Friday, March 29, 2024

Nobody believed I was innocent during the cocaine scandal, says Baba Suwe


Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe in the Yoruba movie industry, has had his share of unfortunate incidences in recent times – the cocaine trafficking scandal in 2011 and the death of his actress wife, Monsurat Moladun ‘Kenkenlewu,’ earlier in 2009. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the comic actor spoke on the scandal, how the death of his lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, has stopped him from getting his N25 million compensation from the Federal Government, living without his second wife and regrets.


Though, your appearance in movies has reduced, you were once sought after in the Yoruba movie industry. How did you achieve that?
If you are good and people see it in you, they will always celebrate you at all times. I am still working; I just did a work recently, titled, ‘Abe’. If God wants me to be coming out every day, I will be out and if He wants my appearance to be limited, it will be reduced. I believe that everything in life is time.

Don’t you feel bad that producers no longer run after you?
I do not feel bad about it because God’s time is the best. All what we pray for is to work and get good money. No one envisaged that things would turn out the way it is presently. The situation of the country could make anyone quiet and humble. We do not make the kind of money we made in the past again. I used to have many cars, but all I want now is good health.

Is it right to say the younger actors have taken your place?
There is space for everyone in the industry. The sky is so big for all birds to fly without touching one another. What I do has no resemblance with what others are doing and what others are doing share no similarities with mine. There is no one who is not doing well. To you, what you do is the best. Whenever I do a movie, I do not know if it is good until people start talking about it. Once they start advertising a work I am part of, people will start talking about it.

Have you ever played serious roles in the past?
I have been a comic actor right from the beginning. It is possible you see one or two movies where I played serious roles but comedy is what I asked from God and He gave me. I started acting since childhood. I did not learn it from anyone; I started in primary school. Whenever we were doing rehearsals, people would come to watch me and it was fun. But it never occurred to me that it would be my source of livelihood.

Did your background influence who are you are today?
While I was small, I did not know I would be this famous. But my father was so funny and I must have inherited that from him. I was born in Lagos, Epetedo precisely.

Do you have a favourite among all the movies you’ve featured in?
I am proud of all my movies and they give me joy. People have always shown me love. But If I must choose, I would choose ‘Eku Meji’, which was produced by Corporate Pictures.

To what extent did the drug controversy affect you?
I was affected seriously. I do not wish my enemies go through what I went through. I did not get the N25m compensation. I am not even after the money. God knows that all I want is for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to tender an apology letter and that is okay.

Don’t you think the ugly event made you more popular in a way?
I was popular before the event. I have made fame from acting. After the death of my lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, in 2014, the case went down. As I speak with you, there is no lawyer in charge of my case.

What has stopped you from getting another lawyer?
We are yet to see a lawyer as good as Aturu. Once I meet one, I will know the steps to take. With the way he handled the whole thing, it was obvious that he meant well for me and he was ready to assist.
I went to his burial ceremony in Ondo State. I was so bitter because he was my helper. I got to know him through one of my children who stays in America. He did not ask for any money; he asked us to pay him once the case was over.

How did you overcome the trauma that came with the drug scandal?
It has been God all the way. I have always looked up to God for strength. Though, nothing has come out from the case, something might still come out soon if God is involved. It is still possible to meet another person who is passionate about this issue and willing to help.

Have you ever starred in an English movie?
I have done about three or so, but I spoke in Pidgin English.

You once said you were not interested in marriage again since the death of your second wife.Has that changed? 
I am not saying there are no women, but it is hard to find a woman who will act like a mother and father to your children.

Does that mean you have not met a woman like her?
I cannot conclude now; it is possible to meet another woman who is better than her. But I am yet to meet anyone.

How do you cope without a woman?
Do you want to give me one? I have women around me, but I am yet to see the one I can put in my house.

What are the qualities you are looking for?
When I see the woman, you will get to know. You do not have to stress yourself about that.Untitled

What is your major regret in life?
The cocaine scandal is enough. I used almost a month in their custody; I did not sleep well all through my stay there. There was no bed and I was made to sleep on a metal. They conducted all kinds of tests on me, yet they did not see anything like cocaine. Some people even said I used charm. I do not know why people could be that shallow. I told them to go ask their herbalists if such charm was possible. I was certain that I was innocent because what I am doing is enough for me to feed myself and my family. God has been faithful to me.

Did you ever think it could be a set up?
Yes, I had thought of that. I had already passed through before they called me back. I was on my way to Paris, France to host an event. I have always travelled to anchor events.

Did you return the money you were paid for that job?
It was actually a naming ceremony. The person’s wife who I normally got tickets from asked him to invite me. Since we were close, I told them to keep my pay till I get there.

Have you forgiven NDLEA for what they made you pass through?
I am not in the position to forgive them and I am not in the position not to forgive them. I have handed over everything to God. If I were the one who did wrong, He should judge me. And if it happened that they did me wrong, I would smile at the end of the day. The truth is that I was the only one who was sure of my innocence. Most people were afraid to associate themselves with such. Since no one was inside my mind, it was hard for them to believe I did not carry the substance. Till I die, I can never deal in cocaine because I do not need it.

Why have you not told your story with a movie?
I will definitely do a movie on that; it is just a matter of time. It is injustice to myself if I do not make a movie off the experience. I have a title already, ‘Oyagbe Ti.’

How much support did you get from your colleagues doing that period?
Some of them tried, but it is hard to know the true intention of people towards you. Some people wish you are dead, but whenever they see you they smile. God has lifted me up and I see this as a gift because I cannot say this is how I got to where I am today. Anywhere I go, people celebrate me.

What did you miss most about your late wife?
If your wife dies, you will definitely miss many things about her. Before I leave home for work, we would be in the sitting room talking till 1pm and it went on for years. We were always in the same movies; we were very used to one another. She loved me and I loved her too.

Could you remember how she died?
We chatted and said good night before we went to our separate bed rooms. She wanted to renew her passport, but we were asked to come back on Friday. I decided we wait till Monday. And on Sunday night, she slept and did not wake up. In the morning, I asked one of my children to go and wake her up and he rushed back to me. He said, “Daddy, please come and help mummy.” I started screaming when I saw that she was not breathing again. By the time we got to the hospital, they said she was dead.

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