Ogogo: The Curtain Falls on an Illustrious Son of Yewaland, By Omooba Segun Adewale Frpa (OSA)

There are moments when words fail us. There are moments when the magnitude of a loss is so profound that even the most carefully chosen words appear inadequate.

The passing of Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, is one of those moments.

Ogogo passed away three days ago after a battle with cancer and was buried yesterday morning according to Islamic rites.

For the Nigerian entertainment industry, this is the loss of a veteran thespian and one of the recognisable faces of Yoruba film and theatre. For Ilaro, it is the loss of a son. For Yewaland, it is the loss of one of our illustrious sons. But for me personally, the pain is much deeper.

I did not merely know Ogogo. I was his friend. Our relationship grew from a shared love for our hometown, Ilaro, and an abiding conviction that our people must take their rightful place in the affairs of government and society.

And as I reflect on his passing, I realise that our friendship was one of those unexpected gifts that life gives us, a relationship that began around a shared passion for Ilaro and Yewaland but developed into years of friendship, political conversations, laughter, disagreements, teasing and unforgettable experiences.

When I Returned Home:
There was a period in my life when I made the conscious decision to return home to Ilaro and become more deeply involved in the affairs of my people. I had entered politics and, over time, became a household name within our community.

It was around this period that my relationship with Ogogo became particularly close. What brought us together was more than politics. We shared a vision for Ilaro.

We both wanted to see our town become greater. We wanted to see more sons and daughters of Ilaro rise into positions of responsibility and influence, particularly positions where they could contribute to the development of our people.

We believed that our people had the talent, capacity and numbers to make a difference. But we only needed to organise ourselves, believe in ourselves and support one another. Ogogo believed deeply in that philosophy. And because we shared that conviction, our friendship grew.

“Omooba, I Will Like to Use Your House…”
One of the memories of Ogogo that I will cherish for the rest of my life came from the period when our relationship had become very close. One day, he approached me and said: “Omooba, I will like to use your house as location for a film I am working on.” Without hesitation, I gladly gave him access to my country home in Ilaro.

I remember telling him:
“Ogogo, it is your house. Use it anywhere you want.” And he did.

What started as a simple request became another expression of the trust and friendship that existed between us. My Ilaro home subsequently became a location for some of his film productions.

In his film archives, there are about three or four different films that were produced using my country home mansion in Ilaro as a location, including “Orogun Oko” and others.

Those films now carry an unexpected sentimental value for me. Whenever I see those productions, I will not only see Ogogo the actor. I will see my friend. I will remember the conversations. I will remember the laughter.

I will remember the man who walked into my home and felt sufficiently comfortable to say, in essence, “this is my brother’s house; I can use it.” That was the nature of our relationship.

Our Politics, Our People and Our Yewa Identity:
Our friendship also extended deeply into politics.

We were both passionate about the political future of our people, although at different times we did not always belong to the same political platform.

In 2015, when I contested the Ogun State governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ogogo would often call me and tease me about my political choice.

He would say: “Omooba, I don’t understand this PDP platform you are using for your governorship aspiration ooo. It is better you move to APC.” But Ogogo was Ogogo. Even when he disagreed with you politically, he remained your brother.

He would immediately add: “But if you insist, you’re a Yewa son. We will support you.” That statement says a lot about the man.

For Ogogo, political party could be important, but the larger interest of Yewaland was bigger. He believed in his people.
He believed in the possibility of Yewa producing the Governor of Ogun State.

And he believed that when the moment came, Yewa sons and daughters should rise above individual political interests and stand together.

“Omooba, What Are You Still Doing in PDP?”

Years later, in the 2023 elections, another unforgettable conversation took place. Ogogo accosted me at the polling booth on election day. As usual, he came with his characteristic energy and humour. “Omooba! Omooba! What are you still doing in PDP?”

He reminded me of what had happened in 2015, how I had invested so much in the governorship aspiration, only for the ticket to eventually be taken away from me.

Then he made his case.
“After what they did to you in 2015, you spend so much money, they still collected the ticket from you. Please come and join the progressives.”

Then came the part that, in retrospect, carries an extraordinary significance.

He said:
“Moreso, your brother Yayi is contesting for governorship in 2027. You must be part of it ooo.” I listened.

Today, I am in the All Progressives Congress. And I find myself remembering that conversation with Ogogo with a mixture of sadness and gratitude.

Ogogo and the Yayi Project:
Ogogo became one of the passionate supporters of the aspiration of Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Yayi, to become Governor of Ogun State.

He believed that the time had come for Yewa-Awori to take its rightful place in the political leadership of Ogun State.
His support was visible.
His voice was heard.
And he was not shy about expressing his conviction.

For Ogogo, supporting Yayi was not merely about partisan politics. It was part of a larger Yewa aspiration. He wanted to see one of our own occupy the Governor’s Office.

