Life After Omoladun: Baba Suwe finds love again; to remarry soon

*Tells his NDLEA story
Babatunde Omidina known as
Baba Suwe is a successful
comedian better known for his
exploits in Yoruba home videos.
He is still arguably the most
popular Yoruba comedian of his
time. But Baba Suwe hasn’t been
having it easy. After the much
publicised crisis with National
Drug Law Enforcement
Agency,NDLEA, he lost his wife,
Omoladun, who was almost always
his soul-mate, even in films. Baba
Suwe talked with Potpourri,
opening up his heart on a number
of issues, Excerpts:
When did you begin to act?
I started acting at 18 when I
dropped out of secondary school,
then I was in form four. I
developed the passion when Baba
Mero and his group came to
Children boarding school in
Osogbo to act. After watching
them, I got drums and other
musical instrument, picked some
guys in my street like Mufitau
Ilumoka, Sola Taiwo and a host of
others and formed a theater group.
And that was what
metamorphosed into the brand
‘Baba Suwe’ today.
Baba Suwe
Are you saying you never went for
any training?
No, I didn’t and I was not trained
by anybody. I was born with the
talent of putting smiles on faces,
so I really did not need any
training.
Your first show?
My first show was at Amuto
playing ground, Lagos Island.
Although it was a free show but I
was so happy because it recorded
a huge success.
What was your first movie?
I did not start with home videos
rather I started with soap opera
“Erin keke”. My first film was “Omo
Lasan” by Mr Obalende. But the
first film I produced was “Baoku”
in the 90s.
Some people believe you over act
some scenes. Your comment?
It is not my fault. Most times when
I am on set, I make the director,
film editor and a lot of others
laugh that they forget to cut out
the unnecessary parts. Some
people have even confronted me
that it is because I didn’t acquire
any professional training is why I
over act, but it is not true.
Tell us your background?
I am a special specie created by
God. I hail from Igbgogbo, Ikorodu,
Lagos State but born and bred on
the Island. My father was an
average Nigerian who was into
trading of eye-glasses and my
mother was a trader . I am the
only child between my parents. My
father had three wives. I dropped
out of secondary school when I
was in form four. Growing up for
me was tough but fun. I enjoyed
every bit of it because I was quite
mischievous. As a teenage, I didn’t
really know the importance of
education but thank God, I am
managing well. I am also a
different person from what you see
on the screen, a quiet and easy-
going person.
As a child, who were you looking
up to?
Then I wanted to be like Michael
Jackson who was known all over
the world but now I know better.
What has acting brought you.?
Acting has brought me many good
things that I can not say here. I do
not think I would have done well in
any other field.
How have you been coping without
a wife?
It has not been easy but life must
go on. I believe whatever happens
has been pre-ordained. The death
of Omoladun was a great loss I
cannot get over in this lifetime.
She will remain my best
companion. She understood me
than any other person on planet
earth. At times when we quarrel in
the house, she would abuse me on
set and that would mark the end of
the issue.
Any plan of remarrying?
Yes . In fact pretty soon.
Who is the lucky bride?
You can’t know her for now. She is
not an actress because I can’t
marry an actress again.
Are you insinuating Omoladun was
not a good wife?
No, I don’t mean anything of such.
What I mean is that I cannot get
someone like Omoladun among the
actresses again. Her good acting
skills is one of the reasons I loved
her but I have decided to check
else where for love.
After the death of Omoladun, your
step daughter accused you of
killing her mother?
That is mere rumour. She later
came out to say she never said
that. We were all staying in the
same building. Omoladun was
hypertensive for a long time and I
did my best as a husband, a
friend, and colleague to take
adequate care of her. At a time she
spent months at a hospital. The
day the bad incident happened, I
was about praying when I told my
child to go wake Omoladun
because we had an appointment. It
was this child who ran out to call
me and with the help of neighbors,
we rushed her to the hospital. The
doctor confirmed her death on
arrival.
Has her death affected your
career?
Not really. There are many people
who can take her role but I miss
her so much. After her death, I
produced “Baba Jaiye” part two
and it was a huge success.
Would you say many competitors
like Baba Latin, Baba Ijesa etc
have taken over from you?
No, Baba Latin and the rest can
never render me useless. I have a
good relationship with all of them
especially Baba Latin. Everything
in life is time.
Many people now believe you are
not as funny as you used to, what
is your comment?
That is never true. It is only people
without eyes that will say that. It
is my God-given talent that can
never wear out.
How did you feel during the
National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency NDLEA crisis?
It was a tough time for me. I have
been traveling for years and
something like that never
happened. It is a setup but I do
not know the culprits till date.
Even after two days of not
excreting cocaine as expected, I
was not left off the hook. Some
even said I used charms but if that
is true many herbalists in Nigeria
should be billionaires. I spent
more than nineteen days sleeping
on a couch for something I know
nothing about.
What were you going to do at Paris
before you were detained?
I was suppose to meet the person
who handles my family’s ticketing
abroad. The man wanted my
presence at the naming ceremony
of his new child. On that same day,
I went to Nigerian Aviation
Handling Company NAHCO’S office
to get my cameras as I traveled to
America a month earlier to get
filming equipment like cameras
and generator before heading to
the Airport. I was also to be
Master of Ceremony there.
Now that your lawyer, Bamidele
Aturu is dead, what is the next line
of action?
I really don’t know what next to do
but I believe his colleagues will not
disappoint me.
Do you believe you deserve the 25
million naira compensation?
Yes I do. The crisis traveled so far
that even if I use all the
newspapers in Nigeria to say my
own side of the story, some people
will still not believe it. It almost
killed me, tarnish my image and
my career.