Justus Esiri died earlier in the week after battling diabetes for years. Nollywood stars have paid tributes to the departed Nollywood veteran.
For Segun Arinze, Esiri was a father figure. “It is so bad. Uncle Justus Esiri was a figure and a great motivator to us,” Arinze said. “ He left a legacy that need to be sustained. Justus Esiri contributed his quota to the growth of the industry. It is a very bad news, we will miss him.”
Joke Silva regarded the departed legendary thespian as a mentor; his death for her is hard to bear.
“What do you want me to say about the death of Uncle Justus Esiri? I am really confused and devastated. I started my career with him. It is so depressing.
“He lived a fulfilled life, he loved his job and he was also a gentleman. We thank God that he achieved what he supposed to have achieved in life. At least, he has a son who is a superstar (referring to Mavin Records singer, Dr Sid). I acted with him in the early 80’s though I cannot remember the title of the movie now. It is all about how well he has lived,” Silva said.
It’s however a sad feeling for Foluke Daramola as she believes veterans of Nollywood are not well catered for.
“I am feeling very sad about what is happening to us. I have been on set with Justus Esiri in movies like ‘Everyday People’. I am not happy the way our veteran actors are dying. It is a great loss to the movie industry. I strongly believe that our veteran actors are not catered for properly. I want to create an avenue, in collaboration with some of my colleagues where we can run a programme that will be beneficial to our surviving veteran actors,” Daramola said.
Losing his father is painful, but Dr Sid believes there’s nothing to be sad about.
“His life is being studied in Universities in the UK,” Dr Sid said, adding “He lived to be 70, and anything else after 70 is a gift, so there’s really nothing to be sad about.
“He lived well. I will like to be like him when I grow up,” said Dr Sid.
Justus Esiri became popular after featuring in the 80’s TV series ‘Village Headmaster’.
