Fresh Facts Emerge On GBENGA ADEBOYE’s Death

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• Insiders Reveal A Lot 25 Years After

Do you remember the voice that could become 5 different people in one conversation? Before social media skits and viral comedy clips, there was Gbenga Adeboye — a man whose talent turned ordinary stories into unforgettable entertainment. Known as Funwontan, he wasn’t just a comedian, he was a broadcaster, storyteller, singer, and a master of voices. With nothing more than a microphone and his creativity, he brought entire worlds to life, making millions laugh while reflecting everyday Nigerian experiences.

His legacy reminds us that true talent never goes out of style. Long after his passing, many still replay his recordings, quote his characters, and celebrate the impact he made on Nigerian entertainment.

Some legends entertain for a season. Others become part of a people’s culture. Gbenga Adeboye was one of those legends.

There was a time when families gathered around the radio, waiting to hear a voice that could make an entire room burst into laughter. That voice belonged to Gbenga Adeboye. He didn’t need flashy stages or social media trends. His gift was simple but rare: he understood people. Through humor, storytelling, and unforgettable characters, he brought joy to countless homes across Nigeria.

Gbenga Adeboye used his talent to make people laugh, think, and connect. Long before digital content became a career path, he proved that creativity, consistency, and authenticity could open doors. His journey is a reminder that when you master your gift and serve your audience well, your impact can outlive you.

This year makes it 23 years he passed on but people still remember him.

His death at the time was so shocking many of fans cried and refused to believe the story for weeks.

Recently, 2 of his close allies revealed many fresh facts about his mysterious death and what many people don’t know about him on a youtube programme called “Alangere” by Kasnatysugar. Please enjoy the conversation with Mr. Banjo Adekunle.

For the purpose of this interview, pls tell us your name and your relationship with late Gbenga Adeboye.

My name is Banjo Adekunle, a very close pal of late Gbenga Adeboye when he was alive. I’m from Gbongan in Osun State. Gbenga Adeboye’s Mum was like my Dad younger sister. I’ve known Gbenga from when we were young but we lost contact until one day I met with one of his uncles, Baba Oyedele in Ojodu and he reconnected us, that was in 1985, and we were together till the day he died.

What were you doing in that 1985 before you met?

I was working with NEPA then, he was a broadcaster. I was living in Surulere then but I mostly spend my weekend with him at Ojodu. Sometimes I follow him to parties. That was how our friendship started. I was the one that encouraged him to secure his office at Ojodu, instead of using his home. Many people always troop to his house then, many broadcasters, and those that need his assistance.

Many people believe he was diabolic, how true is that?

Those that were close to him knows him. I was privileged to get close to him and I know him very well. Gbenga Adeboye loved his work to the core, to the point of death. He always finds every means to get better every day, always prepare for another day’s challenges. Anytime he’s writing his script, no one must enter his room; including his wife and his Dad that he loved most. It’s only Festus and I that can enter and we must have calculated the time he’s a bit free. He was a workaholic. He believed so much in prayer. So, it’s a big lie if anyone tells you he’s diabolic. He doesn’t even believe in juju. Muslim Clerics will come, they will pray for him, traditionalists will come they will pray for him, he never discriminates, yet didn’t believe too much in them.

Who were his close pals, probably colleagues, friends when he was alive, apart from Sikiru Alimi?

They were many, may God rest the soul of Ope Fajemileyin, he was the one who introduced him to radio and he respects him so much. They used to chat at programs before until one day he heard him on radio and was wondering how he got there. He paid him a visit and Opeyemi took him to the radio station, that was how he started “Oro Kabiti” Abbey Fagboro is very close to him too. Abbey is very reserved, then Abbey Fagboro was working at LTV8 as an Account Clerk. One day he told Gbenga Adeboye that hes been sacked and Gbenga congratulated him, and encouraged him to join his Funwontan movement. He gave him script to read Iroyin Kayeefi. That was how they became so close. Abbey was so brilliant and always blend with Funwontan on every program. Gbenga Adeboye was a man of the people. He loves to encourage talent. His relationship with late Kola Olawuyi was also divine, he assisted him to start his program on OGBC then and they were very cordial. The only problem of Gbenga is to always believe people’s hearsay. People will come to him to report others to him and he will take it up with that person without verifying. Baba Gboin is also one of his boys. Akeem Enudunjuwo was Gbenga’s 1st graduate. So many of them passed through him including Ifankaleluya and Fatai Bantale. Seun Agboola too. Toba Opaleye is very close to him too. Our office was another world then. Gani Adams, King Sunny Ade, Kollignton, Pasuma, Sefiu Alao and many other celebrities always come to the office, including Barrister before their fight. He was very close to Orlando Owoh, TB Joshua, Baba Olomi Now Now. He was very close to Tinubu too; he always anchors all the government programs then. They were very close; he assisted him when he went on trance for 6 hours.

Talking about the trance for 6hrs, we heard he was sick?

That was his first sickness and he was treated in Oluyoro Ibadan. He discharged himself from there, even when Doctors told him he was not okay yet but he insisted he had something to do and came back to Lagos. Later he felt sick again and he called Festus. Festus also called me and we rushed to his house, we met him rolling on the floor and quickly rushed him to a nearby hospital in Ojodu, where they did scan and told us his intestine is perforated, they showed us and urged us to start the operation immediately. We called Femi Adeboye and he insisted that we brought him back to the Government Hospital in Ibadan. They did the operation there and it was successful; he was getting better but they warned us not to give him anything to eat nor drink. Adeboye was begging us to give him water but we refused. But one day, I drove someone to the hospital to pay him a visit. Unknown to us when he was with him, Gbenga Adeboye requested for tea, and he made the tea for him, it wasn’t deliberate because he didn’t know anything about the instructions we were given. And after taking the tea, his whole system scattered again, they had to rush him back to the theatre. They did the operation twice and it was okay but his kidney had been stained and we needed a machine to clean the kidney. The hospital doesn’t have the equipment for that and we were referred to a hospital at Isaac John in GRA, Ikeja for life support. At that time, we don’t have any money again. He was the only one who can sign the cheque but he can’t lift his hands again. We started looking for money. They requested for blood, we all started donating our blood, including veteran Actor, Elesho. As we were doing that, we saw Tinubu’s PA, we told him and he called Tinubu, Immediately, Tinubu instructed them to fly him abroad but they couldn’t because of his temperature. They now referred us to St Nicholas where everything was later stable. On the day he died, Myself, his wife and late Alarinka went to the hospital, I saw him on the bed with swollen legs. We started chatting normally. He asked about the election, he asked after his first son, Segun that was staying with me. He requested for his phone; I told him it was with Festus. We were 2 in the room; myself and his wife. He told his wife to excuse us; that he wants to talk to me in private but the woman blatantly refused to step out and he started crying. I was pacifying him to stop crying, he asked if I didn’t see people standing Infront of him, shooting gun at him. I said I didn’t see anyone. He was crying profusely and when I couldn’t bear it again, I left the room, later we left the hospital. As I was driving towards Ifako, going to my house in Iju, I received a call from Tribune that they heard Gbenga Adeboye died few minutes ago, I didn’t take them seriously. On getting home Punch also called that they heard Gbenga died, upon hearing that I angrily switched off my phone; that these people are not serious, someone I just left in the hospital now. The following morning I switched off my phone and Immediately Festus confirmed the story.

SUNDAY ADIGUN

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