Mr Ibu’s family also said he is not diabetic but added that “clotting of the blood” led to the amputation of his leg
By Kehinde Okeowo
The family of ailing Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has corrected the impression that the comic thespian has lost both legs to amputation.
Some media outlets had earlier reported that the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr Emeka Rollas recently revealed that Mr Ibu, had another leg amputation and that he is barely able to talk.
Speaking with newsmen, Rollas said: “We are resigning to fate concerning the two actors. As I speak with you, Mr Ibu hardly talks again and he has undergone another leg surgery.”
After the news made the rounds, fans of the veteran actor who felt he lost both legs during the surgery, trooped to various social media platforms to express sadness over the development.
ALSO READ: Mr Ibu undergoes another leg surgery as his situation worsens, speech impaired
Reacting to the concerns of these netizens via a post shared on the actor’s Instagram page on Saturday, his family clarified that the second amputation was carried out on the same leg that was earlier amputated because “the first amputation didn’t completely correct his health predicament.”
The family went on to say that Mr Ibu is not diabetic but “had constant clotting of the blood in his leg [diseased blood vessels] and other health challenges posing risk to his life, therefore the need for the amputation.”
The post further clarified that the actor hasn’t been flown abroad for advanced treatment because doctors have tagged him as “not fit to fly” for now.
They, however, said the legendary comic star was recuperating, urging his “friends, colleagues, fans and Nigerians at large to keep him in their prayers and peddle down on unconfirmed reports concerning our dad’s health.”