I GO SAVE: I’m ready for marriage now

By TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE

The first thing that strikes you when you meet comedian, I Go Save (Otaghware Otas Onodiayeke), is his dapper looks. Dressed in a designer sky blue coloured blazer with matching blue pants and an impeccable white shirt, his side buds are neatly trimmed and success it would seem is oozing out of his every pour as his carriage spells confidence. From humble beginnings in Warri, Delta State, I Go Save has risen to be one of the frontline comedians from Nigeria alongside Gandoki, I Go Dye and Akpororo to mention a few.

And with over 18 years experience in the business of making people crack up with laughter, I Go Save has surely come a long way. And when he speaks, it is with the confidence of a Wafarian who knows his onions. He reveals that after all the hopping and running around, he’s no longer on the market as he’s set to get hooked for good! “Yes I am in a relationship right now but I can’t talk about my lover because I don’t want to mention her name in the media.

However I can tell you that I love her so much; we’re both crazy over each other and that means that presently I’m not searching. I have found somebody I love so very much,” I Go Save declared in an exclusive chat with The Entertainer in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, during the Abuja edition of Julius Agwu’s Crack Ya Ribs comedy show, held at the Transcorp Hilton on October 1.

 

So, when is he getting married?

The rib cracker’s features split in a grin, displaying a perfect set of white teeth as he responds: “Very very soon, in fact, sooner than you could imagine,” he says adding that the reason why he fell for his better half is because she’s God fearing, brilliant, bold, has a great sense of humour, is very natural and is a great communicator.”

 

In the beginning

Born to a family of eight kids, I Go Save’s journey into comedy began when he was a student of Hussey College, Warri, Delta State. He revealed that as early as his secondary school days, he was already involved in comedy as a mock news caster for his school adding that both his mum and dad are a very humorous pair so he definitely inherited the gift of comedy from the both of them.

Recounting how he came into comedy, he says the gift of making people crack up with laughter has always been down his alley: “I don’t really remember how I started. I had a football team those days and I was also the commentator of the team. People found me very funny but I started making money from comedy in the mid 1990s.“I never knew I could make money from comedy.” I Go Save confesses, “I Go Dye and I were doing mock news on Delta TV with Terry Martins and Tunde Omonode and we were all over Warri. As comedy metamorphosed into stand up comedy, we also joined the trend because if you don’t go with the trend you just fizzle out.”

 

Challenges

Today he bestrides the comedy scene like a colossus smiling to the bank on a regular basis. However, back in the day when he dabbled into comedy as a career path, his parents, especially his dad kicked against it because his father believed he would end up a poor man. He always insisted that only a sound Western education could deliver his son from poverty and a bleak future.

“They never liked it especially my dad,” recalls I Go Save, “my dad is one man that loves education so much. He actually thought comedy was going to disrupt my education which was his sure free antidote to poverty. He wanted me to study a professional course like Medicine, Law and Accountancy.

 

Turning point

I Go Save stuck to his guns and before long, the cool cash was rolling in. However, the turning point came for his father when he got admission to study at Auchi Polytechnic. Recalling those years, I Go Save continues: “When I got admission to Auchi Polytechnic, he just let me be myself because I was already making money for myself and paying academic bills not just for myself but also my younger ones so my dad just allowed me be. After I graduated there were no jobs but thank God I was already an entrepreneur.”

After graduation in 2003, I Go Save had his national call of duty in Lagos in 2005 and ever since he has never looked back. Today he stands tall among Nigeria’s galaxy of comedians.

 

Giving back

18 years after, I Go Save says he’s made a fortune from comedy and is happily empowering youths through his talent hunt programme designed to discover and promote  fresh talent both in music and comedy. “We are giving back verbally, socially and financially and we are trying our best. We are also helping other people develop their talent by making them know that they can do something on their own and become entrepreneurs rather than wait for jobs that may never come. “I have my show where I discover five up-and-coming comedians and five up-and coming-musicians; it’s my own way of empowering youths. We are also speaking and talking and our leaders are listening and hearing but they are not acting but we are watching,” he adds on a humorous note.

 

Secret to success

With so many years of experience under his belt, what are his success tips for youngsters who want to take to comedy? “Hard work, prayers, humility and love your neighbour as yourself and never hesitate to show love to those that need it. Entertainment goes with everything good; money, women and booze but you must learn how to interpret and relate with these things. Most times, artistes miss-interpret them and end up frustrated!”

 

Warri, Nigerian capital of comedy

“Warri is the home of comedy,” declares I Go save who reveals that he was bread and buttered in Warri. Picking his words carefully like a lecturer lecturing his student, the rib cracker says: “Everyone in Warri is a comedian one way or another. Even the old mamas and papas are not left out and it’s because of the uniqueness of Warri Pidgin English. Before we say anything people are already laughing because our Pidgin English is unique. “Little wonder most comedians today are from Warri. Warri has given birth to a whole generation of comedians like Alibaba, I Go Dye, Gandoki and Akoproro to mention a few. Today even comedians that are not from Warri behave and talk like Warri people; that shows how much infectious our culture is,” he adds laughing and beaming with smiles. Could we say that Warri is the capital of Nigerian comedy? “Exactly, to a great extent I will say yes to that,” he quips.

 

Dreams

“My brother you know that in this country if you have dreams, the country will kill your dreams. We are not dreaming but just working hard putting one or two things together to double our Naira,” he says as we both share a laugh. I Go save has a word for his fans that have supported him these last 18 years. He says he is sincerely grateful for their support for without them, he wouldn’t be here today: “I love you; keep praying for me and keep supporting what we do and we won’t let you down. Thanks for the love and appreciation. Thanks for paying your hard earned money to watch me. And for those who always beg for tickets, we also appreciate you because we believe that one day you will buy as well. God bless you all,” he concludes on a humouorous note.

The post I GO SAVE: I’m ready for marriage now appeared first on The Sun News.

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