Mid 2013, news went viral that veteran actor, Chief Lere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola) was down with a partial stroke, which confined the holder of Nigeria’s national honour of MFR to his bed for months. Chief Lere Paimo then opened up that he would be fine, and true to his words
he has since bounced back to tell his story.
The Ogbomoso Oyo-born role interpreter was on the popular TV money game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Easter series where he won N1 million cash prize. He was
assisted in this money spinner by banker, Babatunde Oni (one time N5
million winner on the show) and actress Gloria Young.
This millionaire series was in commemoration of the 10th
anniversary of the show sponsored by MTN Nigeria and anchored by Frank
Edoho.
In a chat with Encomium, the veteran actor expressed his joy at becoming N1 million richer
and revealed his plans for the money…
Two people (Babatunde Oni and Gloria Young) have just played with you to win N1 million on WWTBAM. Congratulations, sir?
I am grateful to God. Thank you.
How does it feel to be N1 million richer?
I feel great. I am happy. God is good, you people are good. Those that were with me in the hot seat are good as well.
We heard about your illness, can you tell us how it happened?
On that day, I was coming home. 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. The person that saw me raised an alarm. My wife
came out and my children, they saw me rolling on the ground and they
were crying. They immediately rushed me into the car and I was taken to
the hospital. The car was driven by one of my daughters. Later it
developed into high blood pressure and high fever. In some people’s
cases it would result to permanent stroke. But in my own case, God took
control. I thank God, glory be to God. Here I am today.
We can see that your recovery is fast, and we pray you come back in full health very soon?
By the grace of God. Thank you.
You are an awardee of MFR?
Yes. And I am glad about it. Thank you.
When exactly were you given the award?
That was in 2005, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the president.
Who are other people that got the award?
We were many, but I can remember a few. I remember business magnate,
Alhaji Aliko Dangote got as well as another personality, Dr. Mike
Adenuga. I remember Mr. Sunday Ehindero, the then inspector general of
police, Mr. Sogo Agboola, popular Custom Officer then, Chief Ebenezer
Babatope and Chief Jimoh Aliu. Those are the names I can remember for
now.
What do you think would have made the government to come up with an award for the person of Chief Lere Paimo?
Even me I have continued to wonder, because I was a mere bata dancer
who never thought anybody was paying more than casual attention to what I
do. Three of us were awarded from Oyo State – one professor, one doctor
and I. You can imagine, I don’t even know how I fit in. But when such a
thing happens, one just needs to thank God. I know people really love
me, Nigerians love me so much and I don’t want them to relent. I want
them to continue to show me love, pray for me and come around me, so I
can really get back to my theatre profession and achieve my goal by the
grace of God.
Your goal you said, do you have any project that you are nursing an ambition to establish or that you are possibly working on?
Yes, I am praying to God. If He grants it, I want to build a Theatre
Village of my own, no matter how small it may be. So I can employ
professionals to teach our boys and girls the art of drama, dancing and
all the rest, to become fully developed in the knowledge of theatrical
works.
Do you have any word for Ultima Limited, producers of WWTBAM?
They are really doing good and showing love. No doubt, the N1 million I just won would go a long way.
The Yoruba would say Eni ti o ba n fe teni, olorun lo maa n fe ti e
naa’ (God loves whoever shows love). I pray God would continue to show
love to them, grant them peace, make this company to grow and bless them
forever. They have made us to see how good Nigerians can be, from when
they visited me in my house, through my stay with them here, till I got
to the hot seat. I have kept wondering if this kind of hospitality can
be found anywhere in Nigeria. This is a very impressive experience for
me at my age! God will bless the organisers.