By Akinwale Kasali
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has commiserated with Nigeria’s Film Industry, Nollywood, over the demise of veteran actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu. Ibu passed on at the Evercare Hospital, allegedly, of cardiac arrest.
Musawa, in a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, described Ibu’s passing as “one death, too many”.
She said she was yet to come to terms with the sudden demise of Quadri Oyebamiji popularly known as Sisi Quadri before Mr Ibu passed on too, less than 24 after Quadri.
The statement reads: “I’m deeply shocked at too many deaths occurring at the same time. Mr Ibu was a household name who made families happy throughout his acting career.
“His death at this time is very unfortunate and a sad one for us all in the entertainment industry.
“We will sorely miss him. May his soul est in peace.”
It would be recalled that the right leg of Mr Ibu was amputated. It was former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who settled his hospital bills after he sought for help from his colleagues and well meaning Nigerians.
After the first amputation, the same leg was amputated more for quicker recovery.
Sadly, he passed on Saturday, March 2, 2024, after it was assumed he had beaten the odds.
A graduate of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, he was aged 62 at the time of his death.
