Sam Loco goes home

BENJAMIN NJOKU
 Last Friday,  the ancient city of Benin, Edo State capital came alive with songs and dances as the remains of the legendary actor, Sam Loco Efe was laid to rest.

Sam Loco died two months ago, in Owerri, while on a movie set. His final burial last weekend marked the end of an era for a man who lived and touched many lives through his creativity.

Until his death, the legendary actor was one of the finest and most gifted humour merchants this country ever produced in recent times.

The actor’s funeral rites almost brought the ancient kingdom of Benin to a standstill, as it equally climaxed the week-long activities that preceded the actor’s final journey home.

From Oba Akensua II cultural centre, Benin, where Sam Loco’s body was laid-in-state for few minutes, to Baptist convention, along TV Road, Benin, where a funeral service was conducted in his honour, it was a celebration of the life and times of a man who brought laughter and joy to many homes across the globe through his creative works.

At the cultural centre, thousands of mourners, including leading politicians in Edo State, film stars and admirers paid their last respects.

Ironically, rather than grieve, over the demise of the man,  the mourners celebrated not because the comedian-actor died, at a very  good old age, but because of the many lives he touched  while discharging his role as an actor.

Sam Loco’s  body arrived the cultural centre in a convoy, around 1 pm. Expectedly,  there was a pandemonious moment by the mourners who ushered their hero into the vast cultural complex.

Nollywood stars who attended the funeral rites wore tall looks. They included Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele, Nkem Owoh alias Osufia, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Chinwe Owoh, gangster actor, Hanks,Francis Duru,  Ofiafulu Mbaka, who led the Enugu State chapter of AGN  and many others witnessed the funeral and expressed their sorrow at the loss.

Actresses Patience Ozokwor, a.k.a Mama G, Chioma Chukwukah  were also present. In addition, all the state chapters of actor’s guild were in attendance, just as older actors equally were represented.

Edo State Governor , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole  paid a glowing farewell to the departed screen icon.

Oshiomhole, described Sam Loco as “a humour merchant  who has the magic to bring the blood pressure of people down  without the necessary medical prescription.”He disclosed that the government decision to immortalize the actor by naming a street after him.

Noting that Sam Loco is not dead, he he reminded those alive that “we should emulate the virtues and  works of Uncle Sam Loco. He simply can’t be possible dead because his works will always be played back by everybody around the world.”

Speaking further, he said “actors like Sam Loco can’t die, I am here, therefore to celebrate the man who carried the spirit of the Edo man into his job.”

Comrade Oshiomhole told the children that they had every reason to be proud to have the late ace-actor as their father, adding that a Street that has been reconstructed, so that all those who will ply the road will easily remember his contribution to humanity has been named after Sam Loco.”

National President, Segun Arinze and outgoing President of Association of Movie Producers, (AMP), Paul Obazele,while paying tributes to the departed icon on behalf of the movie industry, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oshiomhole and the people of  the state for the gesture.

After  the tributes session at the cultural centre, the body was moved to the  Baptist convention, along TV Road, Benin,  for the funeral service. But the like the plethora of tributes poured on the late actor, the Secretary of the convention, Pastor Brown Isede  said a man’s struggle to acquire wealth was all vanity as no one dies with his wealth. Earlier in his remark, Sam Loco’s eldest son, Bismarck Efe said his siblings had taken solace in the fact

that their father lived a peaceful life and died peacefully, adding that “we are also happy that his burial is peaceful.”