James Iroha, 'Giringory' Of New Masquerade Dies At 70

Famous comedian, broadcaster, writer and producer of New Masquerade, one of Nigeria’s most popular Television Comedy Series, Mr. James Iroha, known to his numerous fans as Giringory Akabuogu, is dead. He died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday, February 28, 2012) in Item, Bende Local Government Area, Abia State. He was 70.  

Giringory At 70 (January 2012 picture)

News of his death was confirmed yesterday to Daily SUN by the traditional ruler of Amaokwe Item, Eze Clement Offiah Chukwu, the Ngidimoah 1 of Amaokwe Item. 

“Yes, I can confirm that Giringory died this morning at home. His first son called me to inform me after which he deposited his fathers’ remains in the mortuary. You know he [belonged to] my age grade. It is a very painful and sad development,” Eze Chukwu said.    

Giringory's son, Uche, however, told PUNCH yesterday evening that his father had died in a private hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Hale And Hearty Here

Although widely admired and celebrated because of his acting prowess,  Giringory was, before his death in abject poverty. Only last month, he granted an interview to Saturday SUN where he lamented his very unfortunate condition. 

Reacting to his death in Lagos today, a public affairs analyst frowned at the “unpardonable hypocrisy” of many Nigerians and the government that had abandoned Giringory at a time he needed them most, but who would fill newspaper pages tomorrow with massive eulogies which he would neither be around to read nor be in a position to appreciate.  

“In this country, they use you when you are most productive. They would fall at your feet praises and commendation. But when you are past your prime, they dump you like a bad habit. No nation ever makes progress like this. In fact what such attitude does is that it kills patriotism,” he lamented.        

Giringory was one of the pioneer students of the Theatre Arts Department, University of Ibadan.
In an interview some time ago, he said: "I joined Theatre Arts in 1966 to make sure that people got entertained with what my mother was doing unknowingly. The passion to act was there, so I could not imagine myself doing something else. Even when I was doing a big administrative job in an office."

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