Veteran Nollywood actor Kola Olaiya has accused his colleague, Pete Edochie, of being overly proud and failing to acknowledge the contributions of senior theatre practitioners who helped lay the foundation for the Nigerian entertainment industry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Olaiya made the allegation during an interview with Oyinmomo TV, where he argued that Edochie should recognise the achievements of veteran entertainers who had established themselves in the profession long before the celebrated actor began his career.

He specifically mentioned the late theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, whose contributions to Nigerian theatre and filmmaking predated Edochie’s entry into the industry.

According to Olaiya, Ogunde ventured into theatre in 1944 after leaving the police force and had already produced films and recorded popular songs before Edochie was born.

The veteran actor argued that although Edochie might consider himself without a senior within his own ethnic group in the South-East, such a claim could not reasonably apply to the entire Nigerian entertainment industry.

Speaking during the interview, Olaiya said he had known Edochie for a long time and believed pride was responsible for his alleged reluctance to acknowledge the elders who contributed to his rise.

“I have known him for long that pride is in his blood. That is why he cannot pay homage to the elders that made him.

“Ogunde had been acting before Pete was born. After that, some people like Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, were joining. Where was Pete Edochie then?

“If Pete says in his own tribe, he doesn’t have a boss, I wouldn’t know, but here in the whole Nigeria, no,” Olaiya stated.

The actor also reflected on his professional relationship with Ogunde, describing the late theatre pioneer as a father figure and mentor who played a significant role in shaping his personal life and acting career.

Olaiya’s comments have drawn attention to the contributions of early Nigerian theatre practitioners and the importance of recognising the pioneers whose work helped shape the country’s modern entertainment industry.

Nigerian comedian Ayo Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, has reacted to the death of gospel singer ToluwaniSings, recalling the late musician’s concerns about the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Woli Agba disclosed that the singer had repeatedly expressed worries about the quality and reliability of medical services in the country.

In a post shared on Instagram, the comedian revealed that ToluwaniSings had considered travelling abroad for medical treatment because of concerns over the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

According to Woli Agba, the late singer had spoken on several occasions about seeking treatment outside the country due to the difficulties patients encounter when trying to access adequate medical care.

He wrote, “What he feared most and talked about repeatedly was what eventually affected him. He said many times, if not for anything, he’ll consider going abroad just because of Nigeria’s unreliable healthcare system.”

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as ToluwaniSings.

The singer’s personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, had earlier revealed in a viral video that ToluwaniSings suddenly slumped and was taken to eight hospitals in Ibadan in an attempt to obtain emergency medical attention.

According to Gbolabo, the efforts to secure treatment were unsuccessful, as the hospitals allegedly turned them away.

He explained that some of the facilities cited the unavailability of doctors amid an ongoing strike as the reason they could not attend to the singer.

The revelations have drawn renewed attention to concerns surrounding access to emergency medical care in Nigeria, particularly the difficulties patients may face when seeking urgent treatment.

Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has opened up about why he remains unmarried at the age of 52, attributing his marital status to the demands of his music career and the collapse of a five-year relationship.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with The Cable, the rapper explained that he began his career during a period when Nigerian musicians had to work tirelessly to establish themselves and achieve success in the entertainment industry.

According to Ruggedman, the pressure and commitment required to build his career consumed much of his time, making it difficult for him to settle down.

He noted that some of his colleagues were fortunate to find partners who understood the demands of their profession and were willing to support them throughout their journeys.

The rapper cited fellow musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, as an example of someone who found partners willing to share the challenges and experiences associated with his career. He, however, said he had not enjoyed the same luck in his relationships.

Ruggedman also disclosed that he was once involved in a five-year relationship that he believed would eventually lead to marriage. However, the relationship ended after an incident he did not reveal during the interview.

He said, “I am one of those who got into the industry back in the day where all we had was our hustle and we faced it and before you know it, time was gone. 2baba was lucky to have found partners who were ready to walk that road with him, I wasn’t that lucky. I had a five year relationship that I thought would lead to marriage but something happened and it crashed.

“Currently, I’m not in any relationship. The only thing I vowed is that I will never have a child out of wedlock. No, I don’t think it’s too late. It’s never too late. As long as you are alive, it’s never too late to get married. I am very straight.”

The rapper maintained that he does not consider himself too old to get married, insisting that marriage remains possible at any stage of life.

He also reiterated his decision not to have a child outside marriage, adding that he is currently not involved in any romantic relationship.