Veteran producer Wale Adenuga has responded to recent comments by actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, best known for playing Papa Ajasco, saying the viral video reflects the comedian’s personal strategy but has created misconceptions about their long working relationship .
Adenuga said his first reaction on seeing the trending clip was that Ayoyinka had taken the Papa Ajasco comedy character into the public space as a money making social media strategy and that he was happy it worked for him .
He described Ayoyinka as a versatile actor who embodied the Papa Ajasco role excellently and most closely resembled the cartoon character he first sketched in 1976, adding that they remain close and have no irreconcilable differences .
However, he expressed concern over what he called misinformation and emotional commentary that followed the interview, insisting he needed to set the record straight in the interest of truth, transparency and the integrity of the Papa Ajasco brand .
Adenuga explained that Ayoyinka worked for more than three decades as a civil servant with the Lagos State Government and served as the face of the state’s cultural troupe, which brought him into contact with leaders including then governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his successors .
He said Wale Adenuga Productions always sought official permission from Ayoyinka’s government employers whenever he was needed on set, underlining that acting on Papa Ajasco and Company was not his only source of income .
On Ayoyinka’s claim that he never owned a car or house, Adenuga countered that WAP once gave him a car, just as it did for fellow cast member Pa James, and that the actor has used at least five cars over the years, including a Mercedes Benz .
To the best of his knowledge, Adenuga said, Ayoyinka also owns a house in Ogun State, making it inaccurate to suggest he has no tangible assets after decades in the industry .
Responding to the complaint that he could not use the Papa Ajasco name for personal ventures, Adenuga stressed that the brand is copyrighted and cannot be deployed freely because WAP has a duty to protect it from misuse that could damage its reputation .
He clarified that Ayoyinka and other cast members are not barred from doing adverts or other jobs under their real names and only need to seek formal approval from WAP when a deal directly involves the Papa Ajasco brand, as part of standard brand protection practice .
Adenuga questioned why Ayoyinka now portrays himself as broke, asking what became of his gratuities and investments from over 30 years in government service and pointing out that many of his WAP colleagues continue to work regularly under their own names .
He noted that actors such as Pa James, Mama Ajasco, Boy Alinco, Miss Pepeiye, Akpan and Oduma are constantly on different film locations, showing that nothing in their contracts stops them from taking outside roles .
Adenuga explained that Papa Ajasco cast members typically work on set for about six weeks in a whole year, during which enough episodes are recorded to run for twelve months, leaving them ample time to pursue other acting and business opportunities .
He added that Papa Ajasco and Company still airs on NTA, STV, WAPTV and other platforms, both terrestrial and cable, as well as on YouTube, and that Wale Adenuga Productions has maintained cordial relationships with artistes and crew while paying according to industry standards .
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