Veteran actor, Chief Lere Paimo, popularly called Eda Onile Ola, is known for his fetish roles in yoruba movies.
In a recent chat with Punch, he opened up on the fetish roles, talked about life, near death experience, relationship with Obasanjo, and more. See excerpts below:
You have been into acting for over 55 years, how did the journey begin?
I started acting with Duro Ladipo and
Oyin Adejobi; they were my bosses when I joined the profession. I
started in Osogbo and I never knew that I would become a household name
in Nigeria.
Oyin Adejobi; they were my bosses when I joined the profession. I
started in Osogbo and I never knew that I would become a household name
in Nigeria.
When I was in primary school, I always
took part in the end of year activities where I costumed myself as a
king. I had a sister-in-law that attended the same primary school with
me and till date, she still refers to me as a king.
took part in the end of year activities where I costumed myself as a
king. I had a sister-in-law that attended the same primary school with
me and till date, she still refers to me as a king.
I just loved dressing like a king and
participating in drama but I never knew that one day it would become a
reality. All I wanted was to act and make people laugh because I derived
joy from doing that.
participating in drama but I never knew that one day it would become a
reality. All I wanted was to act and make people laugh because I derived
joy from doing that.
During that time, I was always treated
like a king because whenever we had the school play, a crowd normally
followed me from my home to school to watch me perform. They made me
feel like a real king.
like a king because whenever we had the school play, a crowd normally
followed me from my home to school to watch me perform. They made me
feel like a real king.
Subsequently my friend, Merryphoto, told
me that we should go to Mbari, Imo State and join a theater group and I
agreed. We left Osogbo for Mbari and when we got there and had
auditions, we were chosen. That is how it all began. I did not do it for
money but for the love I had for the profession. It is God that decided
to bless me through my career with fame and fortune.
me that we should go to Mbari, Imo State and join a theater group and I
agreed. We left Osogbo for Mbari and when we got there and had
auditions, we were chosen. That is how it all began. I did not do it for
money but for the love I had for the profession. It is God that decided
to bless me through my career with fame and fortune.
You seem to be very close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo too.
He was very close to my late boss, Duro
Ladipo and he likes me a lot because he saw that I was a very talented
actor. He used to call my boss Sango, and would always ask him to take
very good care of me. Because of that, my boss loved me the more but I
think he was a captain then.
Ladipo and he likes me a lot because he saw that I was a very talented
actor. He used to call my boss Sango, and would always ask him to take
very good care of me. Because of that, my boss loved me the more but I
think he was a captain then.
When my boss died, I visited him
occasionally and he treated me very well. That was how our friendship
blossomed till he gave me a national award while he was a president. He
was so happy when I bagged the award.
occasionally and he treated me very well. That was how our friendship
blossomed till he gave me a national award while he was a president. He
was so happy when I bagged the award.
What are some of the most interesting moments you shared with the former president?
He is a very jovial man. He loves playing ayo,
and whenever he is enjoying the game at his Ota farm, people would
gather to watch him play. That was shortly after he was the head of
state.
and whenever he is enjoying the game at his Ota farm, people would
gather to watch him play. That was shortly after he was the head of
state.
Whenever he beat someone in the game, he
normally made jest of the person. He was really good at the game. There
was a time his younger sisters brought food for him while playing. He
did not bother to use a plate. His sisters were surprised and he
jokingly said that when they got to their husband’s house, they could
use plates but that he preferred eating it directly from the leaves.
Obasanjo is a very down-to-earth person and this endears him to people
around him.
normally made jest of the person. He was really good at the game. There
was a time his younger sisters brought food for him while playing. He
did not bother to use a plate. His sisters were surprised and he
jokingly said that when they got to their husband’s house, they could
use plates but that he preferred eating it directly from the leaves.
Obasanjo is a very down-to-earth person and this endears him to people
around him.
Was there any time you felt like quitting up acting?
