Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola Salako, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide trust funds for the veteran Nollywood actors, following the death of 80-year-old Dejumo Lewis.
It was reported that Lewis, who is popularly known for his role in ‘The Village Headmaster’, was pronounced dead on Saturday morning.
Disclosing his death was actor Saidi Balogun, via an Instagram post, where he expressed heartbreak over his demise and bade him goodbye.
She noted how many of the veteran actors are suffering especially health-wise and have no help.
In her appeal, Foluke urged the president to offer a better arrangement for the veterans.
She called for the government to set up a trust fund for the veterans and provide little things for them that they would appreciate for the rest of their lives.
She made this known as she reacted to the death of veteran Dejumo Lewis who she revealed was going through stuff behind the scenes, which she wouldn’t disclose out of respect for the dead.
In her words,
“Dear President Tinubu @officialasiwajubat and @babajidesanwoolu
“PLEASE HELP US PAY ATTENTION TO OUR VETERANS. RIP Uncle Dejumo Lewis
“I woke up to the death of Uncle Dejumo Lewis today and it made me a bit sad, not because he’s not old enough to die (cos we are all gonna die someday it’s just the timing that’s decided by the highest) but because I am close to most of all these old veterans and I know what we discussed when we are together.
“Uncle Dejumo told me he had some needs (which I won’t talk about cos I have to respect his death)to be met and he would have loved to celebrate his 80th birthday but I couldn’t come through for him cos u had a lot of things I was dealing with myself(I still have some on my monthly payroll).
“I remember Uncle Larri Williams we were planning his birthday and book launch hence the photo session that’s on this post, but unfortunately death took him away.
“Hmmm, death is inevitable but can be managed especially when it has to do with these old people. My mum is under the weather she’s been for some years, my mum isn’t asking for too much but to be shown love and have the basic needs of life which we her kids in our ways have been able to meet, to a large extent by Gods grace has kept her.
“I am an astute lover of my president and my governor I believe in them even though things are hard but NOBODY will be the President of Nigeria right now and will find things easy. And I believe in a better Nigeria But sir we need a better arrangement for these all veterans.
“Baba Agbako is over 100 years we talk every other day as far as I know his basic needs are well attended to(thankfully he owns his own home) but the celebrations left and right has elongated his life span to a reasonable extent.
“Nollywood is an industry without pensions I know but plssss sirs @officialasiwajubat @babajidesanwoolu
“Can u help us have a trust fund for these veterans and provision for the little things these thespians will appreciate in their years remaining cos they can NEVER spend the years they had spent before now”?
Letter to @officialasiwajubat @babajidesanwoolu continues;
“These people have brought smiles to our faces in Nigeria and even in the world as a whole. These are our pacesetters that have made Nollywood where we are now in the world.
“I remember vividly before Covid I was the one that celebrated all these people last before most of them moved to the land beyond. Unfortunately, I can’t sustain it I can only but try my best.
“Need I say a big thank u to people on social media though it comes with a lot of backlash but what is needed to be achieved has always been achieved.
“But we need our government to set up a lasting solution to make these old people smile a laughter of fulfillment that their society appreciates them and has given back all the years they have invested in their craft.
“Our profession is not pensionable and most of these old people were doing it before based on passion; most of them didn’t envisage things would turn out like these. These are forthright mën and women who lived their lives based on value-based morally oriented lives.
“Should they be blamed for standing for what is good and go to their graves as peasants and beggars? Plssss my excellencies our veterans (not only in movies but also music, football, crafts, etc) need us to elongate their lives in happiness and joy. We need a trust fund and a better living for them they deserve”.
