‘My dreams bigger than Nollywood’ — Tonto Dikeh talks 2023 political ambition

Tonto Dikeh, a Nigerian actress-cum-philanthropist, has opened up on her plans to go into politics in 2023, noting she’s already watching the grounds for the senate.

The filmstar spoke with Dele Momodu, the CEO of Ovation International, on Sunday, while addressing her detachment from Nollywood and why she hasn’t taken movie roles over the years.

Referring to the dilemma of stereotyping with regard to getting assigned film roles, Dikeh said she had resorted to turning down certain scripts so her career would stand the test of time.

“I do know that I’m going to be a senator. I think the position is going to climb up. Being a governor, I do not know. But I don’t see anything past me. Anything I put my mind to…,” she said.

“I can do it. I’m in the process; I’ve started. I’ve been watching the grounds. I’m not going to be identifying with any political party at the moment until 2023.”

“I got so detached from Nollywood. I can’t remember one out of the bag. It’s not, my reality anymore. I don’t go back to rewatch my movies because I’m not Nollywood oriented anymore.

“I won’t say I’ve grown bigger than Nollywood. My dreams have rather grown bigger than Nollywood. I’ve rejected movie roles and I still do. I’m one artiste who didn’t like to be stereotyped.

“If you watch most of Pete Edochie’s films, it never changes. Only his name does. His character and words never even change. He’s always given the same role all the time and I wonder why he takes it.

“But he’s a veteran; I’m not going to question that. When you’re good at a role, Nollywood imposes that on you. They give it to you until the world gets tired of your talent ’cause you play just one role.

“If I play a bad girl, I didn’t play it again. I haven’t been on screen for over five years. But, if you’re going to call artistes, Tonto is going to be one. I chose scripts that made me stand the test of time.”

Dikeh, whose feud with Olakunle Churchill, her ex-husband, had made headlines in the past months, also addressed matters on her mental health, recounting suicidal tendencies.

“About 11 years ago, I was super suicidal. I talk about it ’cause I’m one person who can’t be shamed. You can’t shame a shameless person. I’ve had suicidal tendencies before,” the actress narrated.

“I fell into the wrong crowd, with the wrong people. I was just a total mess and didn’t know how to go about it. I thought that if I was no more, it would be better rather than suffer all these.

“I’ve been sick in my life but depression is the only sickness I do not wish for anybody, not even my enemy. It’s wild and crazy. It destroys you. I sought medical help, I talked to psychologists.

“I went to the US, did a six months course. Even here (in Nigeria), I have a shrink I go to every two months. Mental health is serious. If we all get diagnosed, over 85 percent of us have mental issues.”