AS if the creative
industry has become its permanent target, death, once more, has laid its
icy hands on foremost actor, Justus Esiri. He was aged 70.
Only six
days ago, rap artiste Susan Harvey, popularly known as Goldie, died in a
brief illness. And in an emotion-laden voice, Esiri's son, Onoriode,
who is popular as Dr. Sid, confirmed his father's death to The Guardian.
"My father
had taken ill and was hospitalised for about three days before he passed
on late Tuesday night in Lagos," Onoriode said, though a family source
disclosed the late Esiri was suffering from low sugar, which got worse
and had to be taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile,
condolence messages have begun to pour in as President Goodluck Jonathan
yesterday described the late Esiri as an epitome of commitment,
excellence and creativity.
In a
condolence message signed by his Media Adviser, Dr. Rueben Abati, the
President re-iterated his belief that Nollywood actors have carved a
positive image for Nigeria in the eyes of the international community,
with the late Esiri, a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), having
contributed in no small measure to the creation and sustenance of that
image.
In his
tribute, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief
Edem Duke, described Esiri's demise as shocking and a monumental loss to
the Nigerian culture and entertainment community. In a statement by his
Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Taiwo Oladokun, Duke described Esiri as
outstanding in the movie industry.
Also,
frontline filmmaker, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, described Esiri's death as
"shocking" and "devastating," adding that, "he was too good a thespian
to die." Popular actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, was still in shock early
yesterday when The Guardian called. He said: "We were together in Abuja
recently, and I have been in touch with him.
Award-winning
actress, Kate Henshaw, screamed, "it's a lie" when called up to pay
tributes, noting: "We worked together on what will count as his last job
that will be premiered - Assassins Practice. So, you mean I wont see
uncle Justus again? It's a lie. We the younger ones will miss his
professionalism and fatherly advice."
Also, the
Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has joined other teaming Nigerians,
Africans and European fans of Nollywood in mourning the dead actor. NFC
Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, described the
passing away of Esiri as painful, and an irreplaceable loss to the
Nigerian creative industry.
Born in
November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State, Esiri had his early
education at the Catholic School, Warri, before proceeding to Maximillan
University in Munich, Germany. While in Germany, Esiri, who is survived
by a wife and six children, attended Prof. Weners Institute of
Engineering, West Berlin, and was later trained at the Ahrens School of
Performing Arts.
Esiri has
to his credit lead appearances in several Nigerian television soaps,
television series and serials, and feature films, including the New
Village Headmaster, Supple Blues and Things Fall Apart. He was, at a
time, President of the Conference for Motion Picture Practitioners.
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