Nollywood actress, Taiwo Akinwande popularly known as Yetunde Wunmi
has been a regular fixture in the Yoruba film industry for many years
displaying exemplary acting talent and nurturing others until six years
ago when news circulated that the pretty lady was nabbed with hard
drugs.
In this interview with Sun Newspapers, Wunmi speaks about the drug incident, her jail sentence, her regrets and the future.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
In the ears of many a movie fan, the name, Taiwo Akinwande would
hardly ring an immediate bell. But mention her stage name, Yetunde
Wunmi, and a lot of faces would light-up instantly. In the Yoruba film
industry, Yetunde Wunmi has earned a name for herself. For over three
decades, the pretty actress enjoyed tremendous popularity. That was
until about six years ago when she was nabbed with hard drugs at the
airport on her way to Europe. She was convicted and sentenced to a
two-year jail term which she has served.
Getting her side of the sad experience was very difficult. It was
like engaging a two-year-old kindergarten pupil in a difficult
mathematical question. In this interview, Wunmi confessed that the
drug incident is her only regret in life.
“That was the bitter pill that would remain in my system for the rest
of my life, and it’s my only regret in life,” she tells The
Entertainer. Excerpts:
How I was arrested
It was on September 19, 2006. I was billed to travel to the United
Kingdom. So I got to the airport early enough to catch my plane. But
then, I was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the
Murtala International Airport in Lagos. I was arrested on drug related
offences. Initially, I thought I was in a dream, but it later turned out
to be a reality. It was a sad experience for me to remember because
that event almost cost me my life. I ended up serving a two-year-jail
term. Really, I lost so many things to that incident. And it did a lot
of damage to my image as an actress and even among my colleagues in
the industry. It’s my only regret in life that I had to get involved in
drugs. But I thank God that I came out of the mess after serving a
two-year jail term. I also thank God that though the situation I found
myself was that bad, the news of my drug offence wasn’t that of my
obituary. Truly, I have learnt my lessons the hard way.
Lessons learnt
I have said it earlier that I have learnt my lessons the hard way. I
learnt that nothing in life is permanent, that there are no permanent
friends and enemies. During my travails, I learnt lessons about the ups
and downs of life. For instance, a rich man today can become poor
tomorrow, and a poor man today can become rich tomorrow. Even, I learnt
my lessons about death. That, though life is good and worthy to live,
death remains the end of all souls. It’s the end, no matter who you are.
It was really, a sad story to tell, but I thank God I am still alive to
tell the story.
What I lost
I lost almost everything. For instance, I lost my privacy. I lost my
popularity that I have worked hard for, for about three decades. I lost
some of my close friends and my relationship with many people broke-up
as a result of the sad incident. Nobody would like to relate with an
ex-convict. But, honestly, some of them showed great concern and
understanding. They saw my problem as a phase in the course of my career
and life as well. They really gave me hope that time heals all wounds
and that eventually came to pass.
I wouldn’t want to mention names, but there were some of my
colleagues that despised me while so many others showed great
understanding. They showed me love and concern. It was God that really
intervened and strengthened me after I served my two-year jail term. So
many people treated my case as that of the prodigal son. The Association
of Nigeria Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) actually brought me back to
life. They rekindled my hope and my career was put back on track. I was
able to overcome the sad experience through the unflinching support of
everybody that stood by me during the trying period. It was terrible
indeed. But today, the rest is history.
How I got back on my feet
It was the grace of God. Even at a particular point in time, I became
confused. I didn’t know where to start from, but God really used some
people in the entertainment industry to put my career back on track.
Since then, I have been enjoying a breakthrough and I’m now back on my
feet.
The truth is that I didn’t allow my past experience to weigh me down.
I didn’t allow it to disturb my future. But I was able to cope during
that period through the grace of God. My humility also played a very
important role in getting me back on track.
It was difficult for me to cope, initially, but one virtue God gave
me is humility. And that helped me a lot. Even before the sad incident, I
was a very humble person. For me, popularity didn’t get to my head. I
don’t brag about anything, but I know quite well that my humility
actually helped me a lot during the trying period. I was humble after my
humiliating experience, and I felt real great remorse for what actually
happened to me. I regretted, and still regret it. In the end, I saw it
as my destiny and the sad experience actually humbled me in life.
A new life
With God, everything is possible. Since the sad incident, I have
started my life anew. I have repented from all my wrongdoings. I even
went to Saudi Arabia in 2011 to perform the Hajj and that afforded me
the opportunity of telling Almighty Allah all of my earlier trespasses. I
confessed my sins in His presence and I promised never to return to
such sins. Today, all that is now in the past. Today, everything is new
in my life, and I’m always grateful to Almighty Allah who actually
preserved my life during that trying period. Now, I’m hopeful that God
has answered my prayer because since the time I came back from Saudi
Arabia, everything, I mean my whole life, has become new and I’m back on
my feet with renewed hope and vigour.
Tank God 4 her
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