OPA WILLIAMS
Sickness Taught Me Great Lessons about Life, its Contradictions
was very active in Nollywood and movie making; he had his very good friend, Chico Ejiro. He said he used to produce, while Ejiro would direct.
“We had an intimate partnership. We did movies like Tears for Love, Deadly Affairs and most of my hit movies. We did them together, because then he directs and I produce until we went our separate ways amicably. So when I was doing this, it came naturally to carry him along. My first show started with me, my marketer and Chico Ejiro. After that, there was no profit at all, as it was a huge loss and Chico told me ‘Goodbye, that’s your dream’ and my marketer took the master copy to sell. On the second edition, I went to them and Azubike told me point blank that he wasn’t interested. Chico said he was also not interested and he gave me some money to stick up to what I’m doing, but I kept on to my faith; all thanks to Noble and Pa Steve Rhodes that inquired of me to do more. In fact at that point in time, he said I could use his office, which was on the island close to the CBN. He offered me the hall to use and with all the supports. It gave me the courage to forge ahead. Right from the second year till this present time, it’s been a solo act and that’s how I built it.”
Feel Threatened by the New Generation? Never...
It must be admitted that the new guys in the business have upped their games and have really branded themselves which has made them more attractive to corporate giants who now buy into their shows and programmes and they, no doubt, are smiling to the banks. But Opa Williams says he does not feel threatened by the new boys.
“I don’t feel threatened. If I am, I would have withdrawn and this brand wouldn’t be in existence, but Night of a Thousand Laugh runs in like seven cities in this country as well as in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana because in aggregate, we are growing bigger. We are more of an international brand than any other brand. I don’t feel threatened, rather I feel complimented, maybe to some people, I cannot meet their demands but to these other guys I do.”
Anniversary Will be like Home Coming...
With this 20th anniversary, Williams says they are bringing together everyone who has been part of the success story of the show. He says there will be honouring some people as a Hall of Fame will be created.
“This anniversary, we are bringing everybody together. It’s like a home coming; you know when Motown Music did their homecoming. So, I think I am also playing that role here to build comedians. This will be a home coming and whoever thinks he has been evicted from this platform should be glad of what we are doing now. We are going to honor some, and have a Hall of Fame and a master class edition. The master class edition is about those that have been part of us since inception. “
He says activities marking the anniversary have already started. He disclosed that they have invited some comedians and sponsors to visit some of these charity homes; spend time with them and also crack jokes with the kids and old people and widows as well.
“After that, we are going to unveil the comedy Hall of Fame. Then we will organise a dinner to honour our sponsors and those who have been with us all this while. The grand finale will have veteran’s performances alongside with music at the dinner event. We are working on the place of the event and its going to be a month long.”
Sickness Opened My Eyes to Some Things...
Williams admitted that he once had health issues and it opened his eyes to what people go through when they are indisposed or are threatened with disabilities. He says as a result of this, he started an event called ‘The Evening’ which was dedicated to those having these issues.
“What happened to me then was a little bit of health issue and it opened my eyes to see a lot of disabilities, so we have an event called, ‘The Evening’ last two years was an edition for the blind, while last year was especially for those with spinal cord injuring, of which I was a victim but luckily for me I’m walking. So we are not lucky enough to work. That event is for charity and disability; natural and accidental.”
He admits that he is a normal human being doing what anyone else is doing. He also admits that his name comes with a lot of expectations.
“I am a normal man doing the same thing everyone else does. The name comes with a lot of imaginations and expectations. This is me and I am not more than this. Maybe my work says more about me putting me in hype and extra light, like my daughter will say: ‘If they only knew when you drank water from plastic cup’ but I am only human.”
He says he does not stress himself any longer. He now sleeps and goes to gym and relaxes. And guess what? He has become born again after his health challenges.
Opa Williams says nature fascinates him. He says he loves agriculture and everything that has to do with farming and animal husbandry.
“Nature does fascinate me. I like farming. Growth, whether husbandry or agricultural. I like creation. I like when I go to the farm and see my chicks delivering or when you have 500 fishes in the pond with life. We do fishery, poultry and horticulture as well. It fascinates me when I go there during the weekends and see all these lives.”
Opa Williams the Person...
Many don’t like Mathematics and this man is no exception. “Mathematics is what I don’t like, but I love history. But am surprised that today they didn’t teach history and I wonder who had to stop history from being taught.”
And do you know his greatest fear as a person? He does not want to miss heaven. He adds that his current state of mind all the time is just to be at peace with himself and those around him and everything around him.
“My current state of mind basically is to be at peace with myself and everything. It’s not to make money but to be of good health and the desire to make heaven.” When asked if he could change anything, his answer is very direct: “God made me in his own image, and you are asking me to change God? I cannot change anything, because I’m made in his perfection.”
And what else would he have loved to do? His answer is also very direct and concise.
Let me be honest with you and maybe I’m being stupid but I have come to realise everything about me. Because He said I have known you before you were born that which you do, I have done it for you. So when you begin to say you can change things, well you will try not to have headache so there is nothing we can change. But I would like to change Nigeria, but if I had accepted Christ while in school by then I won’t be me today.”
To underscore the fact that Opa Williams now thinks of higher things, he tells a story about extravagance and what nature has taught him about simplicity.
“I would rather spend or contribute to nature. I bought a jeep some years back for N4.2 million and my younger brother was almost killed inside his own car as a result of an accident he was thrown out of his car. When he came to me, I gave him the jeep. My wife said ‘why you no give am corolla’ and I told her, I never thought about it. Luckily for him, in two weeks time he got a car and returned mine. Then my uncle said he needed a car and I gave him the jeep, in three days time, he had an accident and scattered the jeep. He packed the jeep and trailer reversed and crushed it. N4.2 million gone and that money would have been a lot for me if I had used it to take care of the less privileged.”
Nothing else to add about the mindset of the godfather himself. May be the story will be different after another 20 years. But he seriously doubts if it won’t remain the same.