Veteran actor, Chief Lere Paimo, popularly called Eda Onile Ola, is known for his fetish roles in yoruba movies.

In a recent chat with Punch, he opened up on the fetish roles, talked about life, near death experience, relationship with Obasanjo, and more. See excerpts below:

You have been into acting for over 55 years, how did the journey begin?
I started acting with Duro Ladipo and Oyin Adejobi; they were my bosses when I joined the profession. I started in Osogbo and I never knew that I would become a household name in Nigeria.
When I was in primary school, I always took part in the end of year activities where I costumed myself as a king. I had a sister-in-law that attended the same primary school with me and till date, she still refers to me as a king.
I just loved dressing like a king and participating in drama but I never knew that one day it would become a reality. All I wanted was to act and make people laugh because I derived joy from doing that.
During that time, I was always treated like a king because whenever we had the school play, a crowd normally followed me from my home to school to watch me perform. They made me feel like a real king.
Subsequently my friend, Merryphoto, told me that we should go to Mbari, Imo State and join a theater group and I agreed. We left Osogbo for Mbari and when we got there and had auditions, we were chosen. That is how it all began. I did not do it for money but for the love I had for the profession. It is God that decided to bless me through my career with fame and fortune.
You seem to be very close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo too.
He was very close to my late boss, Duro Ladipo and he likes me a lot because he saw that I was a very talented actor. He used to call my boss Sango, and would always ask him to take very good care of me. Because of that, my boss loved me the more but I think he was a captain then.
When my boss died, I visited him occasionally and he treated me very well. That was how our friendship blossomed till he gave me a national award while he was a president. He was so happy when I bagged the award.
What are some of the most interesting moments you shared with the former president?
He is a very jovial man. He loves playing ayo, and whenever he is enjoying the game at his Ota farm, people would gather to watch him play. That was shortly after he was the head of state.
Whenever he beat someone in the game, he normally made jest of the person. He was really good at the game. There was a time his younger sisters brought food for him while playing. He did not bother to use a plate. His sisters were surprised and he jokingly said that when they got to their husband’s house, they could use plates but that he preferred eating it directly from the leaves. Obasanjo is a very down-to-earth person and this endears him to people around him.
Was there any time you felt like quitting up acting?
There were times I really felt like quitting. There was a time we were going for a show and I could not take my car because it was faulty. I decided to travel in a lorry with my family and theatre group. My wife had an infant and some other group members had their children in the lorry as well. When we got to Abeokuta, we had an accident and the lorry somersaulted. I was able to get out of the vehicle through the smashed windscreen. By the time we got out of the damaged vehicle, we began to look for the children and we later found them in the bush unharmed. Other vehicles passing by had to stop to help us because they saw my posters on the lorry. They helped us get people out of the damaged lorry and my injured drummer was rushed to the hospital at Abeokuta. Even though the hospital was on strike, when they saw that he was my drummer, they rushed to help him. I am glad nobody died and no child was hurt.
My children that were found in the bush on that day are all married now. After the accident, I felt like quitting. There was also a time that we went to Zaria to perform and we were robbed. They stole all our clothes from the lorry we rented overnight and when we discovered what had happened the following day, we began to cry. It was a man, Idowu, from Ogbomosho who sold clothes in Zaria that helped us. He replaced everything we lost. He told me to stop crying and even bought me a pair of glasses to cover my red shot eyes. During those trying times, I got tired of the job and felt like quitting but I thank God for everything.
How did you get the stage name Eda Onileola?
I got it in 1965 when I went for the Commonwealth festival with my boss. I partook in a play called Everyman. It was an English play but we had to act it in Yoruba. I played the lead role as Eda who was a very wealthy man. I played the role so well that the name stuck. Till date, some people think that my real name is Eda.
Many people say that you are fetish because of the way you recite incantations, is that a rumour or something close to the truth?
Often times, I get calls from people all over Nigeria asking me to consult the oracle for them. Whenever it happens like that, I explain to them that I am not an herbalist. Even after explaining to them that what they watch on television is just acting, some still don’t believe, offering to pay me huge sum of money.
I am not an herbalist and I don’t know anything about herbs, I put all my trust in God. I am not saying that there is no such thing as metaphysical powers or voodoo. They exist and people indulge in them but I don’t do such. I always tell people that call me that if they believe in God, they are equally powerful.
It is often believed that if you act the role of witches and wizards, they would attack you spiritually, is it true?
It is a lie, such never happens. If it were true, Baba Ogunde would have been the first to be spiritually attacked. All we do is ‘make believe’ because we do not use what people actually use for sacrifices. It is not real. If I act the part of a wizard or a wicked man, it is because I want people to learn from the story. We just try to let people know that those that do evil will eventually meet their downfall. The witches and wizards know that we are not mocking or disrespecting them. Probably that is why they take us as their children and do not attack us.
You once suffered partial stroke, how did it happen?
I thank God for my life. I just got back from an outing and wanted to enter my house when I felt a breeze and I fell to the ground. My children noticed and quickly rushed me to the hospital. When the doctor ran some tests, he said that I almost had a partial stroke. After taking care of myself very well, I am now hale and hearty.
When that incident happened, were you not afraid that it could be spiritual attack?
Such a thought never came to my mind.
Would you say your profession has brought you fame and fortune?
I will say it has brought more fame and whatever brings fame most times comes with fortune. Any legal job one does that puts food on the table, provides shelter, and good education for the children is a good job.
What kind of child were you while growing up?
I was a very gentle boy while growing up. I hardly spoke in public and I never fought with anybody. That is why when my mates see me, they are always surprised that I am an actor. I am not a saint but people know that I don’t lie or deceive people. I do not betray my friends and it is what I am known for.
But acting for over 55 years, people would think that you would be richer than you are now…
Dubious people are responsible for the state I am in today. Till this moment, the marketer in charge of the distribution of my film, Ogbori Elemosho, has not given me my money. He still produces the movie till date even though I am yet to receive any royalty. People believe that I became very rich with the movie but I believe that God would pay him back in his own coin. The marketers are not letting us reap the rewards of our labour. It does not affect me alone but other artistes as well.
Do you have any regrets?
I have no regrets in life. Anyone who says he has regrets in life is offending his creator. As long as there is life and good health, then no one should have regrets.

In life, there are challenging moments that would weigh you down but they are not enough to make one regret being alive. When those moments come, pray to God and everything will be okay.
You became an actor at a very young age, were you exposed to drinking alcohol or smoking?
I have never smoked in my life. When I was younger, I used to drink palm wine and if I must take beer, it could not be more than a bottle. Right now, I don’t do any of those things
When you were wooing your two wives, did they have any problem with your profession?
They loved me because I am an actor. Before I began wooing them, they were already in love with me because of my job, so it wasn’t difficult making them my wives.

one of the yoruba movie legend. the part played in saworo ide can't ve forgotten either OLOYE BALOGUN.