Veteran nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, who is currently bedridden on Wednesday celebrated his 62nd birthday surrounded by his loved ones who were seen singing birthday songs to him
In the video, which has since gone viral Mr Ibu, flanked by his wife and daughter solicited financial help and prayers from Nigerians as he stands the risk of having his leg amputated
He said“ As I speak to you, I am still lying down in the hospital; the medical director of this hospital said that the best solution is that, in case his new idea didn’t work, the best idea is to cut off my leg.
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Lamenting Mr Ibu said, “Just see me, if they cut off my leg, where do I go from here? Please pray for me, talk to God Almighty, and I don’t want my legs to be cut off. Thank you so much. God bless you.”
His daughter Jasmine Okafor, in a post on Instagram, confirmed that her father has been in the health facility for two weeks.
Pleading for help, she said, “Personally, I’ve been sorting out the bills, thinking it’s something I can do alone. Mummy has been in the hospital; the kids are at home. We thought we could sort it out on our own and he will be fine but he’s not getting better. We are at one of the best private hospitals in Lagos.
“This is not the first time Daddy has been down. He had been down, up, down, back on his feet again. So if he’s not getting better in one of the best private hospitals in Lagos, I think we need people that will come together, if possible fly him abroad so that he can get better treatment. As a father, he has been fighting, trying to be strong. He wants to live.
“Personally, I’m exhausted. This is the bill they just gave us from the hospital. I am financially drained. I can’t do it alone. I need help.”
Responding, some notable figures in the Nigeria music industry have answered his call for help. They are David Adeleke popularly referred to as Davido, The PSquare and The social media influencer Tunde Ednut.
They have agreed to take care of Mr Ibu’s medication bills including flying him abroad for treatment if the need arises
This is not the first time the actor has fallen sick. In March 2022, Mr Ibu was hospitalised at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre Abuja.
He said at that time that he fell ill after he was poisoned twice by his ‘village people’ during one of his numerous trips to his hometown in Nkanu West, Enugu State.
Also, in 2020, Mr Ibu claimed his relatives paid his domestic staff to poison him because of his successful career.
In an interview with Nigezitv, Mr Ibu recounted how he was kidnapped and poisoned at an event in Nnewi. He also noted that his protruding stomach was a result of the poison.
Mr Ibu is one of Nigeria’s most talented comic characters who made his name as a comedian whose acting is often characterised by stupidity.
The Enugu-born actor has featured in more than 200 Nollywood movies.
They include Mr Ibu (2004), Mr Ibu and His Son, Coffin Producers, Husband Suppliers, International Players, Mr Ibu in London (2004), Police Recruit (2003), 9 Wives (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Keziah (2007).
