After a long-running battle with stroke, veteran Nigerian actor, Enebeli Elebuwa, has died in an Indian hospital.
Elebuwa, who had undergone treatment at some Nigerian hospitals before travelling abroad for further treatment, died late Tuesday night. Before his death, the ailment had rendered him bedridden for a while.
Segun Arinze, the immediate past president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, has already confirmed the tragedy.
“He fought gallantly. He was a great actor,” he said. “We all called him Andrew but unfortunately, he has checked out. We thank the Delta State Government, which stood by him. We also thank Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Richard Mofe-Damijo, for his efforts.”
Frank Dallas, the Public Relations Officer of Actors Guild of Nigeria, also confirmed the death of Elebuwa, who began acting in 1974. He will be most remembered for his role as Andrew in the 80s in a Federal Government campaign on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to dissuade Nigerians from relocating abroad.
He would then go on to feature in over 125 movies, mostly playing the role of a rich dictator or spoiler. One of his most popular works is Village Headmaster, where he played the role of police officer, starring with the likes of Funso Adeolu, Jab Adu, Elsie Olusola, Ibidun Allison and Joe Layode.
Enebeli Elebuwa was first treated at the St. Luke’s Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, before his transfer to an Abuja hospital, from where he was transferred to India, after his colleagues and Delta state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan rallied round him.
While Uduaghan pledged N3m, his commissioner, Richard Mofe-Damijo donated N200, 000, and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos also contributed an undisclosed amount.
Elebuwa’s death comes at a time when the Nigerian film industry is still smarting from the loss of Pete Eneh, another veteran actor, who died from diabetic complications just in November.
