Nollywood star, Yomi Fash Lanso, has said that the demise of talented actress and friend, Moji Olaiya, has added salt to an already bleed...
Nollywood star, Yomi Fash Lanso, has said that the demise of talented actress and friend, Moji Olaiya, has added salt to an already bleeding wound.
The actor, who spoke to Saturday Beats on Friday – a day after the 42-year-old woman and daughter of Highlife music maestro, Sir Victor Olaiya, died in Canada shortly after giving birth to a baby in March – two months before her actual delivery date.
According to reports, the actress’ health had not been too stable since that period, forcing her to remain in the North American nation to recuperate before death eventually came knocking on Thursday.
Lanso, who featured in the very first movie Olaiya appeared in – Owo Ale, said that her demise had thrown them into more misery especially with the industry yet to fully recover from the deaths of Olumide Bakare and Adesina Adesanya fondly known as Pastor Ajidara.
He said, “We are still concluding arrangements for the burial of Pastor Ajidara when the news of Moji’s death hit us. It is like piercing hot iron into an open wound. It came at a time when we have not even recovered from the loss of Olumide Bakare, one of the veterans of our industry.
“I have worked with her for so many years and she is so loving and professional. In fact, I acted with her in the very first movie she appeared, Owo Ale. So, our friendship dates back in time. She was a really nice and wonderful person. Her demise is a big loss to the industry.”
Asked if he agrees with insinuations that the number of deaths that had greeted the Yoruba movie industry in recent times might not be unconnected to some spiritual elements, Lanso refused, maintaining that the events were merely natural.
He said, “I do not agree that there is a spiritual reason behind all these deaths in the industry because there is nobody that would not die. People die every day, but when it happens to prominent people, the society begins to read all sorts of meanings into it. I don’t believe that there is any spiritual connection. Her death is very painful to us; she was a very young woman.”
Following her death, reports had emerged that family members were divided over whether to bury her in Canada or fly her remains back home. Olaiya’s first child, Adun, a 20-year-old student of Babcock University, Remo, Ogun State, had told anyone, who cared to listen that she wanted to see her mother’s body in Nigeria.
“She must be brought back, I don’t care what anybody says, I just want my mother’s body,” she said after her mother’s death.
But reacting, Lanso told Saturday Beats that as colleagues to the late thespian, they would not interfere with the decision of the family but respect their wish on the matter.
He said, “The only voice that is opposed to her being buried in Canada is her daughter. Only she knows her reason for insisting on this. If the body must be flown to Nigeria, it will cost nothing less than $17, 000. But then it all depends on what the family wants.”
When contacted, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, one of Olaiya’s closest friends and colleagues, refused to comment on her demise and controversy surrounding the burial arrangement.
A gifted interpreter of roles, the late 42-year-old actress appeared in dozens of movies and television dramas over the years, winning a handful of notable awards along the line for her efforts.
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