The prayer on the lips of everyone in the Nollywood industry especially among the Yoruba-speaking artistes, is for God to stay the hands of death among them.
Why wouldn’t they pray?
In the early hours of April 22, 2017, veteran thespian, Olumide Bakare died at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan after he was diagnosed of having respiratory disorder.
Then, less than two weeks after, on May 7, 2017, another veteran actor, Adeshina Adesanya aka Pastor Ajidara, succumbed to death after a battle with kidney failure.
Don’t forget that there was the demise of another actress, Modupe Oyekunle aka Oyinbo, who died during childbirth in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Her death was a month before Ajidara’s who also died in an Abeokuta, Ogun State hospital.
Already, many of the actors have taken to their social media handles to mourn Moji Olaiya who died in the early hours of today, May 18 in Canada.
Moji welcomed a baby on March 17, 2017.
The mother of two who was aged 42 is survived by father, music maestro, Victor Olaiya and her mum.
For actor and Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Femi Adebayo, Moji should find rest in Allah.
He wrote:
“Inna Lillaahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raaji’oon..May Allah Grant you Aljannat Firdaus Moji Olaiya. This Is So Disheartening.
Also, actress, Iyabo Ojo wrote:
I can’t get over d shock, Just like that? Death why? No!!!! This is just too much. hummmmmmmm oku sunku oku, ki olorun je ki odun o jina sira ooooooo ok! Amin!!! RIP Moji Olaiya. God why?”(sic)
For Ronke Odusanya, this was a shock.
She wrote:
“Haaaa olorun oooooo, Oba ti o see bi leere …..This is too much of a shock …… haaaaaa RIP MOJI OLAIYA…. may u Rest in Peace. Amen” (sic)
Doris Simeon, who was married to Daniel Ademinokan, wrote:
“I don’t even know wat to say or write mojisola Abike rest well.” (sic)
The trending Domestic Violence victim whose husband was jailed and released on Tuesday, Mercy Aigbe, was definitely in shock.
She wrote:
“Shocking! Very Sad.”
Femi Branch, a crossover actor, who featured in some English drama series, recalled an encounter he had with the late actress, Moji.
He wrote:
“We were just mere colleagues until the day we had a certain discussion in Sagamu with Aunty Fali Werepe and u rose in my defense. I have recounted this tale to more people than I can recall and in every instance, the mention of ur sincere intervention was the highlight of my tale. That day I knew the good hearted Moji Olaiya and for as long as I have the gift of memory, that is the Mojisola Olaiya that will remain embedded in my heart. Sleep well Mj, may God erect a canopy of protection over ur children and the family u just left behind. (Lord pls stay this hand of death moving over our industry and pls open our eyes to know that life belongs to you and only you can give it in abundance) Amen.” (sic)
Even the estranged husband of actress Toyin Aimaku, Adeniyi Johnson, could not muster the courage to put up a photo of Moji Olaiya. His space was blank and he captioned it:
“Rest on sis… May God grant you eternal rest.”
For bubbly actress, Remi Oshodi aka Remi Surutu, she could only write:
“I don’t even know wat to say or write mojisola Abike rest well.” (sic)