By Bimbo Esho

For those who grew up during Nigeria’s early comedy era of the 60s-80s, comic acts such as Jagua, Papalolo, Aderupoko, Jacob to mention but a few, added their magical feel to the home videos of those times. These men by all standards were great comedians who left indelible marks in the heart of those who watched their skits.

Sometimes in the early 1990s, a bright and talented chap came into the limelight, his name Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe. This hilarious character, an indigene of Ikorodu, Lagos State not only became a feature in all major Yoruba film productions of that time, but he also extended his dominance far into the 2000s. Baba Suwe became popular when he featured in popular Yoruba movies like Omolasan, Iru Esin just to mention a few.

Sadly, little did this happy-going man know that certain experiences in the course of his illustrious career and blossoming family life will turn for the worse. In 2011, Baba Suwe was caught up in scandals saying that he was an alleged cocaine courier. He was nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Defending the actor, his lawyer who also doubles as a Human Rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, described the assertion by the NDLEA as false and defamatory.

This bitter experience as recounted by the veteran actor was said to be very traumatic as he said operatives of the NDLEA injected him several times in a bid for him to defecate to particles of cocaine as evidence.

The maltreatment according to him left him crippled.

While he was yet overcoming the NDLEA scandals, Baba Suwe lost his soul mate and wife, Omoladun with whom featured he featured in many Yoruba movies.

Baba Suwe’s travail didn’t stop there as the news of his death surfaced on social media. Debunking this Baba Suwe said he was sad that some people wanted him dead.

Later in 2019, he was flown abroad due to multiple health challenges with some well-meaning Nigerians footing his hospital bill.
It was yet another rude shock for me when I read in the news that one of his sons and wife had abandoned him.

I couldn’t help but listen to the popular American songwriter, musician, Noble Prize Winner
Bob Dylan
“How many Roads must a man walk down before he is called a man?”

“How many year roads do some people exist before they are allowed to be free?”

Surely the answer is blowing in the wind.