#SaveOJB: Celebs rally in support of ailing producer

By Victor Enengedi

In the last few weeks since OJB Jezreel’s kidney issues became public, celebs, media practitioners and fans have thronged in their tens to the Surulere, Lagos residence of the producer to show some form of support and empathy.

While many who came to visit the ailing producer try to cheer him up with chats, some have prayed with while some have not left without making a little donation to the ‘Save OJB Jezreel campaign which is aimed at helping the producer raise the N16 million sum for a kidney transplant.

‘The fact that you see that people actually love and care about you, that’s enough reason to want to live. But when you are alone, you think about, what if I die, and that’s it. So for these people, I’m ready to live’, OJB told NET.

Rapper, Vector who visited last week Monday took a few minutes to pray with OJB. He told NET reporters, ‘It is unfortunate that this is happening to a man who has given a lot to see others make something out of their careers. I know we will get through all of this’.

Head of the ‘SaveOJBJezreel’ committee, Muyiwa Osinuga popularly known as Nomoreloss had told NET ‘gradually a few people have been responding to the call for donations and we are grateful for those that have even found time to at least visit despite their busy schedules’.

Popular among the visiting celebs include, Mercy Johnson, DJ Jimmy JATT, Iyanya who donated N1 million, Yemi Alade, Baba Dee, Spydaman, Jaywon, Presh, DJ Stramborella, and a host of others.

Psquare, elder brother Jude Okoye and music engineer, Foster Zeeno also paid a courtesy visit to OJB’s residence last Thursday. OJB could not hold back tears when the stars gave him N5 million cheque donation.

Meanwhile, the committee has had to deal with a few challenges trying to correct speculation of fictitious donations which allegedly resulted in the suspension of earlier pledge of assistance by the Lagos State Government. The government had initially through its Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris pledged a free dialysis treatment plus assigning an ambulance to the cause of the ailing producer, but that may no longer be so as the government suspects the committee can now afford the services with the figures it has raised so far.

Reacting to the development, Nomoreloss told NET in a telephone conversation, ‘the false list earlier circulated had made the government officials become suspicious of our efforts and they seem to think that they need not get involved anymore since the required financial amount has already been reached. The most annoying part of it is that these celebs that have been erroneously mentioned to have donated these fictitious figures have refused to say something or at least correct the speculation, and that is why I had no choice but to publicly announce the names of the people that have given anything’.

On Friday night, June 28, the committee eventually announced the celebs that have made any form of donations and they include, Ruggedman, Don Jazzy, Vector, Psquare/Jude Okoye, Iyanya, Dele Momodu, Mercy Johnson, Julius Agwu, Mr. Kool and DJ Jimmy Jatt.

Coupled with the two bank accounts (UBA and Zenith) earlier opened to received donations the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, have also opened a Diamond Bank account for a special OJB Support Fund to also raise funds using its communication platforms to reach its members, friends and lovers of music everywhere to support the music producer.

There’s also a plan to host a fund raising concert on behalf of OJB. Although a few fans have in their neighbourhoods been hosting fund raisers, Nomoreloss say that only radio station, BEAT 99.9 FM have been mandated to organize and host a fund raising concert. ‘The only fund raising concert that we recognize and have authorized is that of BEAT FM’, the singer said.