Esiri, the Headmaster of the Village Headmaster, an evergreen NTA drama series, was one the last few surviving veterans of Nigeria’s stage and screen acting.
Again Nollywood and indeed, the Nigerian entertainment circle is plunged deeper into mourning.
We flipped back through the pages of time and recalls some of the fine moments of the man who was acclaimed as “one of the strong men of African film industry.” Here is a review of his last moments, a reconstruction of the circumstances surrounding his death in this complete and concise compilation of the Life and Times of the Village Headmaster.
Devastated family members of famous actor Justus Esiri are still mourning and reeling in shock following the sudden death of the veteran entertainer who passed on in the night of Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at his home.
According to the shocked family members, the legendary actor was full of life before the tragic incident that has further depleted the ranks of veterans in Nollywood.
When reporters stormed the deceased’s residence on No. 14 Alhaji Azeez Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, the duplex, painted in white colour was besieged by relatives who came to commiserate with the Esiris over the huge and irreparable loss.
Distraught and still weeping Mrs. Omiete Esiri, welcomed us into her gloomy home with swollen eyes.
“Thank you very much for taking your time to come and commisserate with us. You are among the first set of journalists that stopped by. I really do appreciate. Daddy’s death was a very shocking one to us all, but I can’t really entertain journalists right now. I am not in the right frame of mind to speak, so I’ll call Sidney (Dr. Sid) to talk to you on the position of the family. Once again we really appreciate your coming around,” the mother of six said while trying to stop the tears already welled up in her eyes.
Also reacting, the deceased famous Pop star son and member of Don Jazzy-led Mavin Crew, Dr. Sid, who locked himself up in his room upstairs but decided to come down and speak with us based on his mum’s summon, only said a few words about the devastating death of his father.
The Dentist-turned artiste in an emotion-laden voice narrated the last moments of his famous father.
In his exact words: “My father just came back from Asaba yesterday, shortly after his return he started complaining of headache and we advised him to rest for a while. So he went into his room and laid down. Anyway, my father was diabetic. So after he went in to have his rest that was the last we heard from him. We thought it was a minor thing and decided to rush him to the hospital; he was confirmed death by the doctors. I was numb, because he was so full of life and agile,” he said.
At this point, the once confident and soft- spoken Dr. Sid who could no longer control his tears, begged to be excused. He also promised to get in touch with us for the full details on how their dad died as well as the burial arrangements.
Dr. Sid further pleaded with the press to keep his mum off public eyes, which he said they had been doing for years.
“As you can see, we are yet to come to terms with the tragedy that struck us. We beg you to give us few days to mourn him as a family before mourning him as a national figure. We will soon get back to you for the fixed date for his burial and other protocols. I beg you to please leave my mum out of all these. We have been shielding her from the eyes of the public for years. She is not ready to talk to anybody now. She is still so bitter and traumatized,” he pleaded.
How Esiri died a month after paying tribute to Enebeli
On Wednesday, January 9, 2012, during an emotion-laden artistes’ night (night of tributes) held at Ojez, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, to honour the late veteran Nollywood actor, Enebeli Elebuwa, Justus Esiri was among the Nollywood stars who were called to the podium to pay tributes to the famous Andrew.
Clad in an ash colour native attire, Esiri mounted the podium and expressed shock over the painful demise of Enebeli, whom he eulogized and describing as an icon and a gift to the Nigerian entertainment industry.
However, while he was performing this ritual, little did he know that the cold hands of a death was already lurking around. Sadly and barely one month after the tearful scenario played out, he eventually joined his colleague on Tuesday, 19, 2013, thus throwing the entertainment industry yet into another mourning moment.
On how he died, his musician son, Dr. Sid who confirmed the ugly news to Entertainment Express stated thus: “My father just returned from Asaba where he went for a video shoot and started complaining of tiredness. We advised him to rest after which he would be okay. Unfortunately, he went to rest (sleep), and never woke up. Before we could take him to the hospital, he had already passed on”, the Afefe crooner narrated in tears.
When NE on February 20, (the day the news broke) visited the family house of the departed and versatile veteran actor, located at No. 14, Azeez Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, the atmosphere was dreary, with mammoth crowd, including colleagues in Nollywood, family members, friends and well wishers besieging the house, with tears on their faces.
Currently, the ambiance is not only gloomy, but characterized by ear-splitting cries, gnawing and bitter weeps from the entire Nigerian movie industry, globally known as Nollywood. The grieving movie practitioners with their eyes glistening with hot tears are all wondering what has gone wrong in the industry, as news of deaths have become rampantly alarming.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, (AGN) Ibinabo Fiberesima, in a release made available to EE stated thus: “We regret to announce the passing away of our member and veteran actor, Justus Esiri whose sad event took place on February 19. He was said to have died of complications resulting from diabetes.
