Pete Edochie: When I Speak, Government Listens

Kehinde Adeleye

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has said his influence extends beyond the entertainment industry, describing his age and experience as giving him the standing of a father figure to Nigeria’s president and state governors.

The film legend made the remarks in a recent interview with TV3, where he said government officials listened when he spoke because of his age and position in society.

Edochie said he would turn 80 in the next 6 months, adding that he was older than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all 36 state governors.

He recalled using his public profile to appeal for government assistance for an ailing colleague, saying the intervention resulted in financial support.

“I was interviewed in my house in Enugu. During that period, one of my colleagues was ill, so I used that opportunity to call on the government to come to his aid,” he said.

“The following week, the government sent half a million naira to him. In the next six months, I will be turning 80. I am older than all the governors and the president, so when I talk to them, it is like a father talking to a son,” Edochie stated.

The actor’s comments highlight his view that age and longstanding experience can carry influence beyond the film industry, particularly when public figures use their platforms to draw attention to the needs of others.