Mansura Isa was recently on the news when she publicly announced the end of her 14-year-old marriage to famous actor Sani Musa Danja. In this interview, the Kannywood actress and producer talks about her failed marriage and her romance with politics.
You recently took to your social media handle to announce the end of your 14-year-old marriage. Why did you do that?
I had to do it because, as a Muslim, I know how a married person ought to appear and behave publicly. Yes, our 14-year-old marriage has ended, but if I don’t tell my fans and other people, I may end up creating an unwarranted issue when people notice a change in my behaviour.
Therefore, I felt that to avert other issues and to make things clear, I took the trouble to announce my divorce publicly so as to prevent unwarranted rumours and other unhealthy comments.
How did you feel when your fans and others responded to your announcement?
It was unfortunate that what I tried to avoid was somehow what really happened. Many rained curses on either me or my former husband Sani Danja. Others have either taken sides with me or with him for reasons best known to them.
They failed to understand that our marriage lasted for 14 years not because of our might or our hard-work; it is what God has destined. As believers, we know whatever happens in one’s life is God’s will and not by one’s doing.
If God says your marriage has come to an end, you can’t do otherwise; it has to end. Therefore, condemning me or my former husband is like questioning God’s act. Marriages and divorces have been happening everyday and what happened to ours is not an exception.
Moreover, people’s comments on social media platforms are negatively affecting us individually, people should understand that divorce is as legal as marriage; we didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I am begging them to allow us be and to forge ahead with our lives.
Don’t you think the reason behind the responses was because yours was the longest?
No. It is only that ours was more pronounced. There are other celebrity marriages that were in existence long before I even ventured into the film making industry. Take for instance actress Wasila Isma’il, Halisa Muhammed, Aisha Ki yarda da ni and Halima Kara da Kiyashi among other Kannywood celebrities, whose marriages have stood the test of time. These artists ought to be celebrated as well but for the fact that ours was more projected, many thought that our marriage was the longest.
I know how my fans are feeling on our divorce issue but do I have a choice? Destiny has made it that the marriage will end and that is it. I am also aware that the industry itself is proud of our marriage and so are other stakeholders in the film making business, but as the saying goes, “man proposes and God opposes”.
You are a philanthropist, producer and politician. How do you manage all these?
I was born into an enterprising family; my mother was a businesswoman and I can remember vividly that I was operating an electronics shop while in senior secondary school. Therefore, hustling has been part of my life and multi-tasking is not a new or difficult thing for me. I was gainfully engaged in other businesses before venturing into film making.
I am a diversified enterprising business woman. That has been my orientation for a long time and so doing other things aside acting doesn’t mean Mansura is different from others. My passion to assist the less privileged is what motivated me to form Today’s Life Foundation – a platform I am using to change the lives of many less privileged persons. I am also the Chief Executive Officer of Today’s Life Foundation Nigeria Limited, which is a business oriented venture platform for my business activities.
What about the issue of politics?
Yes, I am involved in politics and I know the reason behind this question is because you have come across some pictures of me and other politicians, specifically that of the daughter of APC’s Presidential flag bearer Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Folashade Mujidat Ojo Tinubu. We met in Abuja while planning for her father’s campaign strategies and I was able to convince her to come to Kano and see how popular her father is in Kano.
She obliged me and came to Kano where she met with the Kano State Governor and the first lady of Kano State. She was warmly received and I am glad that she saw how the good people of Kano State love her father.
I felt honoured by this gesture done to me by Tinubu’s daughter and I am happy that she came to Kano though unofficial and that has changed her perception of the state.
