‘I am going blind, I am homeless…’
Williams
VETERAN actor, Lari Williams, on yesterday lamented that he needed help from philanthropists because he was homeless and going blind.
“I have heard people say that the Lagos State or the Federal Government had given me a two-bedroom flat somewhere, it is all lies,” he said.
Williams told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he was only conferred with a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) honours by the government, without any cash backing.
The thespian told NAN that he was recently evicted from his three-bedroom apartment by the landlord, who told him that he needed to use the house for something else.
He expressed sadness at the hardship being experienced by veteran entertainers across the length and breadth of the nation, with no help in sight.
“We served this country and helped to build the entertainment sector that a lot of people are benefiting from today, but there is nothing for people like me to show for it.”
“Most of us are left unsung because of the kind of structure that is being run; we should be having benefits like the civil servants.”
“In other climes, artists live on government subventions and are structured in such a way that they earn from their creative works,” he said.
Williams added that government should carve out an enclave for entertainers to live and thrive.
“Nigerian cultural policy should be looked into so as to fashion out ways that can benefit the government and the practitioners.”
“The present government should be very careful in whom it will appoint as ministers, that it will send to the arts sector. We need hands-on individuals to be made ministers.”
“Government needs to have time for the creative sector so that it can have a voice, arts has been the unfortunate ministry. If it is well structured, then we can stop dying poor.”
“Look at Femi Robinson who played the second headmaster-character in the Village Headmaster: a Nigerian television drama, Dan Maraya Jos and others, they all died with nothing.”
“We are not handing over what we have in us to the next generations; because the room was not created for that,” he lamented.
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5 Comments
It is sad indeed. It is an irony that those who contribute to the society earn little or nothing compared with loafers who loot the treasury in the guise of politics. Tinubu can go abroad, though not USA, and get first class medical treatment. Buhari went to London penultimate to election 2015 and had a massage. OBJ’s Ota farm was a booming business when he served himself under the pretense he was serving the country: He built an edifice called a presidential library(without relevant books on how he suddenly became a good business manager). Write OBJ for help to restore your sight and you will surely rest assured your letter will not end up in his library but in a dustbin.
i feel a man needs to plan his life from the scratch and not depend on people for his upkeep……
Larry Williams was an icon when I was growing up, they developed entertainment and allowed it to grow to this level. Ijosimi, it’s sad that in the mist of pain and penury someone threw away pride and confessed his situation and yet you put him to ridicule and think that he did not plan. How much do you think people were earning 20plus years ago, it wasn’t much to allow planning, it’s stealing and milking each other that enhanced growth in most people’s individual economic situation in today’s Nigeria . Larry be consoled because help is coming your way. May God heal you and raise you up again. Amin.
Stop this God nonesense. What his man needs is the here and now, not pie in the sky rubbish.
I feel truly sad for this chap. He was poorly advised when the going was good for him. This should serve as a lesson to all who are fortunate enough to read about the plight of this child of our country. Is it really beyond the means of his people to houe him? Why do we still have problems with sharing what we have? Where is the church that received his widow’s mite wne the going was good? Is it the case that this chap is not willing to share with those who will offer him a place of safety and rest, ’cause tha’s indeed what a house or accommodation is. My brother be humble and accept help of whatever measure. No on earth need be homeless unless running away from cruelty and violence. I wish you peace my dear Nigerian child and brother.
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