I Purposely Keep My Kids Away From Limelight—Dakore

Nollywood actress, Dakore Akande, has disclosed that she missed wearing dreadlocks, which she was known for in the past. When asked recently if she missed her dreads, the actress told Complete Fashion magazine that, Oh yes I do I miss them very much actually but Im comforted by the fact that my hair is still natural and I can go back to the ...

Finally! Tonto Dikeh Denies Gideon Okeke on National TV (Watch)

No need of exchanging words with anybody as Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, makes plans for her wedding after she had done her introduction over the weekend.The true personality of her man seems to have caused a lot of brouhaha following a tweet from fellow actor Gideon Okeke, shading her for finally having a man to marry.Rather than Tonto ...

I Am Broke I Need Help I Am Basically Feeding From Hand To Mouth! Veteran Nollywood Yoruba Movie Star Abija Cries Out

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His fame cuts across local and international boundaries. Tajudeen Oyewole aka Abija is an actor but  eight years ago he almost lost his life in an auto crash. Since then, he tells Taiwo Abiodun, in this interview that he has been living from hand to mouth

You probably do not know, but Chief Tajudeen Oyewole, popularly known as Abija in the Yoruba movies genre now limps. This much The Nation found out during a chance encounter with the renowned actor recently. Also, you almost wouldn’t recognise him, as the usually vibrant defender of the oppressed, who is always quick to take the battle to the witches and wizards and other negative spirit forces in the movies, now cuts a pitiable sight  no thanks to a ghastly auto-crash he was involved in sometimes in 2007.

But like a leopard who can never change its spots, the actor’s countenance changed right after the initial introduction, and with raised voice and eyes bulging, he began chanting incantations and gesticulating, as if in a trance or on stage, acting.

How he got the stage name- Abija

Oyewole said he derived his stage name, Abija from an engineer. “There was a construction company called Abija Construction in Oshogbo; the company was owned by a respectable old man and when we wanted to do a13-week play, we deliberated on what they should call me and the name of the construction company came to my mind, and I said ‘Abija’. We had 25 episodes in the play and I was asked to use the name – Abijawara Bi Ekun. Later, we simply called it Abija.

“Before that time, I had been using other stage names, but none earned me popularity as when we used the name ‘Abija ‘ in the series ‘Opa Aje’. The name also became my trademark and shot me into limelight. Today, only a few people know my real name.”

Opa Aje, facts behind the story

Said Abija, ‘Opa Aje’ was shot long time before it debuted on TV and it was a surprise to the entire crew that it became so popular. He said “the story line is about three villages and the ‘Opa Aje’ (prosperity staff). The mysterious staff was owned by Lasigun Village (his mother’s village) and it was agreed that it should be rotated round the other two villages: Bilagun and Telude, but Lasigun refused until Bilagun took it by trick and it resulted into a war; Telude also had to resort to force by waging war against Bilagun, to collect the staff from her. Abija a powerful juju man and warrior was asked to rescue it, thus it rotated among the three villages.”

Interestingly, he said it wasn’t until recently that they found out that the story was indirectly referring to the Nigerian nation’s battle for power and resource control.

His Taboo

He confesses that despite the fact that he played the warrior roles in movies, there are some costumes he dared not put on without offering certain sacrifices and atonements to the gods. Also there are some that a woman dares not meet him on the way or even make an attempt to embrace him. “We don’t just treat these costumes anyhow; if there is need to perform rituals or offer sacrifices before wearing them, then I must humbly comply. If not, the side effect could be fatal. I know this because my paternal and maternal line-ages are both from Ifa priesthood and Babalawos. So it means I inherited the act of Ifa from the two sides. Aside this, I am also from the family of hunters. No woman could embrace me while returning from a hunting expedition because of what I may have on my body. If I need any animal, I only need to go into the forest to kill it. The power is there.” He said, beating his chest in confidence.

How rich is Abija?

Despite all his fame, Abija revealed that it hasn’t translated to money. “I am not rich; I don’t have a roof over my head, which is part of measuring one’s wealth in this part of the world; I don’t even have a land. And it’s not because I am not serious or that I’m a prodigal son; the money realised from acting is just not much, or even enough, as people out there or our fans think. I am prudent and I have only one wife. But having said that, I cannot say that I am not a rich man, because I have children higher institutions, although I may not be rich in cash.”

