‘Don’t cry, my princess,’ Ogogo told daughter weeks before death

One of the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, Kira Taiwo, has shared an emotional message she exchanged with her father before his death.

Kira shared the message on her Instagram Story on Monday, following the actor’s death on Sunday at the age of 66.

The conversation, dated July 26, showed Ogogo reassuring his daughter and urging her to remain strong.

In the exchange, Ogogo told Kira that seeing her and her sisters smile gave him strength, while urging her not to cry.

He wrote, “How are you? I heard you are crying. Seeing you and your sisters smile is making me strong. If you cry, it will make me sad, and I will start to think.”

The actor, who was Muslim, further encouraged his daughter to trust in Allah, writing, “Be strong. I am strong. Nothing is going to happen to me, insha Allah. If you do, then don’t cry, my princess.”

Responding to her father, Kira said she was not crying and assured him of her faith.

“Daddy, I’m not crying oo… don’t mind Haleemah. I trust in Allah, sir. I love you very much,” she wrote.

Ogogo replied, “Love u too, my princess.”

The emotional exchange came weeks before the family disclosed that the actor was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance.

PUNCH Online had reported that Kira and her sister, Lima Taiwo, made separate emotional appeals on Instagram after Ogogo’s condition deteriorated.

Lima said the family had only discovered the seriousness of his illness about three weeks earlier because his physical appearance had not initially suggested that he was seriously ill.

Kira had also disclosed that the actor’s cancer was at stage four and said the hospital treating him could no longer administer chemotherapy, prompting the family to seek other medical options.

Ogogo died at about 3 pm on Sunday, according to a burial announcement shared by veteran actor, Jide Kosoko.

He will be buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday.

A lying-in-state ceremony is scheduled for 11 am at the Pavilion, Ilaro, while the Ilaro Muslim Community announced that the burial prayer will be held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground at 10 am.

The actor is to be buried according to Islamic rites.

Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Yoruba film industry, with a career spanning several decades as an actor, filmmaker and director.