By Hazeez Balogun
The death of OJB Jezreel did not come as a shock to me. I was not only expecting his death, I was actually shocked he could live that long. The man was a fighter, and many in his condition would have expired long before now.
I was not wishing death on him but I was well aware of his situation and I knew he was living on borrowed time. He told me that himself. Shortly after returning from India when he had a kidney transplant, he had told a few close friends that his body was rejecting the kidney. It would cost even much more to have another operation talk less of the wait to get a donor. But the fighter fought on till God finally said it was time.
It was a thing of joy to also see how the industry he belonged to sang praises of his time on earth. OJB was one of those who created the modern day Nigerian music industry. In the early 2010s, when you hear 10 hit songs be sure OJB had a hand in three of them. And many of the young music producers you see today were his ‘boys’.
It is however sad that when he needed the industry most, he is been abandoned and laid to public ridicule. In death they have made him face what he dreaded most when he was alive.
Before his operation in 2013, he refused to tell anyone about his illness. We knew there was something wrong, but no one could say what it was. He kept mum as he did not want to be another charity case like many who fall ill in the entertainment industry become. He would rather go the Seppuku way like a Japanese warrior than be paraded over social media begging for money.
Alas! my surprise this morning when I started getting BBM and Whatsapp messages all with one message:
“Hello family and friends. I am sure we all have heard of the passing of the very talented OJB JEZREEL on high. Ok. An account has been open for donations towards giving him a befitting burial and whatever is left handed to his immediate family. Please, whatever the Lord lays on your heart to give is neither too big nor small. God bless and multiply every seed sown, amen.
Thirty One Nation (donation account) Heritage bank: Acct No: 5100235470”
For real??? I was almost drawn to tears when I read this. Has it come to this? Is it this bad now? Why else do you call yourselves colleagues when you cannot cover his back while he is gone? I am not saying they should feed his family or anything, but how much really will a funeral cost? Is it so much that all these fake mourners calling themselves colleagues can’t handle?
My friend just lost his dad some months ago. He was a surgeon at Igbodi, and I saw how surgeons gathered together to give the man a befitting burial. They took it as their duty. His family did not spend a kobo. I also remember my grand-mother who was a pepper seller in Sagamu in Ogun State, the pepper sellers association picked a huge chunk of the bill when it came to her burial.
That is what colleagues do, it could be your turn tomorrow.
Ok, let’s say the music industry is so broke and they cannot afford a burial for OJB, cant they just let the man rest in peace? Why do they have to go public asking for money to bury him?
The OJB I know would rather be thrown in the deep blue sea than consent for money to be begged so that he could be buried. This is an insult to the man’s memory. An anti-climax to a life well spent.
Please I beg all those sending this broadcast, super star or not, to stop it.
OJB deserves more.
Hazeez Balogun
08032420176
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