Veteran actor Pete Edochie has disclosed that walking has become difficult for him and that he suffers recurrent swelling in various parts of his body, comments made during a visit to ailing Ghanaian colleague Emmanuel Armah.
Edochie made the remarks on Thursday while in Accra to see Armah, who has been battling illness for nearly 11 years. A video of the emotional encounter has circulated online.
“Sitting down here, I’m not very well myself. Walking is a problem for me now, but I still have hope that I will recover myself,” Edochie said. “Sometimes I get up, and parts of my body are swollen. After some time, it goes down again. Like my hand is swollen now.”
The Nollywood star also spoke of his wish not to become a burden on those around him. “I just keep asking God, ‘You are the author of life. Whenever you feel it’s time for me to go, just take me, don’t let me bother the people who are around me. Just take me,’” he said.
Edochie prayed for Armah’s recovery and offered financial assistance toward his care. “It is my belief that you will recover one day,” he told the Ghanaian actor.
Armah’s wife, Stella Amina Armah, has said her husband’s health problems began while he was working in the United States, where he developed high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels without realising it. He is currently receiving physiotherapy and daily massages.
The visit reportedly left Edochie visibly moved as he offered support to his long-time colleague.
