Veteran actor Pete Edochie has dismissed reports of rift between him and the late Nollywood icon, Olu Jacobs, describing their relationship as cordial and one built on mutual respect.

Edochie spoke about Jacobs in an interview before the death of the veteran actor but released following the actor’s death.

In the interview, Edochie recalled their years of friendship and the private moments they shared away from the cameras.

The veteran actor said he had previously heard reports that he and Jacobs had quarrelled over money while working on location, adding that similar claims had been made about his relationship with the late Sam Loco.

“There was a time they said I disagreed with Olu on a location that we quarreled over money. They also said I quarreled with Sam Loco.”Edochie said his relationship with Jacobs was marked by respect, particularly because he regarded him as a senior colleague. He recalled a custom they observed whenever they met.

“Olu grew up in the North and each time we meet I bring a bottle of Campari and I give it to him to touch before I open it, that’s our custom. He’s a senior. He would touch it and I would open it, then we would sit down and begin to drink quietly.”

The actor recalled their final meeting, which he said took place as both men were leaving different locations. According to Edochie, Jacobs became emotional as they spoke about colleagues they had lost over the years.

“The last time we met, I was coming out of a location while he was coming out too and we met at the center of the road. Olu looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Pete our mates are gone.’ Immediately he said it, tears came to my eyes and we held each other.”

Edochie said the encounter became an emotional moment for both actors as they reflected on the deaths of several of their colleagues.

“We were being photographed and we were there mourning ourselves. When he said this, Sam Loco had gone, Justice Esiri had gone, Enebeli and others had gone. When he said it, it was coming from his heart and I said well, may the good Lord keep us.”

While debunking reports of disagreements between them, Edochie said he shared a close relationship with Jacobs that was not always apparent to outsiders. “I have never disagreed with Olu for one day. There are jokes we make among ourselves that only people who are used to us will understand.”

Describing the late actor’s place in his career, Edochie said Jacobs was the colleague he respected most as a senior in the industry.

“He is perhaps the only person I respect in the industry as a senior and the first day I heard that Olu was ill, that I saw his wife saying Olu is not there anymore, I sat down and I thought about the last time we met each other that tears came.”

“You will not know how close we are until you see us together,” he added (The Nation)