A veteran actor, Lari Williams, has called for help from philanthropists saying he is homeless and going blind.
Williams, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday, lamented about his current state of health as he is almost losing his sight.
The veteran actor said that he was recently evicted from his three bedroom apartment, by the landlord, who told him that he needed to use the house for something else.
He said he was only conferred with a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) honours by the government; without any cash backing.
“I have heard people say that the Lagos State or the Federal Government had given me a two-bedroom flat somewhere, it is all lies,” he said.
He expressed sadness at the hardship being experienced by veteran entertainers across the length and breadth of the nation, with no help in sight.
Here are excerpts from the interview...
“We served this country and helped to build the entertainment sector that a lot of people are benefiting from today, but there is nothing for people like me to show for it.
“Most of us are left unsung because of the kind of structure that is being run; we should be having benefits like the civil servants.
“In other climes, artists live on government subventions and are structured in such a way that they earn from their creative works,” he said.
Williams added that government should carve out an enclave for entertainers to live and thrive.
“Nigerian cultural policy should be looked into so as to fashion out ways that can benefit the government and the practitioners.
“The present government should be very careful in whom it will appoint as ministers, that it will sent to the arts sector. We need hands-on individuals to be made ministers.
“Government needs to have time for the creative sector so that it can have a voice, arts has been the unfortunate ministry.
“If it is well structured, then we can stop dying poor.
“Look at Femi Robinson who played the second headmaster-character in the Village Headmaster: a Nigerian television drama, Dan Maraya Jos and others, they all died with nothing.
“We are not handing over what we have in us to the next generations; because the room was not created for that,” he said.
*Interview excerpts from NAN*
This is a big shame...A BIG SHAME that those who invested their time into the entertainment industry are left penniless.
How do people who want to help him reach out to him?
This is a big shame...A BIG SHAME that those who invested their time into the entertainment industry are left penniless.
How do people who want to help him reach out to him?
them no go help now but if him finally kick bucket them go dey write memo for him head
ReplyDelete#GODWIN™
You this boy,you're always first to comment with little or nothing useful in about your comment. You practically live off this blog with all the recharge cards you load and sell via vtu. Smelling Mofo
DeleteI pray help locates him soon.
DeleteYour comment will be visible after approval
Alloy I join you shout amen
DeleteAwwww bless him - I can't imagine losing my sight. I pray that this man gets all the help tgat he requires
DeleteAmen
DeleteAmen
DeleteSebi they say love is blind. Oya people like Dabota Lawson (chairman for aristo matter),precious chikendu etc claiming they truly love their wrinkled hubbies. Come and bring your friends and sisters to marry this old man since they all said old men n.a. them sabi to tak care of their women.
DeleteInstead of the idiots to say financial wise
Eeyah, hope help locates him, what a shame.
ReplyDeleteClick my name for all your celebration cakes and cupcakes, cheers
Ask Ibinabo for his contacts na Stella. Shey she's their AGN or whatever it's called. Sad pity
DeleteI take it that you haven't heard sisieko.
DeleteHeard what oh @omo mummy??
DeleteLesson to the younger ones, work and save for old age. Don't waste money anyhow, Every man on his own God for us all.
ReplyDeleteThat is it! Nobody has time for anybody these days, it's all man for himself. I pray he gets help soon.
DeleteNa real wah
ReplyDeleteHLP WIL COME...EVN ME DE FYN ONE AFORDABLE BEROOM FLAT...TOMJERRYSWIT
ReplyDeleteMay help locate him Soonest
ReplyDelete“We served this country and helped to build the entertainment sector that a lot of people are benefiting from today, but there is nothing for people like me to show for it." did he work for free? Nigerians and the feeling of entitlement. Why didn't he save up for the rainy day? Where are his kids? Everything government! Government!! The entertainment industry in Nigeria isn't there yet. While he was there what did he do to make sure that things were in place for people who had worked hard and had problems later in life? #girlbye
ReplyDeleteKisses to u4 dis wonderful comment.
DeleteGod bless you Julit ! You are a very intelligent person, and with Depth !
DeleteSpot on!!!
DeleteNo na
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for you.Get well n help soon.dont go away like muna.may his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteis it possible to raise fund for him
ReplyDeleteMay he be favoured
ReplyDeleteTheir industry should look into it
ReplyDeleteHelp locate him soon...
ReplyDeleteI just pity these old actors, most of them are really miserable. May the help he seeks locate him soon in Jesus name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand, was he entertaining for free? This is what happens when u don't have a vision and plan ahead. E nor get family?
ReplyDeleteA thousand likes for your comment sugar banana,he was pd fr services rendered wat did he do wiv d money?thy waste it n strt cryn fr help
DeleteI don't know him...
ReplyDeleteAGN
ReplyDeleteIt's sad they don't help their self
I pray help locates him soon
This is sad! I remember when he used to come and visit his son who was my senior during visiting day and we all wanted to catch a glimpse of him.
ReplyDeleteI pray the authorities involved and we'll meaning individuals do something.
And where's dat his son today? Can't d said son take his dad to an optician and put a roof ova his dad?
