Unrestrained relief. That phrase summarizes the refreshing mood currently gripping the Nigerian entertainment scene with a special flavour of widespread delight. Leading up to this moment we had been faced with frantic efforts, disconcerted dashes, and despairing efforts to save a colleague from the ever present jaws of death. And now it seems death will not claim his man, yet. Kidney failure will not open the window for the grim ripper to sneak in and do its ghoulish business on veteran producer and musician, OJB Jezreel. He’s found his funds, and a lot more for muted celebrations, perhaps.

The Governor of Rivers State in one heartfelt move, is to fund the surgical procedure to remedy OJB’s failed kidneys and give him a new lease of life. For a man who 7 days ago was staring down the barrel of uncertain death, now has an abundance of riches at his disposal. God bless his heart. But one thing remains certain. It could have been worse. The money could not been raised. OJB might have died because of nothing other than:

Lies

The started from the ‘go’. When the first word leaked about OJB’s condition, the doubters came in. As usual. Did he have a condition? Did he need more money? Was it a hoax to extract money from the government or some cash-laden Non-governmental organization? These latent questions tainted public awareness and sympathy, delaying a downpour of aid. It wasn’t until concerted efforts by some gold-hearted celebrities, media henchmen, and charitable volunteers that these were overcome. But then more lies surfaced. The Lagos state government denied OJB financial aid due to incessant and confusing reports in the media about false massive donations from celebrities. In that world of wanton falsehood, D’banj made a donation that set him back a cool N7 million, stellar actress Mercy Johnson donated a fabricated N5 million,Wizkid came good with a fairytale N3 million. All these worked against the cause. But then it’s bygone, isn’t it?

Fraudsters

“Any way na way, man must chop.” That phrase encapsulates all that the stereotypic Nigerian stand for. A constant struggle to survive and an endless fight against the innate societal poverty of the times. This has daily exertion has created a class of individuals who find salvation, and their daily bread from a life of shady dealings and fraudulent practices. They lack honour or a live conscience. Even charity seems a world away from them. And so they had no consideration when they swooped into OJB’s sphere of help. There are reported cases of payment to dubious middlemen who vanished into the sunset without a trace to OJB. They made wealth off his affliction, and would have bled his sources dry, with a consequence that’s too grim to imagine. But that’s past now. Water under the bridge.

Needless Intrigue

We all love a good story. Something to give us respite from the banality of our daily gloomy existence and take our mind off our personal and collective troubles. If you doubt this, then cast your mind to how we milked all possible hilarity out of the “Oga at the Top” episode. What OJB’s tale lacked in the humour department, it made up for it in the sentimental angle. The media jumped onto it, and did miracles with it. Even Jesus will have been impressed. Creative stories tainted the truth, and the meaningful points were lost in a media cesspool of fabricated filth. All these worked against OJB, who had to personally suspend his battle for financial aid, to fight another in the media. This reached a climax when breathtaking Ghollywood actress, Juliet Ibrahim, made some seemingly helpful and frank statements which were interpreted out of contest, casting a shadow over the authenticity of OJB’s need. The sick man had to reply personally. Also many media personalities jumped onto the wagon to score PR points for themselves. Sending out messages stuffed with a thousand and one ulterior motives, and stemming from a selfish angle.  We’re past that now, but let’s not cast a blind eye to these vultures. Who knows who’s corpse they’ll hover around in the future.

Misguided Sentiments

How many times did we all get the feeling that we’re all being blatantly forced to contribute? Like it’s mandatory for we all to cast away our personal challenges and join the rank of OJB’s foot soldiers. Away from the cameras, without the risk of exposure, a glaring number of celebrities would admit that the sole reason why they failed to contribute their star’s mite was because of the repulsive campaign by some elements to morally blackmail them into giving their hard-earned money. Enough respect goes to the bold Juliet Ibrahim. She voiced the forbidden not-so-secret. Inasmuch as we all expect them to help a colleague, let’s not lose sight of the fact that these ‘celebrities’ are hustlers too. They aren’t cashcows with an inexhaustible fountain of money to draw from. They are struggling, working, sometimes slaving flesh and blood. Just like you and me. They just have the misfortune of being in the limelight. They were under siege by every facet of the media and general public. Woe betide whoever splurges his earned money on some deserved luxury.Wizkid did. The Starboy Boss got a new Porsche Panamera to aid his need for mobility, and wow! The floodgates of criticism, bile and public sentimental ire were opened. I bet others would have felt trapped, and handicapped by the travails of some distant colleague. In siege situations, you become paranoid, not a drop of the milk of human kindness will be squeezed out, and that ultimately worked against OJB’s cause.

Thank Heavens the government intervened. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechiof Rivers State, has saved our colleague, and in a wider sense, saved us all. We’ve come out of this saga, more learned and stronger. Let’s not waste this episode by failing to learn from our collective errors. The future I believe holds more misfortune, and against hope I say this. It’s sad, but true.

Much Appreciation to Don Jazzy, Nomoreloss, Mercy Johnson, Psquare, Ruggedman, Vector, and all those who worked behind the scenes to save a dying. You did an awesome job, and posterity never will forget that.