The Palaver That Killed Justus Esiri Exposed

Veteran actor, Justus Esiri, may have finally died on
Monday, February 18, 2013 – as a result of complications
arising from diabetes and stroke. But before then, there
was one other issue that was silently eating up the 70-
year-old father and grandfather. It was an uncompleted
film project he had begun work on about seven years ago.
Centred on some of the nefarious activities going on in the
Niger Delta, the militants first warned him against
embarking on it. But before then, he had also been having
a running battle with the director of the film, Ifeanyi
Onyeabor.
Not only did he battle him till he died, trying to get the
master tape, those that provided the funds with which the
high-budget project was embarked upon were also on his
neck. “It was in the midst of that, that the man suffered
the first stroke about a year and a half ago. He had even
begun recovering little by little when the second one,
which claimed his life, occurred”, explained one close
family member.
The title of the film which Esiri didn’t eventually get to see
its final copy is The Way We Are, and among the stars in it
are Segun Arinze and Gbenga Richard. One of those who
took part in it corroborated this. According to him: “Till the
man died, he kept lamenting and lamenting about the
misfortunes the film brought his way”.
Esiri, who we also gathered was diabetic, was part of the
Nollywood Delegation that visited President Goodluck
Jonathan after the death of his brother, Chief Meni
Jonathan .He was also supposed to be at the thanksgiving
service of the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck
Jonathan, on Sunday, February 17, until death decided
otherwise.
The gifted and gregarious actor will be eternally
remembered for his role in Village Headmaster. Married to
Omiete and blessed with six children (Ophlia, Ejiro, Justus
Jnr., Sidney, Andrew and Tobor), among his movies that
will continually be evergreen are Wasted Years, The Price,
Six Demons and Forever.
His burial details are yet to be made public.