As Fear Grips Movie Industry, After Pa KASUMU’s Death
It came as a shock to lots of people on Sunday, March 1st, 2020, when the sad news of actor Kayode Odumosu, popularly known as Pa. Kasumu’s death went viral. It was reported that the veteran died in a hospital in Abeokuta, battling heart failure and kidney-related sickness.
The multi-talented actor started acting on stage play in 1968 and his role in the movie entitled: “Omo Ekere” took him prominence in the industry. He remained active in the industry featuring in both English and Yoruba genre movies. Before his death, he featured in over 100 movies and different English genre series.
The actor, who died at age 66 was diagnosed with heart disease in 2013. In the same year, he was reported to have suffered a stroke. owing to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Before his death, the actor said that his sickness was spiritual and only God could heal him.
According to him “for now, I don’t need any help, all I need is prayer, all I can say about my sickness is that it is spiritual, that’s why I said it requires prayer. I am currently at a church camp for its annual congress. God should take care of me, I will stay at the camp till the congress ends”.
Pa. Kasumu was absent from the movie scene for 10 years. He was said to have suffered from both liver and heart ailment that affected his memory and eye-sight.
His condition was said to have deteriorated after he could not raise enough money to his trip to Indian to continue his treatment.
There were reports that he initially suffered a partial stroke in 2013, though, the sickness started in 2009. He travelled to Indian in 2015 for treatment and he got better. He was, however, required to return to India in two months for another treatment, which he could not do owing to financial challenges. This His condition later deteriorated. He even misplaced his international passport. His family members moved him from his home in Abeokuta to his sister’s house at Aseese, Ogun State in 2016.
It came as a rude shock to his colleagues in the industry when they saw him at Foluke Daramola’s event in 2019, blind and was only able to walk with support. His appearance was so pathetic that his fellow veterans such as Yinka Quadri, Mama Rainbow and others were moved to tears.
The Para Africa Foundation founder, Foluke Daramola, didn’t stop at just assisting him financially, before his death, just a few months ago, the foundation got him a wheelchair, to enable him to move about and there was hope that he would get better there.
Kayode Odumosu was one of the most talented actors in the movie industry and he is known for his near to perfection interpretations of roles in the industry.
His burial arrangement is slated for 2nd and 3rd of April in Abeokuta and he is survived by his wife and children.
IFY ONWUEMENE
This beautiful and highly talented veteran is reportedly down with cancer. It was also revealed that this “Everyday People’s” star actress had her womb removed and fluids drained from her stomach, owing to the deterioration of her sickness. She is also said to need financial assistance to get better treatment.
If you are familiar with a series entitled: “Everyday People” then, you can’t help but love her as she interprets her role passionately. Besides this soap operas, she has equally featured in a good number of movies and some other soap operas.
She is said to be on chemotherapy and has so far spent millions of naira.
BABATUNDE OMIDINA
Popularly known as “Baba Suwe”. He was in the news some times ago for his ill health in February 2019. He also confirmed he has subsequently admitted it at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the admission was facilitated by the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (Tampan) with the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Health.
He also got 20 million naira from Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi for his health issue abroad. He travelled with his son, Sola Omidina for medical treatment abroad for chronic diabetes. Despite the treatment abroad, this multi-talented actor has not been his usual self, he hardly step out for any sort of event, and the last time, he was sighted at an event, he could barely walk on his own, as he was assisted to take each step, at the Bukola Fagbuyi medical outreach for veterans programme.
SADIQ DABA
He publicly disclosed his diagnosis of leukaemia and prostate cancer in 2017 and was supported with fundraised by several Nigerians including Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin. According to him, “what I suffer from is called chronic obstructive venereal disease. It has to do with my lungs, the inside is perforated making breathing and walking around difficult.
“If I exert myself, my heart starts pumping. I was glad because the first cardiologist in Ikoyi told me that if I do surgery, they are not too sure I would survive. So, I don’t want to take the chance’. Nigerians contributed money for him to pay his hospital bills: Femi Otedola also arranged for a physiotherapist, and also got him a mobile oxygen converter that he moves around with, and made provision of supply of drugs that will help the process in the next one year.
Veteran actor Sadiq Daba acted the role of “Bitrus” in the television series “Cock Crow At Dawn”, which ruled the screen in the ’70s and ’80s.
Lots of people were surprised when a video of Yoruba actor, Gbenga Ajumoko, begging for financial assistance went viral. According to him “I am appealing to you all my colleagues, fans, friends and family members in the mighty name of God to please help me. I am begging all the good Samaritan all over the world to please come to my aid and save me from premature death.
I have been diagnosed with severe hypertension and diabetics, which have resulted in kidney failure. Many people have donated much to keep me alive till now, I am very grateful from the bottom of my heart, but I still need more financial help to bring me back on my feet.
The doctor said I needed to take some injections, at least, 1 per week for 6 weeks to help stabilise my kidney, after which the result will lead them to the next step. Maybe dialysis or not which the last option may be a kidney transplant.
KUDIRAT ELUYEMI
Popularly known as Iyabo Oko used to be one of the vibrant actresses in the Yoruba movie industry until she seriously fell ill and took a break from the main scene, owing to complications of a stroke. During this period, she lost her voice, weight and everything. One of her children took her to the U.K for treatment, where he employed a therapist who helped her regain her voice, she also travelled to India to further treatment, where she spent 7 months.
Owing to the ailment, she has been absent from the movie scene. Though she is back on her feet again, yet to recover fully from the sickness that robbed her, all she has ever worked for.
