Nollywood actor and producer, Obi Madubogwu, has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their kind response to his pleas for assistance during the dark day of his ailment.
According to the thespian, it was enchanting to know that Nigerians loved and cared for him in such a magnitude.
Speaking from his sick bed at the Federal Medical Centre Ebute Metta, the actor, producer, and founder of Saving Life for Africa Diabetes Foundation, said he was full of gratitude for all the people, organizations and groups who supported him financially and spiritually with prayers as he battled for his life.
“I want to thank all those who supported me financially, through calls, personal visits and prayers. I remember, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Dr. J Akabuike, Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Johnbosco, Ken Maduakor, Osondu Igwilo, The Young, Ofia Okija, Emma Bishop Okonkwo, Igwe Alex Onyido of Ogidi, the Nollywood guilds and groups like AMP, DGN, AGN, Anya Igbo Filmmakers Association, Film4Life and Which Way Nollywood and Movie People Whatsapp Groups.
“I’m equally grateful to the Nigeria media from the mainstream media to the bloggers. I am equally thanking my relatives, fans and friends on social media platforms for their encouraging words of hope,” he said.
Although the actor has recorded appreciable improvement in his health, additional funds are still needed for the final lap of the treatment which is scheduled to take place in a US hospital.
The actor further appealed to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to kindly send their donation through his gofundme account or other means.
Tag: Nollywood actor
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Nollywood actor, Madubogwu seeks further treatment
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AFTER SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT ABROAD, NOLLYWOOD ACTOR, LEO MEZIE SAYS:’I WAS GOING TO RETIRE TO MY VILLAGE’
It can only be God, says Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie, who was diagnosed of failed kidneys that suddenly kicked back without surgery. He tells DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI more upon his return to Nigeria.
YOUR wife was said to have moved out of the matrimonial home before the news of your ailment broke; could your ailment have helped to restore the union?
The truth is that she was very heartbroken when she saw that news online. Afterwards, she banned me from paying attention to the media. It was so horrible.
This was a woman that was suffering from her husband’s state of health, and was trying to save him. Rather than give her credit, she was being criticised. They stated in the story that she has abandon her husband. I know she is hurt, because she is not used to all the media stuff. And to answer your question, there was no issue between us.
Personally, how did you react to the stories that were written about you during your illness?
A lot was written on my state of health. Some even went as far as saying that I was dead. As bad as it was, when that news broke, I was at home with my wife resting, and we were not able to answer our calls because we were in the bedroom while our phones were in the Livingroom. As a result of that, people started using my picture on Facebook and other platforms with the ‘RIP’ tag. It was quite devastating when we saw that.
How did she feel?
I had to explain to her that, that was one of the prices you pay for being a celebrity. But she didn’t find the experience funny at all. Her other experience was with a colleague at work who was encouraging her; telling her stories of people who died of kidney-related problems. She called me on that particular day, crying and narrating what the person told her. She was all alone at home, and I had to be with her until 4am before she could finally rest. I tried so much to protect her from the media, because I have for a long time developed a thick skin to ‘bad press.’
Tell us about your experience when you were flown abroad for treatment…
When I arrived London, I was told that I will have to wait for at least six months, because they don’t go ahead with kidney transplant immediately. I was asked to do some medical tests while we scout for a donor. I was also told to prepare myself for how the donor would be compensated after the transplant.
All these were new to me, and I felt more depressed, but still went ahead with the first test. That done, while they were still discussing the transplant, I was asked to go for the second test and after that, I noticed they were not saying anything about the transplant anymore.
Out of fear, I had to call on one of the heads of the medical team, who told me the kidney had started picking up. So, as God would have it, I didn’t undergo any kidney transplant. After several weeks of monitoring my health situation, I asked them if I could come back home, and I was discharged. However, I will be going back every quarter for check-up.
It was a miraculous healing and it can only be God who can perform such wonders.
Notwithstanding, don’t you feel it is too soon to be back home?
I am not returning to work now. I am taking my time to rest. I am presently on a strict diet and I intend to maintain it for me to recover fully.
Were you told about what could have led to the failure of the kidneys in the first place?
