Olumide Bakare, a seasoned Nollywood actor, has died after a failed battle with a heart and lung disease, Premium Times reports.
Former president of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Mufu Onifade, confirmed his death via a statement:
“He had a successful surgery and after the surgery, he talked to people and told them he was fine. But two hours later, he passed on. It is very painful because I had actually been wishing him a quick recovery,” he said.
“Olumide Bakare is someone who was a hundred percent committed to the theatre profession. He started on stage and then from there, went on TV, did radio and then film which was where he settled.
“Of course he became much more popular for his stint of TV in Oluwa Langbe Lodge. That was what brought him to limelight. You can’t fault him as a professional. He is someone who was very discipline. I see him as the last of the second generation of actors in Nigeria.”
News of his health struggle first broke out in 2014, however; Bakare denied being ill. Interviews he granted at the time, quote the actor stating he did not require help from the public to foot his medical bills.
The thespian who died very early on Saturday morning, announced in February, that he was indeed ill and begged the public not to allow him to die. He called on generous Nigerians to come to his aid on his sick bed, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The actor was reported to have spent over N1 Million so far, and still required about N30, 000 daily for treatment, including dialysis.
He had four children namely; Olabode, who is a pastor in the United States; Oluwamayowa, a businessman in Lagos; Oluwatofunmi who is a graduate of Ekiti State University and Halimat.
Bakare, 65, is best known for his role as Chief Koko in defunct TV series, Koko Close. He also starred alongside Genevieve Nnaji and Hollywood’s Isaiah Washington in Tony Abulu’s 2013 film, Doctor Bello.
