Ijoba Lande declines to work with Baba Tee
Actor and comedian, Kehinde Ganiyu, popularly known as Ijoba Lande, has addressed the viral video of his interaction with fellow actor, Baba Tee, clarifying misconceptions about the encounter. Contrary to public perception, Lande stated that he was neither apologising nor expressing gratitude in the video. He also confirmed that, for now, he would not be working with Baba Tee due to unresolved issues.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Lande explained that he had repeatedly declined invitations to work with Baba Tee. However, he accepted an invitation from fellow actor, Yemi Elesho, unaware that Baba Tee would be present. “What happened is that about three, four, or five people have tried to make me work together with Baba Tee. Whenever I ask who I’ll be working with and they say Baba Tee, I reject the job. I’m not against working with him—that’s my job—but not right now”, Lande stated.
Recounting the events leading up to the viral video, Lande shared that upon arriving at Elesho’s apartment, Baba Tee unexpectedly also arrived and immediately began apologising. “He started apologising even before stopping his car. I know that he has already apologised publicly, and I have accepted it. If I don’t accept, it isn’t his fault because they (Gold and estranged wife, Dara) were the ones that came to his house,” he explained.
Lande further revealed that Baba Tee had been hesitant to reach out directly but was relieved to see him in person. Despite the apology, Lande maintained that he was not yet ready to work with Baba Tee. “I told both Baba Tee and Yemi Elesho that for the sake of my safety and purpose, we cannot work together for now. Maybe later we can, but for now, it is too early,” Lande emphasised.
Regarding the viral footage, Lande clarified that he was unaware of being recorded. “It was while he was apologising that someone from his team recorded the video without me noticing. Although it looked like I was the one begging, as an older colleague, I couldn’t allow him to kneel like that, so I held his waist”, Lande explained.
He also noted that Baba Tee himself posted the video and, when confronted, responded with, ‘Peace and love.’ “I don’t think he meant any harm with the video. May God help us because once you have name recognition in this industry, you need to be very careful”, Lande admitted.
On the matter of his ex-wife’s apology, Lande made it clear that he had no intention of forgiving or forgetting the events that transpired. He said, “Although she did an apology video, I’m not going to accept it. There is nowhere I said I forgive her. I just did it for God to forgive me too. What she did to me, I can’t forgive and forget in my life because after apologizing, she went on to lie against me”, he asserted.
He pointed out that in a recent interview, his ex-wife allegedly spread falsehoods about him. “I saw her interview with Biola Adebayo, and 90 per cent was all lies. I didn’t come out to talk again because I don’t want people to see me as a nuisance,” he stated. “There’s only one video I made. It’s up to people to believe me or not.”