There were times I really felt like
quitting. There was a time we were going for a show and I could not take
my car because it was faulty. I decided to travel in a lorry with my
family and theatre group. My wife had an infant and some other group
members had their children in the lorry as well. When we got to
Abeokuta, we had an accident and the lorry somersaulted. I was able to
get out of the vehicle through the smashed windscreen. By the time we
got out of the damaged vehicle, we began to look for the children and we
later found them in the bush unharmed. Other vehicles passing by had to
stop to help us because they saw my posters on the lorry. They helped
us get people out of the damaged lorry and my injured drummer was rushed
to the hospital at Abeokuta. Even though the hospital was on strike,
when they saw that he was my drummer, they rushed to help him. I am glad
nobody died and no child was hurt.
quitting. There was a time we were going for a show and I could not take
my car because it was faulty. I decided to travel in a lorry with my
family and theatre group. My wife had an infant and some other group
members had their children in the lorry as well. When we got to
Abeokuta, we had an accident and the lorry somersaulted. I was able to
get out of the vehicle through the smashed windscreen. By the time we
got out of the damaged vehicle, we began to look for the children and we
later found them in the bush unharmed. Other vehicles passing by had to
stop to help us because they saw my posters on the lorry. They helped
us get people out of the damaged lorry and my injured drummer was rushed
to the hospital at Abeokuta. Even though the hospital was on strike,
when they saw that he was my drummer, they rushed to help him. I am glad
nobody died and no child was hurt.
My children that were found in the bush
on that day are all married now. After the accident, I felt like
quitting. There was also a time that we went to Zaria to perform and we
were robbed. They stole all our clothes from the lorry we rented
overnight and when we discovered what had happened the following day, we
began to cry. It was a man, Idowu, from Ogbomosho who sold clothes in
Zaria that helped us. He replaced everything we lost. He told me to stop
crying and even bought me a pair of glasses to cover my red shot eyes.
During those trying times, I got tired of the job and felt like quitting
but I thank God for everything.
on that day are all married now. After the accident, I felt like
quitting. There was also a time that we went to Zaria to perform and we
were robbed. They stole all our clothes from the lorry we rented
overnight and when we discovered what had happened the following day, we
began to cry. It was a man, Idowu, from Ogbomosho who sold clothes in
Zaria that helped us. He replaced everything we lost. He told me to stop
crying and even bought me a pair of glasses to cover my red shot eyes.
During those trying times, I got tired of the job and felt like quitting
but I thank God for everything.
How did you get the stage name Eda Onileola?
I got it in 1965 when I went for the Commonwealth festival with my boss. I partook in a play called Everyman.
It was an English play but we had to act it in Yoruba. I played the
lead role as Eda who was a very wealthy man. I played the role so well
that the name stuck. Till date, some people think that my real name is
Eda.
It was an English play but we had to act it in Yoruba. I played the
lead role as Eda who was a very wealthy man. I played the role so well
that the name stuck. Till date, some people think that my real name is
Eda.
Many people say that you are
fetish because of the way you recite incantations, is that a rumour or
something close to the truth?
fetish because of the way you recite incantations, is that a rumour or
something close to the truth?
Often times, I get calls from people all
over Nigeria asking me to consult the oracle for them. Whenever it
happens like that, I explain to them that I am not an herbalist. Even
after explaining to them that what they watch on television is just
acting, some still don’t believe, offering to pay me huge sum of money.
over Nigeria asking me to consult the oracle for them. Whenever it
happens like that, I explain to them that I am not an herbalist. Even
after explaining to them that what they watch on television is just
acting, some still don’t believe, offering to pay me huge sum of money.
I am not an herbalist and I don’t know
anything about herbs, I put all my trust in God. I am not saying that
there is no such thing as metaphysical powers or voodoo. They exist and
people indulge in them but I don’t do such. I always tell people that
call me that if they believe in God, they are equally powerful.
anything about herbs, I put all my trust in God. I am not saying that
there is no such thing as metaphysical powers or voodoo. They exist and
people indulge in them but I don’t do such. I always tell people that
call me that if they believe in God, they are equally powerful.
It is often believed that if you act the role of witches and wizards, they would attack you spiritually, is it true?
