By Abiodun Adebola
Movie icon, Lere Paimo is reaping the benefits of a long life as he turns 75.
Born on September 19, 1939, Lere Paimo, who was awarded the Member of the Federal Republic in 2005 by Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is a veteran Yoruba actor with a career spanning over four decades.
An indigene of Ogbomosho, Oyo State in the south west part of Nigeria, Eda Onileola as the 75 year old actor is widely known, cut his teeth in the world of movies after acting in one of Duro Ladipo’s stage plays, ‘Obamoro’ where he played the role of Chief Bisa.
He became famous for his role as Soun Ogunlola in the epic feature movie, Ogbori-Elemoso.
Incursion into movies
Lere Paimo began his movie career in 1960 after he joined Pa Oyin Adejobi before moving on with the late Duro Ladipo’s Theatre Group.
His decision to join the Duro Ladipo group earned him not only a role in the group’s popular play but also a moniker that has stuck with him till date, Eda Onileola. In 1973, Eda formed his own theatre group which moved from one town to the other, from one school to the other dancing around and soliciting patronage.
On his partial stroke?
With over 500 appearances in several movies, the septuagenarian, whose role in Omo Orukan and Saworoide remain particularlry remarkable, was in the news in 2013 for having been hit by partial stroke.
Just like a cat with several lives, Lere Paimo bounced back to tell his story in 2014 when he won N1m cash prize at the popular TV money game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Easter series.
Speaking to journalists about his partial stroke earlier in the year, he said, ‘On the day it happened, I was coming home from an outing. I was actually near my gate. I got down from the car, only God knows where the wind was coming from, it blew at me and I fell. Someone saw me and raised an alarm that made my wife and children rush out to see me rolling on the ground and they were crying. They immediately rushed me into the car and I was taken to the hospital. I was admitted and it later developed into high blood pressure and high fever. I give God the glory because in some people’s case, it would result to permanent stroke.’
On turning 75
Speaking on turning 75, the man who was a gold medalist at the 1963 Commonwealth festival, said he is grateful to God for reviving his health after he was hit by partial stroke.
‘I’m grateful to God and I give God the glory to be alive to celebrate my 75th birthday in good health and many thanks to those that have stood by me,’ he said.