Asked why some male artistes tend to keep a harem of wives, Abija said “it is because of the perception of fans and the general public that female artistes are wayward; so the male artistes prefer to marry them and use them as actresses in their works. If you look at it, this is even economical for them, as they may not have to pay them exorbitant fees they’d have had to pay for independent actresses.”

The auto crash

Abija who is still limping as a result of the ghastly motor accident back in 2007, says he is just lucky to be alive. He said it happened on his way back from a film location: “I went with my crew to shoot my new film ‘Ibinu Abija’ and on our way back late in the evening; I hit a big brick road divider along Canaan Land, which position had been changed by the road constructors, without any sign. I ran into it with my Toyota Camry. But thank God, I was not speeding. My hip dislocated, while the lady, an artiste sitting by the driver’s side died immediately. Another woman sitting behind me was seriously injured. I also thank God for Otunba Ajawesola Ayinde Busari, who assisted me, and stood by me. That film will hit the market soon, and believe me; you will learn a lot from it.

Betrayal from friends

With a forlorn look, the artiste said he has been let down and betrayed several times by his so-called friends and colleagues that he now finds it hard to trust. “I have been disappointed by a lot of friends. There was a year a man wanted to sponsor my film; I called one of my best friends to accompany me to the negotiation. But would you believe that this friend of mine went behind me to the same sponsor a week later, and negotiated a lesser and ridiculous amount? My friend later invited me to star in a film for him, and I obliged, not knowing that it was the same film I should have owned. On location, I invested all my energy and I almost killed myself to make it successful, not knowing I was a fool. When I later went to meet the sponsor, he began dilly-dallying.  He later showed me the VHS my friend had produced. He accused me of demanding for higher price on the film, lambasted me and told me my friend had done the job.

“And this is a film I had invited my fellow artistes from Ondo, Abeokuta, Ekiti and other places and even lodged them in hotels in preparation for. In the end, the film did not sell, while my so-called friend and the sponsor became enemies. The sponsor even reported him to the police for fraud. I was the one who again went to beg the promoter to let my friend go.”

On his rumoured death

Abija said the rumour of his death, which spread like wildfire some years back, was as a result of the accident, as many feared he had died or could not survive it. “You can see that I still limp. The accident was fatal, but I thank God that I survived it. I spent about two and a half years in the hospital and later at home. I also went to a trado-medic for bone setting, as my hip was badly affected. The accident happened eight years ago, on the 10th of September, 2007. However, I don’t believe it was caused by enemies or that I was being haunted spiritually as some think. I see it as what it is, an accident. No more, no less.”

On current Nollywood films

Abija denounced the present crop of home video coming out of the industry for low quality. He said too many movies are being hurriedly put together and said it was not like this when he was active. “We never met it like this and we were never taught like this. I was in Dakar, Senegal with some of our CDs and they only picked two. The films they watched were condemned because in some of them, the ladies were half naked and they detest all these.”

His solution

“We need to work harder. The films being produced now are of poorer quality. In Yoruba land, we are known for producing films that educate; thought-provoking films that are well-researched. That is why we are called prophets

“As for those who think our culture is dying or that it is fetish and ungodly because of their religion, I can tell you that they are coming back to it.”

His background

“I was born over 50 years ago. I attended only primary school at Local Authority Primary School, Oniyere in Ayedun Agbo Bi Ekun Village, Osogbo, Osun State. My parents actually sent me to school but I was a truant. That is why I did not go beyond primary school, but it pains me now. At the moment, none of my children is into acting, but one of them edits. As for me, I think it is education first for children. If they place acting first, their future could be ruined. It is lack of education that almost ruined me.” He admitted.

I need help

“I want Nigerians to help me in my career. I need sponsors. I am not a greedy person. I believe in Allah. People interestingly call me Alhaji, although I am yet to visit Mecca. The only car I own was condemned in that accident. As I speak, it probably would have been towed away by government agencies. I will appreciate every help that comes my way.

Full Info About Tonto Dikeh’s Husband To Be, His Previous Wedding And His Relationship With Ex-Pres Obasanjo

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Yoruba weds Igbo a match that the country needs. Forget Biafra, forget the Yorubas and their allegations about Northern conspiracy. Igbosmarrying Hausas will also help keep the country together, but then this rarely happens because Muslims believe themselves to be superior to others, mostly Christians. Yorubas and Igbos should best stick together because they have some things in common including Christianity. So Tonto marrying the son of OBJ? is a welcome development.

