Actress Moji Olaiya dies in Canada

…Four days after two-month-old daughter’s dedication

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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: A POPULAR female actress and member of the Theater and Movie Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN, Moji Olaiya, is dead.

She died in Toronto, Canada in the early morning of Thursday barely four day after the dedication of her new born baby girl, who is her second child after her 18 years old first daughter.

Reliable source told GatewayMail in Toronto that Olaiya had earlier been complaining to her friends three days before the dedication of her daughter that she was having chest pain and feeling tired.

“In fact, at the dedication last Sunday, she sat quietly, not showing any sign of someone in good mood for the occasion,” the source said, adding: “In fact, she gave birth to the girl prematurely and since then she hasn’t been doing great as expected.”

The source further said that had someone with CPR knowledge been with her at the time she collapsed at home, she would have been resuscitated before reaching the Humber River Hospital along Wilson Avenue and Keele Street where she was confirmed dead.

According to a press statement made available to GatewayMail by the Public and Media Officer of TAMPAN, Yomi Fash-Lanso, the deceased died of heart seizure.

“It’s with heavy heart and sad disposition to hear about the sudden death of our colleague, friend and sister Moji Olaiya who’s death occurred few hours ago in Canada,” the association said.

“According to reports that we gathered we learnt she had heart seizure and couldn’t make it,” TAMPAN said of the deceased who was the daughter of the renowned musician, Sir Victor Olaiya.

“We enjoin all members of TAMPAN and friends to stay calm and easy as we get further reports,” the association said, adding: “We pray her soul finds eternal rest with her creator and pray to Almighty Allah to bear the family she left behind the fortitude to bear this great irreparable lost.”

Similarly, fellow artiste, Bolaji Amusan, also known as Mr. Latin, has confirmed the demise of the actress, who gave birth to her baby barely two months ago.

“She died early this morning in Canada,” Amusan said, adding that she was pronounced dead after taking her to the hospital.

Meanwhile, condolence messages have continued to trail her death from her fans and the entertainment body.

A famous ace broadcaster, Olusesan Ekisola, said on Penpushing, a social media: “May her soul rest in peace. May God comfort her aging father and the rest of the family. Sad loss indeed.”

While lamenting the death, a US-based legal practitioner, Godzdaughter Adedeji, declared: “May Moji’s soul rest in peace.  Just received the news on our High School’s platform now.  May God comfort the whole family.”

“We have received reports that Yoruba actress, Moji Olaiya is dead,” the Chairman, Ogun State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigerian (SWAN), Hakeem Akintunde said

He added: “This is coming barely few weeks after Nollywood was thrown into mourning with the deaths of two popular actors, Olumide Bakare and Pastor Ajidara.”

“Moji passed away in a hospital in Canada.,” he stressed, adding: “It was said that her cause of death could be linked to complications that arose from her child birth in March.”

“Moji’s first marriage fell apart in 2008, and the Yoruba actress decided to give love another when she sealed her new union months ago at a quiet ceremony. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” Akintunde explained.

And the President of Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc, Chief Femi Shodunke also bemoaned the death of Olaiya.

He said: “I’m devastated on Moji Olaiya’s death.  Why?  Because I saw her last Sunday in Toronto at her daughter’s dedication.”

“Indeed, while the dedication was going on I was presiding as President at our Olumo meeting at the next hall,” Shodunke, who is also the Public Relations Officer of Egba National Association USA and Canada, said, adding: “And I saw all of them, with our Egba brother, Alhaji Muftau Wole Olaleye, who’s the Chief Imam, leaving the venue before we finish our meeting.”

He further narrated: “In fact, something happened that day that looked spiritual to me.  Let me leave that out for now.  Eventually, when I heard of Moji Olaiya’s death my mind went back to the incident.

“I just learnt she was even staying somewhere close to my house, and the Humber River Hospital (just opened last year) was just 30 minutes drive to me.  But then o ye Olorun Oba oke.  May her soul rest in peace.”

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