FOREAL SPECIAL REPORT: OJB needs N16m to stay alive

OJB Jezreel. Photo: amebortalk

His close friends may have lied to this newspaper two weeks ago, but FOREAL has since confirmed that music producer, songwriter and artiste, Babatunde Okungbowa popularly known as OJB Jezreel is seriously down with a kidney failure and in dire need of about $100,000 (N16 million) to undergo a transplant.

The respected hitmaker who has helped giants like 2face Idibia, Paul Play, D’Banj, Wizkid, Sir Shina Peters and Omotola create career-defining cuts needs to undergo a surgical procedure if he is to survive.

Initially, when FOREAL had investigated the news of his failing health condition, the producer’s friends and team denied the report claiming that the producer was fine and not in any kind of troubling health condition.

A source told us the producer had been suffering from the ailment and been going for treatment on a low key. ‘You know Jigga (OJB) doesn’t like this kind of publicity, so we just tried to keep it on a low key and do the best we could do to solve the problem’.

When FOREAL visited his Surulere, Lagos residence on Friday, June 21, 2013, the producer who was looking frail, having lost some weight already didn’t want to talk much. He did eventually say he has faith in God to heal him. ‘I believe that God will see me through this. We thought we could do it on our own and so we were doing it silently, but now it is obvious that we need help’.

‘I understand that people are concerned, but it’s just that some media have been carrying different reports. One even said that we have found a donor, and another said that I’m in LUTH, and am wondering where they got their report from’, OJB said.

FOREAL investigations reveal that a lot of money has already been sunk on regular dialysis and check-ups. A family source tells us the family has been spending an average of about N50,000 on dialysis each week in the last few months.

The producers first wife, simply known as Mama J, who has three kids for the producer, also told our reporter that he has been getting some treatment at an undisclosed private hospital here in Lagos. ‘Under normal condition, he should be in the hospital now, but he hasn’t been reacting well to the therapy and so we have to weigh other alternatives, that’s why he is at home now’, she said.

A few concerned friends have already taken up the cause to help save the life of the renowned producer by creating an awareness campaign on social media and also using the means to solicit for assistance from well-meaning Nigerians.

Perhaps the most vocal of his friends, Nomoreloss, singer and show promoter, has been firing up support on twitter for the ‘SaveOJBJezreel’ crusade. In the last few days, Nomoreloss has been tweeting about OJB’s ailment and the need to raise the said N16 million to save his life. ‘As much as OJB is against my publicizing the issues, I feel that I owe myself and my friend the right to find every possible means to save his life, and that is what I’m doing’.

‘He has been treating himself for a long time without assistance. Corporate organisatons were even asked for help and they did nothing’, Nomoreloss added.

An inside source told FOREAL that some colleagues had for long been aware of his predicament but they have pretended not to be in the know. ‘If they say they didn’t know, they will be lying. A few weeks ago OJB fainted in the studio while recording a popular artiste that I don’t want to mention his name. He knows what’s up and since then, I don’t think he has asked how he could be of help’, the source said.

It would be interesting to note that, Wizkid’s first recording way before he ever came in contact with Banky W and EME, was done in OJB’s studio. Then under the name, Lil’ Prinz, an 11-year old Wizkid recorded a 7-track album produced by OJB earning a remarkable deal of encouragement and recognition from family and his church.

‘With the many friends and protégés that OJB has in the industry, it is quite disheartening and shocking to find out that no group of persons could have taken it upon themselves to cover the bill’, one observer noted.

As at the time when our reporter visited the producer’s residence, officials of Zenith Bank were finishing transactons with OJB in order to set up another account where people abroad can direct their donations for the cause. ‘We as a corporate body are touched by OJB’s plight considering the immense impact that he has had in the music industry and so we will be activating the account as an alternative for people abroad send in their donations. By Monday morning the account will be up and running and we will announce it to the public’, a Zenith official said.

OJB’s manager, Taiye Aliu told our reporter that a few well-meaning Nigerians have begun to respond to the call. ‘Since the news became public knowledge, a few people have started sending in their donations to the UBA account, and we are very grateful to them. Early supporters, we’re told, include close friend Ruggedman and colleague Don Jazzy who reportedly gave N1m.

Hopefully by Monday (June 24, 2013), we shall be releasing a press statement to update Nigerians on the progress so far and also to let people in diaspora know the other account that they can forward their donations to’, Aliu said.

Once signed to Kennis Music, where he released some of his hits, the 46 year old songwriter, now relies on the support of Nigerians to help him raise the funds to undergo a transplant. To support, OJB Jezreel, donations can be made to his account details below. BABATUNDE OKUNGBOWA, UBA: 1015075120