Obasanjo speaks on Baba Sala’s death
of Moses Olaiya Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala, as "a loss of
world's most life-enhancing, brilliant and creative comedian".
Obasanjo stayed this in a statement signed by his media aide, Kehinde
Akinyemi and made available to newsmen on Monday, in Abeokuta, Ogun
State capital.
According to Obasanjo in the tribute entitled: 'Chief Moses Adejumo –
A Worthy Nigerian To Be Remembered', Baba Sala lived to perfect his
art and entertain his live and adoring audiences.
The tribute reads further, "I received the news of the demise of my
friend and my brother, Chief Moses Adejumo, popularly called Baba
Sala, with shock and yet with a lot of reflection and admiration for
someone I knew did his best to make our country, Nigeria, and indeed
our world a better place.
"While I have accepted his transition as a course we all must take, I
wish and pray that his immediate family, all the people close to him
in one way or the other will have the fortitude to bear this loss. My
heart and that of my family remain with them.
"Over the years, I have followed, with very keen interest, Chief
Adejumo's distinguished career as a foremost playwright, filmmaker,
musician and comedian. He was a true renaissance man.
"Along with being one of the finest comedy impressionists in the
country, he was a talented actor and portrait artist. I recall, with
nostalgia, that he served selflessly in the development of Nigeria's
theatre and performing arts.
"Easily one of our most prolific dramatists, the late Chief Adejumo
grossed dozens of performed plays, playlets and videos over the
years, among which are Orun Mooru (1982), Aare Agbaye (1983),
Mosebolatan (1985), Obee Gbona (1989), Diamond (1990 Home video),
Agba Man (1992, Home Video), Return Match (1993, Home Video), Ana
Gomina (1996, home video), Tokunbo (1985, TV).
"Little wonder therefore that his patriarchal contribution to the art,
professional and humanistic exertions have been acknowledged and
rewarded with several national and international awards, notably his
first award for his film Mosebolatan at the Performing Art Awards
Night (1986 edition) and the distinguished national honour of Member
of the Order of the Niger, MON, which was conferred on him by me
during my administration as the Nigeria's Military Head of State in
1978.
"Our dear nation will surely be the better for it if only the present
generation would emulate the enviable professional qualities of the
late Chief Adejumo.
"Baba Sala was hardworking man of great integrity and highly cultured
personality. He was a symbol of humility, moderation and selfless
service. I have had the supreme joy and privilege of hosting him in
my private residence in Ota, Abuja and Abeokuta on different
occasions.
"The world has lost a most life-enhancing, brilliant, creative
comedian with an operatically trained voice, who just wanted to make
people happy. He lived to perfect his art and entertain his live and
adoring audiences.
"While we would be thankful to the Almighty God that he lived to a
moderately ripe old age, the family, no doubt, would be quite
naturally in deep grief over the earthly exit of its adorable
patriarch. But his death is also a huge loss to the nation and,
therefore, by this message, I am not only joining thousands of
Nigerians to mourn but also paying deserving tribute to this
outstanding Nigerian and quintessential man".
No comments
Post a Comment