for a movie,” he added.
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Ovie further maintained that if the actress’ intention was truly to honour the late actor, the announcement could have been delayed.
“If the goal was truly to honour him, the announcement could wait.
“We have to start calling this out. Tragedy should not be a content calendar event. Let’s protect the dignity of the dead and stop monetising people’s pain. I am disappointed,” he said.
Oboli had earlier announced the release of The First Lady shortly after Ekubo’s burial, describing it as the movie that sparked their friendship more than a decade ago.
In a video shared on her social media pages, she said, “Today we finally laid our bestie, late Alexx Ekubo, to rest.
In honour of his memory, I will be releasing The First Lady, a movie that started this whole friendship 11–12 years ago.
“The whole proceeds will go to the family of the late Alexx Ekubo. Alex poured his whole heart into that movie and gave it his all.
Please watch, rewatch… this is just another way for me to pay my respect to him and those he’s left behind.”
Ekubo was laid to rest on Thursday in his hometown of Arochukwu, Abia State, with family members, colleagues and dignitaries in attendance.
His family had earlier confirmed that the actor died following complications from advanced metastatic kidney cancer. He was 40 years old.