OBIAGELI MOLUBE
Obiageli acted the role of “Mama Nduka” in the rested popular soap opera by the late Amaka Igwe is battling with a life-threatening ailment. Molube is a widow and mother of 5 children, who has featured in lots of movies, and she is also popular for taking up wicked roles in movies. She suffered from multiple stroke and heart- related problem. Actors Guild of Nigeria rallied round to help her raise money to get on her feet again. The multi-talented role interpreter is still struggling to get on her feet properly again, as it used to be back in the days.
OJO AROWOSAFE
Popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro last year was struck with an undisclosed ailment. The state of his health had allegedly deteriorated earlier last year and was even admitted at the hospital. The tale of his bedridden state was first brought to the attention of the public by a younger colleague, Ibrahim Chatta. He even appealed to fans to support the ailing actor financially.
Veteran actor, Fadeyi Oloro became popular in Jimoh Aliu’s television production entitled: “Yanpon Yanrin”, which also featured actress, Orisabunmi and other veteran Yoruba movie stars.
CHIEF SUNDAY AKINOLA
Popularly known as Ayo Mogaji of Feyikogbon, he is among the veterans who have health issues. He was reportedly down with kidney failure, which he was said to have been battling within in the past 5 years and requires N30 million to travel abroad for treatment.
He is also said to be suffering from memory loss, as a result of his ailments.
The 78 years old veteran hit the limelight with his popular television series “Feyikogbon” which regularly featured for NTA Channel 7, Lagos for over 13 years. According to him, he sold almost everything he had, just to take care of his health, after he was diagnosed with kidney failure years back.
CHIEF LARRY WILLIAMS
The multiple-award-winning actor, a poet, lecturer and playwright cried out a few years ago about his state of health and also his state of homelessness. He acted in soaps like Village Headmaster, Ripples, Mirror In The Sun and loads of others. He is one of the pioneers of the movie industry. Besides being an exceptional and talented actor, he has lectured in 3 Nigerian universities such as University of Lagos, Lagos State University and the University of Calabar. The last time, this actor was seen at Foluke Daramola’s programme, he couldn’t see properly.
CHARLES OLUMO
Movie veteran, Charles Olumo (Agbako) is not left out of the list, though his ailment is that of old age, as he is one of the oldest presently in the Yoruba movie industry. The talented actor will be 96 this year, and this has really affected his looks.
VICTOR OLAITAN
Just when he thought, we have seen enough, more names keep cropping up. Lot of videos went viral few days, where movie stars were soliciting for funds for their colleagues in the industry. Just a few days ago, it was revealed that Victor Olaotan’s health is deteriorating as the day passes, he is said to still be battling for his life in a Turkish Hospital, four years after he was involved in a ghastly accident, and presently, he requires 91 million naira for his medical expenses. The hospital has placed his medical treatment on hold until the money is paid, his wife revealed.
Victor is a 66 years old actor, who is popular for his role as Fred Ade Williams in the long-running television series “Tinsel”. He was said to be driving to a movie set, when the accident took place around Apple Junction in FESTAC, Lagos. It was revealed that he was at home in a vegetative state for about 2 years because he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
After he went public with his illness, his colleagues Richard Mofe Damijo announced that billionaire, Femi Otedola has agreed to settle his medical bills. The bills which included his airlift was 39 million naira and Mr Otedola transferred the money directly to the hospital.
After the money expired, his family began 2.7 million every month that don’t cover physiotherapy and other necessary treatments, and according to his wife, since August, she has not paid any money and the hospital has stopped treatment and stopped providing any kind of care for him, and for his treatment to be continued, she needs to pay 91 million. He looks extremely pale and unrecognisable in the new video shared to solicit for funds for him.
IFEANYI EZEOKEKE
Remember the young multi-talented kid actor that rocked the movie scenes in some years back, he dominated the English home videos featuring in blockbuster movies back to back. He is known as Ifeanyi Ezeokeke, popularly known as “Ugo Share Me”.
The actor is blessed with exceptional acting skills and talents. He is currently down with a strange ailment and his colleagues are appealing for help to save his life. Ifeanyi became famous for his role in the movie titled “Conspiracy”, which he acted alongside A-list stars in the industry.
His colleagues Diewait Ipechukwu and Ejike Okoye paid him a visit to his house where they expressed their shock at the deteriorating state of his health.
ERNEST ASUZU
Popular actor, director cum rapper, Ernest Asuzu was seen begging alms a few weeks ago Justrite at Oke Afa area, Isolo, Lagos. The actor was said to be battling stroke since 2014. At a time, he was said to be in Lasuth for months and nobody reached out to him. Though, it was revealed that he was healed at a point by Prophet Jeremiah Omotofufeyin who also gave him a car worths millions after his healing. But it came as a shocker to see this actor, who was among the top stars in the industry in the ’90s, back on the street, begging for alms, without a shirt and on a bathroom slippers still battling with the same ailment, he could hardly speak properly and was not looking okay at all. He was also able to say a few words to solicit for help from Nigerians, through a video he did with Para Africa for Foluke Daramola’s Foundation.
TUNDE ALABI
Veteran actor, Tunde Alabi is also not left out. He is popular for his roles in the series titled “Palace” and “Village Headmaster”. He was hospitalised after the illness that kept him off the screen for years and his leg was amputated. He lost his leg to diabetes mellitus, now he is faced with another battle for survival expensive drugs, no money to take care of himself, as his ailment has sucked up his entire finances.
It was based on doctor’s advise that the leg be cut off, so the infection doesn’t spread to other parts of his body. He has been going through this problem since October 2016. Star actress, Foluke Daramola was able to reach him on 26th December 2019 to contribute her quota to the actor through her foundation, the video also went viral, where they were both seen crying endlessly.
– Biodun Alao
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