Veteran Yoruba actor Sesan Adio, popularly known as Pa Ojoge, has cried out over his worsening financial condition, accusing the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) of abandoning him in his time of need.
The 1970s comic star, famous for his hilarious roles in both Yoruba and English movies, opened up about his struggles in an emotional interview on Agbaletu TV, where he revealed how he now survives on small tokens from friends and acquaintances.
According to the veteran actor, the glamour and fame he once enjoyed have vanished, leaving him to depend on the goodwill of others for survival.
He said the situation has become so bad that he can only cater for his wife and children through little contributions from people who pity him.
“I do not have money. I rely on other people to survive. I get money from people who I have known for long. Sometimes they give me ₦5,000, others give ₦10,000. That’s how I am taking care of my wife and children,” he said tearfully.
Pa Ojoge, famed for his comedic partnership with the late Otolo, also disclosed that he recently experienced the death of a child but received no acknowledgment or support from TAMPAN.
He said he was deeply hurt that the association publicly mourned another actor, Peju Ogunmola, but ignored his tragedy completely.
“I lost my child before Peju Ogunmola lost hers, but TAMPAN did not post mine. They only posted Peju’s because I don’t have money. If you are broke, the industry will not recognise you,” he lamented.
The grieving actor accused the association of bias, saying it only shows sympathy and attention to wealthy or influential members while neglecting the older ones who built the industry.
He described this attitude as painful and disappointing, especially from colleagues who once worked closely with him.
Pa Ojoge disclosed that even a TAMPAN chairman in Somolu, Lagos, condemned the association’s actions, calling it unfair and insensitive.
According to him, the local chairman insisted that the association’s duty should be to care for every member equally, not based on class or financial status.
“My chairman in Somolu lambasted them that it was not supposed to be that way. The job only recognizes those that are rich, not those that are poor,” he added.
Born in Ibadan, Pa Ojoge began his acting journey in the 1970s and became a household name for his comedic brilliance in numerous Yoruba and English productions.
He featured in several stage plays, home videos, and popular TV series, including Face2Face.
But today, the veteran says he feels forgotten, abandoned, and left to struggle by an industry he helped to build from the scratch.
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