AGN breaks silence, says ailing actor Mr Ibu wasn’t abandoned

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has reaffirmed their support for John Mr. Ibu Okafor, the actor currently battling with an undisclosed illness.

On Wednesday, the ace actor took to Instagram to plead for financial assistance.

The video of Ibu on the sickbed has, however, prompted calls on social media for the guild to assist one of its own.

Reacting in a statement shared via Instagram on Friday, Kate Henshaw, the director of communications for AGN, said the guild “has been supporting the ace actor financially” before his health issue was made public.

She added that “making public any form of assistance is not the guild’s modus operandi”.

“The guild has never abandoned any of its members in need, especially with health intervention, we have been at the forefront of providing necessary support even before his health condition was made public and this has been done with the full knowledge of his immediate family members,” the statement reads.

“We have had to task members privately to help in providing assistance towards the intervention and we do not make public any form of assistance it is not our modus operandi.

“Ordinarily, we would not have blinked an eye over this Mr Ibu issue but it has become imperative to make some clarifications as the integrity and welfare package is at stake.”

Paul Okoye, the singer, said a Nollywood legend like Ibu deserves better for “bringing joy to our screens all these years”.

He also called on his colleagues and fans to support the actor.