Veteran actor, Olumide Bakare, popularly known as Chief Koko, has died in Ibada, the Oyo State capital after battling what is believed to be heart related illness.
The news of his death was shared by actor, Yinka Aiyelokun, in a Facebook post on Saturday morning.
“Information just got to me now from Ibadan that Olumide Bakare, aka Chief Koko, has just passed on early this morning, after a successful surgery. May his Soul finds peace at the bosom of the Lord. Amen,” Aiyelokun wrote.
Speaking later with Qed.ng on telephone, Aiyelokun said he learnt about the death from the deceased’s niece, Eniola Baker.
Aiyelokun said the late actor’s brother, Muyiwa Bakare, a medical doctor based in the United Kingdom, recently brought in some doctors to perform a surgery on the stricken thespian.
“The surgery was successful,” Aiyelokun said, “but it is sad that he is now dead”.
A report by Tribune Online said Bakare’s condition got worse in the middle of the night and he was said to have called his personal assistant to take him to the at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in the middle of the night.
He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
The news medium quoted actor, Saidi Balogun, as saying he received the news of the death with shock.
“Yes, it is true Olumide Bakare is dead. He died on his way to his hospital. When I called his number, his personal assistant picked his phone and told me he was dead. That’s how much I can say for now,” Balogun was quoted as saying.
A fundraising campaign was launched for Bakare last year after he was admitted at the University College Hospital, UCH in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In an interview, the Papa Ajasco actor told City People magazine that his ailment started in 2013.
“It has started since 2013 but it wasn’t as bad as it is now. We have treated it but you know things like that don’t go easily. About 15 days ago, the sickness resurfaced and I was rushed to the emergency unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan where I have been admitted.”
Chief Koko, as he was fondly called, also provided information about the ailment he was battling with: “After the test was conducted, the result revealed that I am suffering from Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm and Pulmonary Embolism which has to do with heart related issues. From the diagram, it showed that there is a blockage in the vein that takes blood to the heart.”
The 65-year-old former NTA worker is most popular for his lead role in the TV comedy drama, Koko Close, from which he got his famous nickname.
He has starred in more than 50 movies including Aye Olorogun (2007), Iboji (2008) and Ise Onise (2009).