“Declared as one of the strong men of the African film industry, Justus Esiri was widely known for his role in the ever popular African TV series, The Village Headmaster, where he played the “Headmaster”.
We commiserate with the family and pray that God give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, Ibinabo stated.
A well educated man, Esiri started his acting career in Germany and held an honorary MON award from the Federal government of Nigeria. He featured in several Nollywood movies including The Prize, Six Demons, Wasted Years, Forever, The investigation, Corridors of Power, Last Knight, The Tyrant, and he is reputed to have featured in more “TV Network drama programmes than any Nigerian actor.”
He is survived by his wife, Omiete and children including the music star, Dr. Sid, whose real name is Sidney Esiri.
Nigerians react on social media
Following the sad demise of veteran Nollywood actor, Justus Esiri, many shocked and disturbed Nigerians have paid glowing tributes and aired their opinions about the incessant deaths in Nollywood. Below are some of their comments expressed via the social media.
I wept bitterly -George Akhigbe
I wept bitterly for him because he was my favourite actor. I don’t know what to say than to tell Nollywood to change their name immediately so that this death can stop. Is it how other countries’ actors and actresses are dying? There has to be a change in Nollywood, immediate change.
There should be Health Insurance Scheme in AGN -Donald Okafor
You would expect, with all these deaths, Nollywood would come together and set up a comprehensive health insurance package that would take care of members…No. You can’t just die without symptoms or warnings that many of us “refuse” to pay attention to or just shove aside. This is how many Nigerians die daily; the difference is just that we see these ones on TV. And as long as we have this myopic belief that these actors and actresses die because “they don’t know God”, we are not going to learn anything.
He was one of the best in Nollywood –Aroh
Why all these deaths in Nollywood? One after the other, the beautiful ones are leaving us. What a pity. He was one of the most talented actors we have ever seen. We shall miss him a great deal. Our dear versatile Justus Esiri, we pray for your soul to rest in perfect peace.
Nollywood should return to God -Odinaka Kingsley
What is happening in the entertainment industry is a demonstration that these actors and actresses should return to God. Farewell, Justus.
He died at his appointed time -Akeula Taiwo
May I use this opportunity to correct this common belief that ‘’death is a reward for the sins of some people we consider not following the way of God!” Every soul alive today is only enjoying respite freely granted by God till He finally withhold, or terminate such respite. Men do not necessarily die by virtue of sins but by pre-destined appointed term, which no one, except God, can revert. We see bad persons living long lives and vice-versa. The most important thing is for us to take advantage of God’s respite to live a righteous and conscious life; worshipping Him day and night, without associating partners with Him in such worship.
God is angry with Nollywood –Anthony Iloegbunam
Actors and actresses should run to God now before they all will be consumed by the cold hands of Death. This is a direct warning to them. They should examine the roles they act. God is angry with Nollywood. They are not showing or passing impressive information to our youths. We are not in the US that certain things will be done in the open. We are special people and our tradition must be properly protected. Other gods must not fit in with our true God. Our women have thrown everything to the dogs, thereby making it now an open show for the children. Nollywood should retrace their steps now. Their case should not be like the case of the children of Israel in the Bible. Go to our Churches and see if you can see any of these Nollywood Actors and Actresses in the Church. They don’t go to Church because Glo and other big time institutions are there for them. So the need to go to church does not arise. They keep misleading the youths to destruction, and our God is particularly not happy about this. It’s better they repentant now as there will be none after death.
Neighbours pay tributes
The death of Justus Esiri is still a rude shock to the neighbours of the veteran actor.
According to Mrs. Ginika, who lives directly opposite the residence of the late thespian, the day before he died, she recalled seeing him driving himself without any traces of illness. But to her utmost dismay, when the news of his death filtered in the next morning, she found it very hard to believe.
“He was a very loving and caring man. He doesn’t make trouble and always cheerful and playful. I am still in shock, because I saw him the day before his death. Death could be so wicked and unpredicted. We will miss his gentle face on the streets and in movies too. May his soul rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord.”
Another neighbour, who refused to disclose his name, but stepped in during the brief chat with the grieving woman also attested to the fact the late talented actor was indeed a man of peace with amiable charisma.
“Although I haven’t been privileged to have one on one interaction with him but from the few times I have seen him interact with people, I knew he has a good heart. We will all miss him”, he said nodding in pains.
May his rest in peace
ReplyDeleteR.I.P Esiri
ReplyDeleteGod is not sngry, but simply His will and purpose for our lives . Mr. Esiri played his part and has gone home to Jesus. Goodbye!
ReplyDelete