Yinka Quadri recalls Ogogo’s final words to him on hospital bed

Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has recalled the final words his longtime friend and colleague, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, said to him when he visited him in the hospital before his death.

Yinka Quadri wrote in a tribute to Ogogo’s death on his Instagram page, recalled the final words the late actor said to him during his last visit to the hospital.

Quadri said he could not hold back his tears when he saw Ogogo lying on his sick bed, but the late actor reassured him that nothing bad would happen to him.

According to Quadri, Ogogo looked at him and said, ‘Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me.’

Quadri said he responded, ‘Yes, Amen.’

Reflecting on the moment in a tribute to his late friend, Quadri said he was grateful to God for the life Ogogo lived and that he did not have to go through a prolonged struggle that would have left his loved ones constantly seeking financial assistance for his care.

“I thank God for the beautiful life you lived, my bosom friend, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. I thank God that you did not have to go through a prolonged struggle that would have left us constantly seeking financial assistance to care for you. May the Almighty forgive your shortcomings,” he said.

Quadri said he would never forget the last time he saw Ogogo at the hospital, adding that although the actor reassured him, he knew deep down that his friend did not want to leave them so soon.

“I will never forget the last time I saw you at the hospital. You were lying on your sick bed, and when I saw you, I could not hold back my tears. You looked at me and said, ‘Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me.’ I responded, ‘Yes, Amen.’ Deep down, I know this was not your wish to leave us so soon,” he said.

The veteran actor also recalled how his friendship with Ogogo began in 1984 and grew over the years despite attempts by others to create a distance between them.

Quadri said neither of them ever went public to speak against the other whenever rumours surfaced that they were having problems.

“We have known each other since 1984 and with time, our friendship grew beyond ordinary. Many people tried to create a distance between us but God never allowed it. Neither of us ever went to the public to speak against the other. Whenever people heard rumours that we were fighting, they were only guessing. They never heard it from us,” he said.

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Quadri said Ogogo’s death had left a space that could not be filled, but he would continue to remember the years they spent together.

“Your departure has left a space that words cannot fill but I will forever cherish the memories we shared, the laughter, the journeys, the movie locations, the disagreements we overcame and the countless moments that made our friendship special. You may have left this world but you will never leave my heart,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ogogo died at about 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer. His death was announced by fellow veteran actor Jide Kosoko.

The actor was buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24, in accordance with Islamic rites. Tribune Online reported that Quadri broke down in tears during the burial as family members, friends and colleagues gathered to pay their final respects to the late actor.