Esiri, also a permanent face in Village Headmaster alongside Dejumo,died as a result of complications from diabetes.
Brought on set of the drama in the 80s by Dejumo, the Oloja of Oja character said Esiri was a caring father and a thorough professional who suffered no fools.
“Another distinguished and great actor has gone. It is a tragedy indeed.
“As the producer and director of the new Village Headmaster in 1984, I had the honour to cast Justus in the lead role of Village Headmaster and he performed that role with the best form of artistry and professionalism for five years. Thereafter, he displayed his impressive versatility in countless films and home videos.
“His achievements in the industry notwithstanding, his passing on at this crucial time of the formalisation of the entertainment industry makes it very regretful”, Dejumo said.
He prayed that God should grant the family courage to be able to move on in life.
Also, Odule, who said he received the shocking news while on set during the week, praised Esiri for his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s movie industry.
“A lot of us were shocked when we heard the news. It was unexpected and rather sad.
“He has done so much for this industry. He was a fine actor and an accommodating elder. I wish the family and his loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,” Odule added.
Yinka Quadri has also described the death of Esiri as a big loss.
Quadri, on Thursday, said he was devastated by his death, saying that he met the actor few weeks ago, but never knew he was seeing him for the last time.
“His exit was a painful one, but there is nothing man can do to stop it. He was a great actor whose fatherly role would be sorely missed’’, he said.
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