Nothing Wrong With My Dress To Aso Villa- Oboli

Actress-turned film maker, Omoni Oboli, speaks on criticism that
trailed the screening of her movie at Aso Villa.

Nollwood actress and first-time director, Omoni Oboli's movie, Being
Mrs. Elliot, was, on Thursday, screened to President Goodluck Jonathan
and some members of his cabinet. While the landmark event ordinarily
ought to be celebrated, instead, it is being greeted with mixed
reactions as Oboli has come under scrutiny by critics and fans alike.

But Oboli, who studied Foreign Languages at the University of Benin,
majoring in French, says she will focus on the positive and not the
mixed reactions. Narrating how she got the 'breakthrough', she said,
The Film Producers Marketers Association of Nigeria actually wrote to
the presidency.

She said, "To our greatest surprise, they said they would do it. The
event had the president, Vice-President, PDP chairman, some senators
and ministers and two governors in attendance. It was huge and it is a
big achievement for Nollywood. I sat on the high table with all these
men and never expected that I would get to this point. The President
said Nollywood had put Nigeria on the world map and contributed to our
economy in so many ways and so could not be ignored."

Also she addresses other issues that have arisen thus far, including
the dress that she wore to the event and if she was given any money by
the President.

"Before the screening, they asked me what I wanted and I said I didn't
want anything but that the President and his people should see the
movie and give their blessings. For me that is good enough for the
industry. The first time I ever saw the President was at his brother's
burial ceremony, which I attended. I don't know him from anywhere or
personally.

"During the event, President Jonathan said the government didn't have
money to give me and he said this in front of everybody. So if anybody
is going aside to say something else, they are wrong. I returned to
Lagos with the small purse I took to the event and after the event I
went back to my hotel room and left for Lagos the next morning. I
didn't stay back in Aso Rock or sneak out to meet anybody. I am still
hoping they will call us to come and take something, that they are
impressed," she explains, laughing.

Another area where the actress has come under intense scrutiny is on
her choice of dress to the screening. She, however, hits back at
critics saying, "I styled myself and I thought the outfit was
appropriate because there were no vital parts showing. Sometimes the
angles with which pictures are taken can portray certain things you do
not have intention of portraying.