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Babatunde Omidina, known as Baba Suwe, is a successful comedian better known for his exploits in Yoruba home videos. Amazingly, he is still arguably the most popular Yoruba comedian of his time.
Sadly, Baba Suwe who has made a career out of making people laugh hasn’t had so much to giggle about in recent times.
The Genesis
His travails began when On October 13, 2011, news of his arrest by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on suspicion of being in possession of hard drugs made the rounds on the internet which lead to a fierce legal battle.The sad incident created a major dent on his reputation.
TheNewsGuru recalls that actor,Paul Obazele condemned the act describing it as “tarnishing and one that will not do the image of the industry any good.”
“We are disappointed, it’s annoying. I’m short of words, Baba Suwe is an icon and everybody looks up to him in the industry’, Paul Obazele said, while adding that “it is not good news at all”, Obazele said in a chat with newsmen.
Baba Suwe later took the NDLEA to court, won and was awarded N25 million in compensation for the wrongful arrest. He is yet to get the compensation eight years later.
The incident led to a decline in his career as he was hardly featured in movies. Comic actors like Mr Latin, Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri) Afeez Oyetoro (Saka) Ayanfe Adekunle (Monsuru) Tunde Usman (Okele) Adekola Tijani (Kamilu Kompo) Tayo Amokade (Ijebu) emerged on the scene making many pay less attention to the veteran comedian.
Accused of killing his ‘Omoladun’ his late wife in 2009
TheNewsGuru, TNG recalls that one of the greatest scandal that rocked the career of Baba Suwe was allegations that he killed his late wife, Monsurat Omidina (Omoladun) who was an actress during her lifetime.
Baba Suwe’s step daughter, Omolara Kareem brazenly accused her stepdad of having a hand in her mother’s death. She noted that he had brutally fought her mother the night before her death. However, Baba Suwe debunked the claim.
In an interview with Vanguard, he said: It has not been easy but life must go on. I believe whatever happens has been pre-ordained. The death of Omoladun was a great loss I cannot get over in this lifetime. She will remain my best companion. She understood me than any other person on planet earth. At times when we quarrel in the house, she would abuse me on set and that would mark the end of the issue”.
Waning health
In the past few days, the news of Baba Suwe’s) medical ordeal has become one of the most discussed subject matters on social media.The respected comedian is currently suffering from chronic diabetes.
TheNewsGuru reports that back in 2016, Baba Suwe had debunked reports of ill health when Yomi Fabiyi declared on Instagram that his health is waning.
In an interview with a news medium, Baba Suwe said:”My health is perfectly fine, I don’t want anybody to worry about me,” he said. Adding, “a lot of people have been calling me about the issue all day what Yomi put out is a very old story. I don’t want to talk about the issue any more please ignore it.”
Amazingly, Same Yomi Fabiyi once again broke the news of his medical challenges after sharing videos of the ailing actor speaking about his health challenges on an Ibadan based radio station.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuD3ZzMFLN6/
Fabiyi said:”My only gain is for him to get help and survive this. May God forgive our misdeed. Let us leave the past where it belongs and that is in the past. Without going into details, his present condition is getting critical to the previous state when I first raised alarm. I am again putting my all before the world to please help him. Time is of the essence. People around him are really trying but trust me on this, the situation is bigger now. He needs urgent comprehensive medical treatment”.
Present health challenges
In a new development, Fabiyi, Baba Suwe’s protégé took to his Instagram page to appreciate well meaning Nigerians and colleagues who donated funds towards the medical treatment of the comic actor.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuF2dbElS9n/
He wrote on Instagram: “UPDATE on BABA SUWE: In less than 48hrs, my fans have sent me screen shots of deposits they made and have raised million+ to SAVE BABA SUWE. I am close to tears. My cults, my backbones, am honoured.
“However, colleagues such as Liz Anjorin, Iyabo Ojo, Adekaz Films & Marketing, Wale Olaleye(Journalist) are few others who confirmed deposits and invariably sent evidences to me, I understand many people have also deposited, nemaste. I am equally aware TAMPAN NATIONAL via her LAGOS CHAPTER sent delegation already and will come up with something shortly. All other NGOs are well appreciated.”
TheNewsGuru, TNG wish the ailing thespian a speedy recovery as he rises above his health challenges.