Veteran Nollywood actor Fatai Oodua, popularly known as Lalude, has stirred reactions after revealing the reason behind his long-standing grudge against fellow actress Sola Sobowale.
In a recent interview, Lalude recounted an incident at a public event hosted by Olayemi Olayinka, where he felt deliberately snubbed by Sobowale, despite their shared history in the Nigerian film industry.
“She did something that really hurt me,” he said. “At Olayinka’s event, I heard Sola Sobowale was present. She knew I was there but didn’t come over to greet me—even though I’m older than her. That alone pained me.”
Lalude revealed that their relationship dates back to the early stages of Sobowale’s career, when she was introduced to him during Jide Kosoko’s stage production Ogun Awoyaya at the National Theatre.
“Ngozi brought her to me when she was just starting out and wanted to learn how to act in Yoruba films,” he recalled. “I liked her, but what she did that day surprised me. Despite living abroad, she’s not even truly wealthy.”
According to Lalude, Sobowale’s decision to walk past him without acknowledgment, while others around him went to greet her, felt like a sign of disrespect. “She was called on stage, did her part, and left without saying a word to me. That’s what hurt the most,” he added.
He clarified, however, that while their personal relationship has remained cold since then, he would still work with her professionally if the opportunity arose. “We haven’t seen each other since that day, but if we’re cast together, we’ll do our jobs,” he concluded.
