Nigerian filmmaker, Zeb Ejiro, has opened up about his recent conversation with actor Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, just days before his untimely demise.
KanyiDaily had reported how Saint Obi died at age of 57 after a prolonged illness. According to reports, the actor passed away on Sunday, May 6, at the home of one of his siblings.
Following his death, a filmmaker named Zik Okafor narrated how Saint Obi’s marriage to ex-wife Lynda Saint-Nwafor, led to his tragic death and exit from the movie industry.
During a recent interview with Vanguard, another movie producer, Zeb Ejiro said that Obi’s failed marriage had a significant impact on his mental state as he was deeply committed to his family.
“Obi told me a couple of times that his marriage was crumbling and it was eating him up. He was a family man, somebody that loved to stay with his kids and build a happy home. But when his marriage crumbled, it really affected him and he never recovered from the shock till death.”
“When a man is not together with his family, he will be depressed. No man wants to go into that kind of situation and be happy. So, that contributed to his death,” Zeb Ejiro said.
According to Ejiro, he received a call from Saint Obi two weeks before his death, during which the deceased actor shed light about his prolonged health struggles.
Ejiro said, “Two weeks before he passed away, Saint Obi reached out to me. He informed me that he had been unwell and hospitalized.
“He mentioned undergoing multiple surgeries, but his condition was not improving. His sister had made arrangements to transfer him to Jos for better treatment.
“That was the last time we spoke, as I promised to check on him again. However, the next news I received was about Obi’s passing.”
Saint Obi and his wife, Linda Amobi, got divorced last year after a running battle over the custody of their three children. The couple got married in 2006 and have three children, two boys and a girl, together.
KanyiDaily recalls that Stephanie Linus had also mourned Saint Obi’s death, stressing that the actor’s work and impact will always be remembered.