The truth is that Tonto Dikeh’s husband, Oladunni Olakunle Churchill is related to former president Olusegun Obasanjo but not his direct son. Oladunni Churchill is Chief Obasanjo’s brother’s son, but Tonto was right to have called him her father in-law, because in Yorubaland, he is truly her baba oko.

The duo didn’t just meet, as Churchill had asked Tonto out while she was dating Michael Awujoola (Malivelihood), waved him aside but did not totally ignore him.

Churchill was brought up in Lagos.

He is the chairman of Big Churchill Haven Limited and also the CEO of BigChurch Entertainment, located on Awolowo road, Ikoyi. Big Churchill Haven Limited is an IT & SOLUTION (software management) company.

Churchill was once married to a lady named Bimbo Coker, but the two have since gone their separate ways some sources say they are still not legally divorced. So that’s it from us to you.

Dating Nollywood Actor Is Taboo—Budding Actress, Omowunmi Dada

Some people have always kicked against dating or marrying someone from the same industry. Different reasons have been given for this. In the banking industry in Nigeria, it is not allowed for husband and wife to be in the same financial institution. It is either one of them will quit the job. For Nollywood actress, Omowuni Dada, she can nev ...

Man Who Attempted Suicide By Drinking Acid Urgently Needs Help

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A 30-year –old man, Taiwo Eko who attempted suicide by drinking a raw motor battery acid in 2011 over what he described as helpless condition, is now urgently in need of medical attention to survive the damages done to himself.

He bought N400 acid from road side mechanic whom he lied that he was going to use it for important experiment and ended up using himself as the experiment material with an excuse that he had no parent or anybody to assist him in life.

Taiwo, after attempting to take his life damaged his throat and his voice cracked. His tongue was also affected which made him not to speak louder to the hearing of anyone in the same room with him except the person draw closer.

The Delta State born Taiwo who now eat through the assistance of naso -gasgric tube (GNB) and artificial oxygen for his breathing, said he had been treated both in Nigeria and India yet his condition is getting worse on daily basis.

He said Apollo Hospital in India treated him to the extent that he no longer breath with artificial oxygen or eat through tube, adding that he was surprised and confused that when he returned to Nigeria everything got worse.

Taiwo pleaded with the State and Federal government to return him back to India where he had contacted a doctor who promised to save his life. He noted that his major problem is fund since he has no parent or working to earn income.

Narrating how he attempted to take his life, Taiwo said “I drank acid; I wanted to kill myself because I was not happy with my condition. I have no parent and I have being suffering for many years without help.  I went to mechanic workshop to get the acid with N400 but the acid didn’t end my life the way I wanted.

“The people who rushed me to the hospital said I was already dead, that the first hospital rejected me. I was referred to Eko Hospital in Delta State and nothing happened. They took me to University of Benin Teaching Hospital where I stayed a year and six months.

“But later the Hospital management changed their mind to perform surgery on me. As God want it, I met Dr. Richard Okonye, a man of God who volunteered to take me to India where I got treated.  But when I came back to Nigeria my condition got worse.  I called one of the doctors in India and he said I should come to India, but I don’t have money to travel abroad. I am begging Nigerians to help me.”

Ooni Of Ife: Abobaku (Person Who Is Supposed To Be Killed And Buried Along With The Ooni) Allegedly Runs Away

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The death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has brought up many controversies. First, there were disputes about whether he had really died, then disagreement over the curfew in the state and now the ‘Abobaku’. The Abobaku has reportedly run away after the death of the prestigious Oba. If the tweet below is to be believed, it means the final rites on behalf of the deceased Ooni of Ife might be stalled.

According to Daily Alert Nigeria

Breaking:The Final burial rite for Late Oba Sijuade the Ooni of Ife, may be stalled as the “Abobaku” reportedly on the run. Story developing…

According to Yoruba tradition, a king does not die alone. His burial rites include being buried with other people. This is when an Abobaku comes into the picture. An Abobaku lives his life for the king and he is buried alongside the king. In the authentic tradition, just as there is a lineage that become king, there is also always a family dedicated to the ancient belief of dying with the king. An Abobaku also enjoys great benefits while he is still alive.

Related Story – The Ooni’s Burial Rites People Are Scared Of Talking About See How Many Human Heads Will Be Used To Bury Him