In my own case, there were mixed diagnoses. I really can’t say what caused the kidney failure, because it comes with many systems. I was wrongly diagnosed with malaria, typhoid fever and pneumonia for over a year and the medications prescribed on these occasions were part of what led to the collapse of the kidneys. Also, I was not mindful of my diet. The potassium in my system was five times higher and that was first controlled by placing me on a strict diet that involves plantain, oranges, banana, tomatoes and other foods and fruits. That was the reason I lost so much weight.
Was there a time you lost hope of recovery?
At some point, I already made up my mind to return to my village when I was told I was already at the last stage. I went online to do research and I found out that the maximum a transplant can last is 10 years; meaning I have to be changing kidney every 10 years. So, I gave up and just assumed that I was already dead.
At what point did you decide to appeal for public fund?
When some of my colleagues came and saw my condition, they disagreed with me on handling it alone. That was how the platform started, after consulting my wife and media person. Let me just say that there is going to be a Leo Mezie Foundation. It will help to counsel people with similar cases. It will kick-off next year.
Talking about your career, have you considered featuring in a Yoruba movie sine you speak the language so well?
I have done one before now. The challenge is always about timing and location, especially in situations where I have a job in Asaba and I’m called to take up another one in Osogbo. But now, I am trying to strike a balance, knowing that I have fans too in the Yoruba sector; I got so many messages from them during my trying period.
When do you plan to return to work?
I hope to resume in January, 2017. I already have producers who are eager to have me appear first on their movie after my ailment. I was discussing with my wife about possibly looking for another occupation; but this is my first love and it will be wrong of me not to appreciate my fans, who are already asking when I would be back on the screen. I don’t want to rush back, because I want to be able to maintain my diet and keep to it. I don’t want to take the chances of losing control on my diet, which is very important to my recovery.
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Nollywood actor wants stiffer penalty for piracy, plagiarism
A veteran Nollywood actor, Mr Dele Odule, on Monday urged the National Assembly to enact a law enforcing stiffer punishment for anybody or group found guilty of piracy or plagiarism.
Odule, who is the National President of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers of Nigeria (TAMPAN), made the appeal in llorin on Monday while speaking with newsmen.
The Nollywood actor said that piracy, though a global problem occurred at an alarming rate in Nigeria.
He attributed the high incidence to the low penalty meted out on the perpetrators and non-enforcement of laws against the offence.
“Film producers in Nigeria do not have retirement benefits like civil servants and ordinarily, their production should be their benefits after retirement.
“However, in a situation where these works have been pirated, they are doomed and have nothing to look forward to in future,’’ Odule said.
He appealed to the Federal Government to borrow a leaf from developed countries by assisting film producers in creating an enabling environment to operate.
The actor appealed that a large film village should be built, where actors would be required to pay a token to the government to achieve their mission.
He also solicited that loan facilities should be provided for actors at low interest rates.
The Nollywood actor disclosed that under his leadership as the TAMPAN president plans had reached an advanced stage to professionalise theatre and film production in the country.
This, he said, was to guard against non-professionals bastardising their good jobs.
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I hate being typecast, says Segun Arinze
Though many of his fans have been wondering why he seldom appears in movie in recent times, Segun Arinze, a veteran Nollywood actor and ex-president of Actors Guild of Nigeria ( AGN), has, however, said it is not a deliberate attempt to bid bye to his first love: acting.
In an interview with The Nation, the talented thespian and famed voiceover said he needed time to attend to some administrative matters.
With a career spanning over two decades, Arinze, popularly called Black Arrow, further described himself as more of a method actor than any other thing.
“You may see me play different bad roles, but go back and check and you will find that I don’t play them the same way. I also don’t think that I am typecast. I have done a lot of movies that I didn’t have to play the bad boy role. I don’t believe in being typecast; I would rather be a method actor. Granted, there are certain roles one might not be suited for, but that doesn’t mean one can’t be an actor. I am an actor and I also play an actor’s actor,” he said.
The respected actor also recounted his most challenging moment on the set of the yet-to-be-released movie, A Place in the Stars, saying, “I don’t think that is what I want to share because I was a big distraction at a point in time. It wasn’t a nice experience at all. My director, Steve Gukas, called every now and then to say I was distracting others. The director is also a slave driver of sorts. We find ourselves doing almost 10 takes for one scene, but he knew what he wanted. He wasn’t the pushy kind of director. He took time out to explain to you.”