DeleteI hate sappy stories like this! I'm sorry I'm not unfeeling or anything; but the truth is, it's not the governments job to take care of you or your housing need when in their eyes you had/have a job! It's not for them to put you on pension like civil servants! Show me the country that government bodies bail out their entertainment stars when they go bust? Instead they help tank them all in the name of taxes! Truth is I feel sad for him, but all he's said is balderdash. Being given or conferred with one of those honorary things don't mean the govt has to do squat shit for you! If the govt gave cash backing to everyone that was conferred with such title do you think we would survive as a country? Nigerians need to stop his attitude of "I am entitled"!!!! Make your appeals, appeal to the philanthropists, appeal to the kindhearted, good natured and generous people of this country. But never ever go about saying govt should! The entertainment industries around the world (not sure about Bollywood) exist devoid of govt input and that's how they've survived for so long!
ReplyDeleteUr head correct!
DeleteWORD ! Your intelligence is unquestionable ! Awesome Words ! Sooo true !
DeleteGbam ooo
DeleteGod pls help your children, send help to this man.
ReplyDeleteThat's why its good to invest no matter how little because no one knows morrow.
Where is Ibinabo, why do they find it difficult to help each other, this is so very sad.
ReplyDeleteIbinabo is no more their presdo...so stop calling her...
DeleteIbinabo na e pikin or mama?
DeleteEwoo...no wonder. So she's been removed? When? How and why? Where have I been sef.
Deletesorry to say o, when they pay them for a role, don't they save? They'll squander their money forgetting that hard days r coming. The guild should help them. And others that r forming 'big people' should join the guild now. Not when they r in need, they'll remember the guild. Build the guild, contribute towards it so that it can help you later. Not travelling around and showing us crocodile bag of 10million
ReplyDeleteGbamest!
DeleteOne thing I can't do is to be engaged in a profession that doesn't yield money to me. If it doesn't pay, I divert. Man shall not live by name alone
Gbam Jasmine...
DeleteAwww..poor man!
ReplyDeleteWhat are the guilds doing about it?
Oh dear! I remember him wella. God will raise the intended help for him oooo
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to be cold but what happened to investing when the going was good or was he acting for free all these years
ReplyDeleteD going was never good especially during his time but thaat does not mean d govt or ibinabo should b Liable for him 2 d extent of paying rent.
DeleteSorry for him, donno know him though.
ReplyDeleteHis colleagues shld rally round and help him o. So sad.
ReplyDeleteDidnt he make money when hé was acting ? Hé didnt he save ? Dont hé vé Kids ? May God help you.
ReplyDeletea.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
Dude no get family members neh.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
Dude no get family members neh.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
Dude no get family members neh.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
All these nollywood ppl, can't dey help themselves? Nawa o, if he die now, u will see Polo everywhere. Nonsense
ReplyDeleteIt is well with you sir. I pray you find the help you need.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with what he said, its not too late to make provisions for him, legends in the arts and the entire entertainment industry at large. All these telecommunication companies should also include legends in their endorsements, as a way of showing gratitude for their contributions and works to the entertainment industry and not just those big names who already have more than enough to cater for themselves. Also Ministry for Arts and Culture should make provision for pension
ReplyDeletewhy would people sit and be blaming government for everything? people should learn to plan their lives.....while I do not know Larry personally and not referring to him, most of this entertainment people lived recklessly with drinking, women and free lifestyle without planning whatever resources they have....you do not have to build a house in lekki, get a land anywhere u can afford and start something....if God blesses you then get a better one in a choice location.....no excuse to be roofless in old age....they should however contribute for him to get better medical treatment...
ReplyDeleteAnon. 11:06. Well said, the thing tire me too.
ReplyDeleteAll of you saying he did not save are not thinking straight. Actors in his time were paid stipends or "chicken change " The money they had saved can not last even 10 years. In their time, they had nothing like celebrity endorsements that the new generation have. Even the new age actors and actresses would tell you that except you endorse a product, you don't see the big money. Not to now talk of actors in the early onset of nollywood. Bakarebisi
ReplyDeleteI pity him. But he also shares blame. When he was making lots of money he should av invested in some other business aside acting. Just like my mom will always say " gather the fire wood dat u will use to keep warm in raining days in dry season" meaning start preparing for old age when u are still young. Just try and create another means of Making extra cash. For youths tHat are still seeking for jobs u can start small by registering with the numerous MLM companies littered everywhere in Nigeria. But laziness will not let most of u. I want Government jobs or big companies. Remember dat 80% of world's richest people are self made.
ReplyDeleteSorry he never made "lots of money".
DeleteWe should all understand that this so clled celebrities especially actors/actresses makes little or close 2nothing just from acting. They only benefit from other packages that comes with d fame and d females re usually easily favoured.
My prob with him n others is d call on govt like say na govt send dem go dey act film wen their mates dey hustle tight.
Make nobody come preach passion cos e nor join 4 dis case.
This is very sad....
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AGN wont come to his aid later we will b hearing story that touches lyk how he did not call out for help.He don call out now Ibinabo abi na Emeka Ike should do d needful instead of fighting over positions.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad but if we are to be objective who is to blame? He had his youth to work and prepare for old age. He was a good actor, did he train his kids properly? Was he working for the government? Where have you heard that american government pays subvention to old hollywood actors/actresses, I have never heard that. He should simply ask for help and not play the blame card. May God help us to prepare for old age in Jesus name. Amen.
ReplyDeleteAll his children are British born ...why can't they help...three children 2 girls and a boy
ReplyDeleteall his children are British born ... why can't they help?
ReplyDelete