It is a lie, such never happens. If it
were true, Baba Ogunde would have been the first to be spiritually
attacked. All we do is ‘make believe’ because we do not use what people
actually use for sacrifices. It is not real. If I act the part of a
wizard or a wicked man, it is because I want people to learn from the
story. We just try to let people know that those that do evil will
eventually meet their downfall. The witches and wizards know that we are
not mocking or disrespecting them. Probably that is why they take us as
their children and do not attack us.
were true, Baba Ogunde would have been the first to be spiritually
attacked. All we do is ‘make believe’ because we do not use what people
actually use for sacrifices. It is not real. If I act the part of a
wizard or a wicked man, it is because I want people to learn from the
story. We just try to let people know that those that do evil will
eventually meet their downfall. The witches and wizards know that we are
not mocking or disrespecting them. Probably that is why they take us as
their children and do not attack us.
You once suffered partial stroke, how did it happen?
I thank God for my life. I just got back
from an outing and wanted to enter my house when I felt a breeze and I
fell to the ground. My children noticed and quickly rushed me to the
hospital. When the doctor ran some tests, he said that I almost had a
partial stroke. After taking care of myself very well, I am now hale and
hearty.
from an outing and wanted to enter my house when I felt a breeze and I
fell to the ground. My children noticed and quickly rushed me to the
hospital. When the doctor ran some tests, he said that I almost had a
partial stroke. After taking care of myself very well, I am now hale and
hearty.
When that incident happened, were you not afraid that it could be spiritual attack?
Such a thought never came to my mind.
Would you say your profession has brought you fame and fortune?
I will say it has brought more fame and
whatever brings fame most times comes with fortune. Any legal job one
does that puts food on the table, provides shelter, and good education
for the children is a good job.
whatever brings fame most times comes with fortune. Any legal job one
does that puts food on the table, provides shelter, and good education
for the children is a good job.
What kind of child were you while growing up?
I was a very gentle boy while growing
up. I hardly spoke in public and I never fought with anybody. That is
why when my mates see me, they are always surprised that I am an actor. I
am not a saint but people know that I don’t lie or deceive people. I do
not betray my friends and it is what I am known for.
up. I hardly spoke in public and I never fought with anybody. That is
why when my mates see me, they are always surprised that I am an actor. I
am not a saint but people know that I don’t lie or deceive people. I do
not betray my friends and it is what I am known for.
But acting for over 55 years, people would think that you would be richer than you are now…
Dubious people are responsible for the
state I am in today. Till this moment, the marketer in charge of the
distribution of my film, Ogbori Elemosho, has not given me my
money. He still produces the movie till date even though I am yet to
receive any royalty. People believe that I became very rich with the
movie but I believe that God would pay him back in his own coin. The
marketers are not letting us reap the rewards of our labour. It does not
affect me alone but other artistes as well.
state I am in today. Till this moment, the marketer in charge of the
distribution of my film, Ogbori Elemosho, has not given me my
money. He still produces the movie till date even though I am yet to
receive any royalty. People believe that I became very rich with the
movie but I believe that God would pay him back in his own coin. The
marketers are not letting us reap the rewards of our labour. It does not
affect me alone but other artistes as well.
Do you have any regrets?
I have no regrets in life. Anyone who
says he has regrets in life is offending his creator. As long as there
is life and good health, then no one should have regrets.
says he has regrets in life is offending his creator. As long as there
is life and good health, then no one should have regrets.
In life, there are challenging moments
that would weigh you down but they are not enough to make one regret
being alive. When those moments come, pray to God and everything will be
okay.
that would weigh you down but they are not enough to make one regret
being alive. When those moments come, pray to God and everything will be
okay.
You became an actor at a very young age, were you exposed to drinking alcohol or smoking?
I have never smoked in my life. When I
was younger, I used to drink palm wine and if I must take beer, it could
not be more than a bottle. Right now, I don’t do any of those things
was younger, I used to drink palm wine and if I must take beer, it could
not be more than a bottle. Right now, I don’t do any of those things
When you were wooing your two wives, did they have any problem with your profession?
They loved me because I am an actor.
Before I began wooing them, they were already in love with me because of
my job, so it wasn’t difficult making them my wives.
Before I began wooing them, they were already in love with me because of
my job, so it wasn’t difficult making them my wives.
