Ahead of his 60th birthday, veteran Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo has opened up on fighting the spectre of death in his life since he turned 59 years old.
In an exclusive interview with Nigerian Journalist Chide Jideonwu, the actor revealed that none of his parents lived up to 60 years and turning 60 in a few means that life just started for him.
Richard Mofe Damijo said when he turned 59 years, it was a big deal for him considering his mother died at age 59, and his father died at 57/58, which made him questioned how he could break the cycle.
According to the veteran actor, his parents were diabetic and hypertensive, the reason he chose to consistently go on weight loss programmes to look healthier because he does not want to walk in the path of his parents.
In his word: None of my parents lived to be 60, so life for me is just about to get started.”
“There’s been a specter of death around my life, that’s what I’ve been dealing with last year till this year. When I turned 59, it was a big deal for me, big deal for me! My mom died at 59, my father died at 57/58.”
“So, it was like, can I break it? When people see me and I go on a weight loss, people think that… you know, it’s health. Both my parents were diabetic and hypertensive, I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be diabetic and hypertensive, I want to be healthier. Atleast give myself a fighting chance to change that whole cycle. Yes I’m a Christian now, so I’ve broken that yoke but I have to also help myself.”
“Becoming 60 for me is even a bigger deal, so when July comes and I become 60. You know how the Bible says old things have passed away, I will truly truly become a new man because that is when I’ll make a bucket list. So all these things that you think I’ve achieved or done, for me it’s nothing, like zero.”
“So I’m going to now sit down when I’m 60 and do a bucket list … and then we’ll start.” This was such a heartfelt moment.Eish. It’s such an honour to do this show
