Zack Orji is among the most popular Nollywood actors in the Nigerian movie industry. He is loved by so many fans who enjoy his movies. However, he hasn’t been in good health recently with even wild rumours that he had passed away. This has proven to be false as the thespian is alive although he collapsed in the bathroom while in his friend’s home. Thankfully, God kept him alive.
In a recent interview with NAOMI CHIMA, the movie star who recently underwent two brain surgeries, opened up on how his life was saved as seen on Nigeria’s Punch newspaper.
Can you walk us through the events leading to your collapse in the bathroom and your journey to recovery since then?
I passed out in the bathroom and my friend, Ahmed Bala, in whose house it happened, was in the United Kingdom at the time. He got a call from his neighbours telling him that they had been knocking on his door, but there was no answer. So, he had to call another actor, Benedict Johnson, to come to the house and find out what the problem was. Benedict then came to the house, walked up to the room and saw me on the floor. He raised me, but I slumped again, so he had to call another colleague, Emmanuel Ehumadu, aka Labista. Both of them then lifted me from the second floor to the ground floor, and took me to the National Hospital in Abuja. They notified my friend immediately about what had happened. By that time, I had been unconscious for about five and a half hours. You can see that it was God who kept me alive till help came. That was how my journey through this discomfiture started.
When quizzed if he there were any signs before the incident, Zack Orji said there wasn’t any really except for one which happened last year (December).
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Before you slumped, did you feel any symptoms that you probably did not pay attention to?
I really did not feel anything. But, something happened on December 25, 2023. Benedict Johnson, Labista and I had gone to visit the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, and all of a sudden, I lost my balance. I actually did not know how it happened. It was Benedict and Labista that told me later that if they had not been by my side, I would have fallen backwards. They were the ones who supported me. I would say that was a sign of what happened later on. They notified the Minister immediately, and she called my wife, who flew in from Lagos the next day, to be with me at the National Hospital.
In 2024 alone, several Nollywood celebrities have lost their lives including Ethel Ekpe, Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri, John Okafor (Mr. Ibu), Amaechi Muonagor, Aderounmu Adejumoke, Zulu Adigwu, Ganiyu Oyeyemi, Junior Pope and Zulu Adigwe.
While reacting to the death of Junior Pope, Zack Orji wrote on his Instagram page;
“Junior Pope, I waited till today, hoping that it would be some fake and horrible news like mine.
“Unfortunately, it turned out to be true. How utterly tragic and heart-rending!!! I can imagine the pain, despair and trauma you went through, because I know you never wanted it to end like this…
“Thank you for the indelible mark you have left in our hearts and lives. You were more than a colleague; you were like a son and a younger brother to me, and a good friend. You were also a guiding light and a source of inspiration to millions of young people.
“Your memory will continue to inspire us; and, your legacy will live on in the work we do and the way we do it…
“REST IN PERFECT PEACE CHAMPION! MAY GOD ALMIGHTY COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN YOUR WONDERFUL FAMILY!”
Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, died on April 10, 2024 alongside four crew members after the boat they were in capsized in the River Niger during a movie shoot.
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