24th April, 2014
Veteran actor, Eda Onileola, won N1 million on popular reality television show, ‘Who Deserves To Be A Millionaire’ despite battling strange illness. In this interview after the show, he told BAYO ADETU, all about his illness and aspiration for the future
You just won N1million on ‘Who Deserves To Be A Millionaire’ hot seat, although you were aided by Babatunde Oni and Gloria Young. How do you feel?
I am grateful to God. I feel great and happy. God is good to me. I am grateful to the people that were with me in the hot seat, they are good as well.
What was the cause of your illness?
One day, as I was returning home and just as I approached my gate, I got down from the car, only God knows where the wind was coming from, it blew in my direction and I fell down. A person who saw me raised an alarm and immediately my wife and my children came out, they saw me rolling on the ground and began to cry.
Immediately carried me into the car and I was taken to the hospital. The car was driven by one of my daughters. Later, mysterious wind developed into high blood pressure and high fever, in some cases it would have resulted to permanent stroke, but in my own case, God took control. It was strange, but I thank God. Here I am today.
When did you receive your MFR award and how was the feeling?
I was glad. I received it in 2005, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the president of Nigeria. It was a great honour.
Who were the other people that received an award on that day?
We were many, but I can remember a few. I remember Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr Mike Adenuga. I remember Mr Sunday Ehindero then Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sogo Agboola, a popular custom officer then, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Chief Jimoh Aliu. Those are the people I can remember now.
Why do you think the Federal Government considered you for such coveted honour?
I have continued to wonder because I was a mere ‘Bata’ dancer who thought nobody was paying more than usual attention to what I did. 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 need to thank God.
I know people really love me, Nigerians do love me and I don’t want them to relent. I want them to continue to show me the love, to 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.
Is there any project you’re nursing or possibly working on?
I am praying to God to grant me the grace to build a Theatre Village of my own, no matter how small, so I can employ professionals to teach my boys and girls the art of drama and dancing. This will help them to become professionals in theatre.
Do you have any word for Ultima Limited, producers of WWTBAM?
They are really doing good a job and showing love. No doubt, the N1million I just won would go a long way. The Yorubas 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 will continue to show love to them, grant them peace, make the 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 still exists. Well, this is an experience to me at my age. God will bless the organisers.
We wish you speedy recovery and pray you come back to full fitness.
Thank you, amen.