Baba Suwe’s First Wife Speaks Out: Abandonment and Career Sabotage

In a rare and emotional revelation, Ayodele Omidina - the first wife of late Yoruba comic legend Babatunde "Baba Suwe" Omidina - has opened up about the painful reality of her broken marriage and the silent suffering she endured behind the cameras.

During a tell-all interview with actor Kunle Afod, Ayodele recounted how her once-thriving acting career came to a halt after her husband left her for fellow comedienne Omoladun. While the world laughed at Baba Suwe’s on-screen jokes, Ayodele says her own life was slowly falling apart.

“He never told me why. He just left me and moved on with her,” she revealed, her voice heavy with emotion.

According to Ayodele, their relationship began in 1979, when she was still a student. At the time, Baba Suwe was already building a name for himself in the Yoruba movie industry, and she joined him on that journey, appearing in several local productions. The couple became a known pair both on and off-screen, but things changed drastically years later.

“When he married Omoladun, that was the end of everything,” Ayodele said. “He stopped casting me in his films. He told others not to cast me either. He made me a housewife.”

The pain in her voice wasn’t just from being left behind in love - it was also from watching her dreams collapse. Ayodele claims Baba Suwe had a strong influence in the industry at the time, and with a few words, he allegedly turned producers and directors away from her. She went from being a visible actress to a woman confined to the sidelines.

Despite the deep personal hurt, Ayodele was quick to admit that Baba Suwe did not abandon their children. She confirmed that he provided for them financially and stayed in contact with them even after their separation.

Still, the emotional damage left by their split and the impact on her career was lasting.

“It was not just about marriage. He took my life and work from me,” she said.

Baba Suwe passed away in November 2021 after battling health issues for several years. Omoladun, the woman he later married, also died in 2009. Since his death, much has been said about his legacy in comedy and Yoruba film, but Ayodele’s recent interview adds a new, personal layer to the public image many Nigerians remember.

The timing of her revelation has stirred conversation online, with many fans expressing surprise at the behind-the-scenes turmoil. Others have sympathized with Ayodele, calling her brave for speaking her truth after decades of silence.

Ayodele’s story echoes a familiar narrative in the Nigerian entertainment industry - one where women are often sidelined after marriage or forced to choose between family and career. Her case, however, is more heartbreaking because she didn’t leave the industry willingly. She claims she was pushed out.

“I never asked to be a full-time housewife. That wasn’t my dream,” she said. “But once he turned his back on me, everyone else did too.”

Her words serve as a reminder of the power imbalance that can exist in relationships where one partner controls the spotlight. Baba Suwe was a household name, beloved for his humor and charm. But to Ayodele, he was also the man who turned her life upside down.

Though years have passed, the scars remain. Still, Ayodele says she’s found peace, especially in watching her children grow and find their own paths. She hopes that by sharing her story now, she can reclaim some of the identity she lost

“I just want people to know what happened. I was not lazy. I was not useless. I was silenced.”

Ayodele’s account might be only one side of a complex story, but it adds depth to the legacy of a man who made millions laugh, while one woman quietly cried behind the scenes.