On Friday, March 21, veteran Nollywood actor Olaiya Igwe opened up about his deepest regret—the time he disappointed renowned gospel singer Tope Alabi on her wedding day.
In a video from his recent interview with Baba Ibe TV, Igwe shared a personal story about an incident that occurred several years ago, shortly after the release of his popular film Ololade Mr Money. He explained that Tope Alabi and her husband, Soji, had asked to borrow his newly acquired luxury car for their wedding. However, Igwe admitted to letting them down by not honoring the agreement.
“I still feel guilty about it,” he confessed. “What hurt me most, and still hurts me, is what I did to my younger sister, singer Tope Alabi. She informed me about her wedding, and at that time, I had just bought a ‘V boot’ car. It was after the success of Ololade Mr Money and before I collected the plate number, I had already inscribed ‘Ololade Mr Money 1’ on the car.”
Igwe went on to recount the events leading up to the disappointing moment. He had traveled to Ibadan in Oyo State to show one of his films, and while there, his car was stolen by robbers. Fortunately, it was recovered the following day after news of the theft spread across radio stations and other media outlets.
Upon returning to Abeokuta, Igwe received a visit from Tope Alabi and Soji, who asked if they could use his car for their wedding. Initially, Igwe agreed without hesitation. However, after further reflection, he became concerned that the car might be stolen again, and in a moment of indecision, he stopped answering Tope Alabi’s calls the day before the wedding, ultimately deciding not to lend her the car.
“I disappointed Tope Alabi,” he admitted, expressing deep regret. “But she now has countless luxury cars, some of which I cannot afford. To this day, I am still in pain that I offended her.”
Igwe revealed that he later sought Tope Alabi’s forgiveness during a professional meeting in Ogun State, but he still carries the weight of that decision. “My greatest regret is disappointing Tope Alabi,” he said.
