Filmmaker Fred Amata has finally spoken publicly about his failed marriage to media proprietor Agatha Amata following his absence at the wedding of their daughter Stephanie in London.
Agatha shared pictures from the wedding on social media on Wednesday, writing “Your vows make me proud and happy. I celebrate you my beautiful daughter.
“As you begin this new chapter in your life, my blessings and best wishes go with you. I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness together, may your union be blessed with all of life’s goodness.”
On Thursday, she posted a video of her walking Stephanie down the aisle and handing her over to the groom, a ritual traditionally done by the bride’s father.
Angered by his ex-wife’s action, Fred said in a Facebook post on Friday: “For over 20 years I kept silent, desisted from any comments on my failed marriage, allowing the ‘good wife’, hoping the wounds will heal and a reconciliation possible. But for 20 years the ‘good wife’ pounded me, rubbished my reputation, belittling my achievements, exploiting my name for her selfish benefits.”
The 61-year-old added “It was over 25 years ago that I came up with the unique idea of Inside-Out with Agatha, a talk show with six informed and opposing points of view represented by a person with Oratorial skills, now male now female. We had gone to see a talk show by Regina Askia, and Agatha wanted to be a talk show host. I told her not to worry “I will come up with something, it will make you be like Oprah Winfrey”. And I did. Ingeniously.
“I was the dedicated creator, throwing in flesh blood and sweat to create and deliver a concept that had never before been done in Nigeria, save for a similar perhaps less engaging 6 episodes of a program called MEE to you, or something like that, by the late May Ellen Ezekiel, who was married to RMD. A program that could stand the test of time and put bread on the table of the young marriage. A program, so versatile, it is still relevant today.
“Inside-Out with Agatha was an instant hit, the genius of the angle the production values the directorial approach the lighting and production design were so engaging, it was irresistible. I was at the height of my directorial rendezvous, and I gathered a production crew of the best technical hands in what is now early Nollywood and TV soaps were the biggest things because we dared to stand out from the emerging crowd of Nollywood directors. Kingsley Ogoro my friend brother and nemesis would lead a high. I co-opted Nollywood greats Zack Orji, Okey Bakassi, Sunny Mcdon, Francis Onwochei, Emeka Ossai, Zik Zulu Okafor, Francis Duru, Prince Jide Kosoko and numerous friends who looked up to me and I asked their support for the first episodes, and soon everybody who was anybody wanted to be part of Inside Out.
“I staked every resource, friends, favours, loyalties, family, extended family wife and links, I involved the creme de la creme of the big production, studios. Tunde Kelani, Wale Fanu, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Oloyede, Pat Nebo, Uzor Okpeche, Simi Opeoluwa Opa Williams, the late Chico Ejiro and numerous others to ensure no failure of the program. I staked even my first attempt to be president of DGN. Don Pedro Obaseki and Matthias Obahiagbon will attest.”
He said the success and popularity of Inside-Out with Agatha threatened the fabric of their marriage. According to him, the show was the subject of deliberation when their families met to resolve the marital crisis.
Unable to save the marriage, the parties decided that the programme should not die as proceeds from it would help provide for the children.
With the marriage over, Agatha continued with the show and its success gave birth to a media empire controlled by the mother of two.
Fred admitted that his reputation diminished while his ex-wife’s gathered momentum.
“So today the ‘good wife’ using my brainchild has become a billionaire. No credit to me. No compensation no royalty. But the ‘good wife’ is good, let raising the children be my royalty,” he said.
He added that his ex-wife has registered a new company to own Inside-Out, discarding the company they set up together. She also sued for and got a divorce.
In all of that, Fred said he contested nothing and did not seek compensation.
He said he is finally speaking because his ex-wife walked their daughter down the aisle to give her away to a husband.
“I can’t keep quiet any more. It’s time to speak up. This is an Abomination. This is Taboo. Nowhere in the world, nowhere in Africa, nowhere in Delta State and the lands where we come from can a woman give away her child in marriage especially where the father is alive. Especially when the father is willing and able. Worse when the father is in the same city.
What malice would drive a woman in an attempt to rubbish her ex to lead his daughter to marriage? What manipulation would warrant concealing the date and time from a father who has already given his blessing? Even if the daughter forgets when father and daughter are in the same city of London,” he declared.
Fred posted pictures of him, his daughter, future son-in-law and others in London to back his claim that he gave his blessing to the wedding.
“Aaron brought Drinks as Kola to me the father as the pictures show. What kind of ‘good wife’ does a thing like this simply to make a man look bad?” the heartbroken filmmaker wrote.
Fred and Agatha attended the traditional wedding of their son Oreva Amata in June last year.
The filmmaker praised his ex-wife and others who made the ceremony possible.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts of the @agathamata1, organizers, volunteers, and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the event. Your dedication and attention to detail truly made the day a resounding success,” he wrote in parts of a message posted on Instagram on June 20, 2023.
