Nollywood actors, Charles Awurum and Victor Osuagwu have shared their experiences working with late actor, John Okafor better known as Mr Ibu.
In a video posted to their Instagram pages, Charles revealed that despite coming into the industry before Mr Ibu, he looked up to him as he was someone who had so much to offer.
Victor Osuagwu described the deceased as someone who was a vessel of comedy and had lots of comic characters loaded in him. According to the two actors, they had to postpone their shoot in Ghana because Mr Ibu wasn’t someone they could ignore.
However, they believe God knows best as He is the one who giveth and taketh. Their only concern is for the family he left behind, especially his wife and young kids who need prayers and support.
“Yesterday the Nollywood Industry was thrown into mourning. It was a very huge shock to lose one of us, who was a brother, colleague, and of course, one of the giants in the comedy world. That man is full of life.
Yesterday wasn’t a good day at all. The news was a very bad one cause immediately we heard it, we were weak. We couldn’t shoot because we were at a location in Ghana. That was the end of shooting for that day and the next day of shooting we had to excuse ourselves because there was no way our brother would go like that and we would be on set shooting.
Talking about Ibu, people don’t know this man, he was a trailer, a Vessel of comedy, a vessel loaded with comic characters. He touched life.
I came into the industry before Ibu, but as time went on I started looking up to him. He had so much to offer, that we can feel we really lost somebody.
But God knows everything cause he is the one that giveth and taketh. A lot of people will say that during his cause of enterprise, Mr Ibu brought laughter, happiness, and healing to so many homes.
Mr Ibu is a great man, he is somebody you would love to be with anytime. He is somebody you will learn so much from. But it has happened and we pray for him. I wish everybody who contributed financially to aiding his healing, will contribute in prayers for him and his family, especially his wife and children”.
Kemi Filani reported on Saturday evening that the veteran actor, who has been battling for his life for months, had kicked the bucket. The news was made known by a healthcare worker, where the actor was said to have kicked his last bucket.
The president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas while confirming his death revealed that he died of Cardiac Arrest.
His death threw the industry into mourning as he was the beloved of many and had made our childhood memorable. The likes of Nkem Owoh-Osuofia, Patience Ozokwo, Destiny Etiko, Mike Ezurounye, Chizzy Alichi, Zubby Michael, Helen Paul, Uche Elendu, and others took to their Instagram pages to mourn him.
Recall that in October, last year, Mr Ibu had cried out to the public for help as he battled an ailment that could get him amputated. Music sensations Davido and P-Square, along with the popular personality Tunde Ednut, and former senate president, Bukola Saraki had come to his aide.
The actor underwent 7 surgeries which were all successful, and had his leg amputated twice. At some point, his health deteriorated and the actor lost his voice in the process. However, in January, the veteran was discharged from the hospital to the excitement of his fans and lovers, and his junior colleague, Ken Erics paid him a visit at his home.