He wanted to see Yewa sons and daughters unite behind a common political objective.

He wanted to see the political marginalisation that many of our people had complained about for decades give way to participation, influence and leadership.
That was the Ogogo I knew.

A man who could be playful, humorous and entertaining, but who could become remarkably serious when the conversation turned to the future of his people.

Your Work Will Not Be in Vain:
And so, my dear friend, as I write this tribute today, I want to say something to you that I wish I could say to your face.

You have done your part.
You spoke.
You mobilised.
You encouraged.
You supported.

You used your voice and influence to advance a cause you believed in. You encouraged me to join the progressive family. You encouraged me to participate in the Yayi project.

And today, we are on the same side of the political divide, supporting the aspiration you so passionately believed in.

You will not be here to witness the 2027 election. You will not be here to stand at the campaign grounds. You will not be here to make your characteristic jokes and political observations.

You will not be here to call me “Omooba” and ask why I am doing one political thing or another.

But I want to assure you of one thing. Your effort will not be in vain. By God’s grace, we will continue the work. We will continue to mobilise our people. We will continue to encourage our sons and daughters to participate actively in the political and developmental affairs of our land. And we will continue to pursue the dream of a Yewa-Awori son occupying the Government House in Abeokuta.

As you wished, we will support our brother, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Yayi.

We will work for the unity of our people. We will urge the sons and daughters of Yewaland to understand the significance of the moment.

And by God’s grace, we will ensure that the voice and votes of Yewaland count. When that victory eventually comes, I will remember you. I will remember that you were one of those who spoke passionately about it long before it became a reality. And somewhere in my heart, I will hear your familiar voice:
“Omooba, I told you!”

A Thespian Who Never Forgot Home:

Ogogo’s contribution to Yoruba entertainment cannot be erased. He belonged to a generation of actors who helped build the Yoruba film industry and took Yoruba storytelling to audiences far beyond the boundaries of our immediate communities.

Through his art, he became a household name. But fame never erased his identity. He remained a son of Ilaro. He remained a proud Yewa man. And he remained deeply interested in the affairs of his people.

That is the legacy that I believe should accompany his name. Not simply that he was a successful actor. But that he was a successful son of Yewaland who never forgot where he came from.

The Curtain Has Fallen:
There is a painful irony in saying goodbye to a man whose life was spent on the stage and before the camera. For decades, Ogogo played characters.

He interpreted stories.
He entertained audiences.
He made people laugh.
He made people reflect.
He became part of the memories of generations of Nigerians.

But today, the curtain has fallen. The stage has gone quiet. The camera has stopped rolling. And our friend has taken his final bow. Yet the story does not end here.

His films remain.
His voice remains.
His memories remain.
The friendships he built remain.
The people he inspired remain.
And the causes he believed in continue.

My Friend, My Brother, Our Son:
As I mourn Ogogo today, I do not want to remember only the celebrity. I want to remember the man who could walk into my Ilaro home and ask to use it for a film.

I want to remember the friend who felt comfortable enough to tease me about my political choices.

I want to remember the man who stood at a polling booth and asked me, with genuine concern:
“Omooba, what are you still doing in PDP?”

I want to remember the man who believed that Ilaro could be greater.

The man who wanted more Ilaro sons and daughters in government.

The man who believed that Yewaland could unite behind a common aspiration.

The man who believed that our people could determine their own political destiny.

And above all, I want to remember the friend who believed in the possibility of a better future for his people.
That is the Ogogo I will remember.

Adieu, Ogogo
My dear friend, your journey on earth has come to an end. The final scene has been played.
The curtain has fallen. But your story will continue to be told. It will be told through your films. It will be told by your colleagues in the Yoruba film industry. It will be told by your family and friends. It will be told by the people of Ilaro. It will be told across Yewaland.

And I will tell my own story of you, the story of a friend, a brother, a fellow Ilaro son and a passionate believer in the future of our people. You gave me memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. You gave my home a place in some of your films. You gave me counsel, encouragement and, sometimes, political headaches with your persistent teasing. But most importantly, you gave me friendship. For that, I am grateful.

Adieu, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo.
Adieu, my friend.
Adieu, my brother.
Adieu, illustrious son of Ilaro.
Adieu, proud son of Yewaland.

You have run your race.
You have played your part. And now, you may rest. Your effort will not be in vain. Your dream for Yewaland will live on. Your love for Ilaro will live on. Your memory will live on.

And when the victory you so passionately wished for eventually comes, we shall remember that you were one of those who believed before many others did.

May Almighty Allah forgive your shortcomings, accept your good deeds, grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus and give your family, friends, colleagues and the entire Ilaro and Yewa community the strength to bear this irreparable loss.

Sun re, Ogogo omo Ikulodo
Ilaro will remember you.
Yewaland will remember you. And I will remember you.

Omooba Segun Adewale Frpa (OSA)