Kannywood’s Teema Makamashi Yola recently featured in the popular Mansoor movie shot by Ali Nuhu.She acted the role of wife of Baba Karami, the adopted father of Umar Sharif, the lead actor. That role impressed many Kannywood producers and directors and since then, she has been getting offers almost on a daily basis. In this interview with ASKIRA ALIYU, she speaks on her life, struggles, marriage, fame and why she roots for the Wazirin Adamawa Atiku Abubakar to become president.
The audio you posted recently on social media has made people to say that you are either into drugs, or that you are not well cultured. What’s your reaction to this?
You have known me for a very long time; I am neither into drugs or came from an irresponsible family. I did my video out of annoyance because of the way some people are talking about Atiku. They are calling him all sorts of names; some are even referring to him openly as a thief. It is very disturbing because no court of competent jurisdiction has ever convicted him over corruption. In fact, most of those accusing him of corruption are not only the worst in character, some of them can do anything for money. Some are even into rituals and other dirty habits, like drugs and alcoholism, as such, people like me are out to expose them because they are not what they are claiming to be.
The majority of your colleagues support President Muhammadu Buhari for re-election; why are you not one of them?
I have the right as a free Nigerian to identify or support whoever I like. In this case, I will not only vote for Atiku, I will campaign for him with all emphasis. We have seen Buhari in office for three and a half years, what do we have today, massive poverty, unemployment, insecurity, the swift return of Boko Haram, cultism, prostitution, and the North that gave Buhari almost hundred per cent votes, today, have nothing to show for it. Atiku, like Buhari is a Muslim, both of them are northerners. So, I don’t care if Atiku or Buhari wins, but left to my conscience, I want Atiku, who is a successful businessman, an educationist and philanthropist to be the next president; people will benefit more from his presidency than that of Buhari.
Your profile has risen within Kannywood even though you don’t get lead roles in most of the films that you are featured in; you have also featured as a mother. Why are you not given lead roles; is it because you are fat even though you are pretty?
First, I am glad you noticed that since I featured in Mansoor, I have become a hot cake, and secondly, the roles I played these days in most of the films are similar to roles of lead actress. Although I am fat,
I am still relatively young and pretty, as such, the future is there for me. But honestly, I am going to slim down drastically because even men don’t like fat women; I am fair, tall and pretty, my problem is I am fat, I will very soon take care of that even though I don’t like cheating on nature. I am comfortable, I eat well, and when you see me, you will know that I am not starving.
Your marital status
You mean whether I married again after my first marriage collapsed? This is because I am sure you know that I am a divorcee and I am sure you know that I did not marry again since then. I even have issues and I am proud to say that because as a mother to have issues is normal for a normal woman. But presently, I have many guys that are prepared to commit suicide for my love; I am taking my time. But definitely, I will marry again because as a woman, there is nothing more than for one to be in a matrimonial home.
Your saddest moment in Kannywood
Why are you not asking about my happy moments? When I featured in Mansoor, Gida Uku, alongside the one we refer to as the King of Kannywood, Ali Nuhu, and a host of others, I had to even organise a party after the film, Mansoor, because that was the film that opened doors of successes for me. Also, I thank Ali Nuhu immensely for making me an A grade actress. Now, to your question: yes, I have sad moments like the comments I have continued to receive after my video.
You’re said to have sleepless nights campaigning for Atiku to be president in 2019; have you also benefitted from his dollars?
The truth is that I am doing that because I am from Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, where Atiku comes from. Also, I discovered that some of my colleagues are not bold enough to identify with Atiku’s presidential ambition out of fear or that senior Kannywood stakeholders will no longer feature them in their films. But for dollars, how I wish Atiku’s dollars could get to me; but as I speak, honestly nobody has given me a dime. I am ready to do anything for Atiku to be president, but the issue is some of those campaigning for Buhari were paid heavy sums of money by governors, ministers, senators and other politicians. But in my own case, I am supporting Atiku to prove that all people are saying about him are capital lies; they said he couldn’t go to America, but recently, he visited America and came back successfully. Some refer to Obasanjo’s book, My Watch, in which he virtually ran down Atiku’s character referring to him as a thief, but today, Obasanjo is a leading campaigner for Atiku to be president.
All those that worked for Buhari to be president in 2015, I mean the cabal, have today dumped him for Atiku and in any country, though power comes from God, you cannot make it if the cabal don’t endorse you. So, be on the watch out for Atiku presidency in 2019. Teema Makamashi will be at the Villa to celebrate it.
