Nollywood actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod has sparked deep concern across social media after sharing a heartbreaking video of veteran Nigerian singer Innocent Onyebuchi, popularly known as Daddy Fresh, lying helplessly in a hospital bed.
Afod posted the emotional clip on his Facebook page on Wednesday, with a powerful caption that read: “Daddy Fresh must not die – one of Nigeria’s finest artists is in a terrible condition.” The video showed the once-vibrant musician, dressed in a blue sleeveless top, visibly weak and struggling to speak as Afod approached him.
At first, Daddy Fresh barely recognized Afod. With a faint voice, he said, “Oba,” to which Afod replied softly, “It’s Afod, Kunle Afod.” Shocked, the singer asked, “Na lie! How you take know say I dey here? You’re the last person I could think of. I was wondering if I was hallucinating again. Before now, there were times I looked for you but didn’t know how to get you. Afod, abi na you God send come?”
Speaking about his condition, Daddy Fresh revealed that he has been bedridden for over two and a half years, battling a sickness that has completely drained his finances. Fans across Nigeria have since flooded social media with prayers and calls for help, urging the entertainment industry and kind-hearted Nigerians to rally around the veteran.
“I started hallucinating, seeing people, those I know and those I don’t. I talk directly to them, but other people no dey see them. This one don too much o.
“My kidney, my liver, neuropathy. Eyes, two of them get issues, I don operate on this one, e no dey see again. I no dey see you.
“Now, I need blood transfusion. I need to buy some pints of blood. They said they need that one immeidiately, like two or three packs of blood because my blood dey very low, 25%.
“If I stand up here now, I go fall, except somebody hold me. See my face, my knees, wounds because of falling, like a child that is learning how to walk,” he added, revealing the severity of his health challenge.
“Madam? Madam ke? Them don waka their waka o. I have a few days in my house because of the rent. I have to move on to where I don’t know. Them don give me quit notice. Shebi na who dey okay go know where he go sell one or two things to use pay but I no sabi do am but I wan close eye sell, even if na my television,” he said.
Daddy Fresh further expressed his belief that his illness is not ordinary, hinting at unseen adversaries. “They just want to kill themselves, not me. The enemies are waiting to hear how far. All the while that I haven’t cried out to the public, they are confused, thinking if what they did has not worked.”
Despite his ordeal, he said Afod’s unexpected visit brought hope: “For me to see people wey I no expect to see like you, e don happen.”
After giving the musician some money, Afod promised to return in a few days and made a public appeal for support.
“This is Daddy Fresh. If you know him. You will know what I am talking about. Very handsome. Lovely voice. This man was a fantastic music artist. He has been down with sickness for over three years. I just heard about it and I decided to go see him in the hospital.
“He said a lot of things and he was suspecting different kinds of people and areas that the sickness may have erupted from, but I just pray he recovers and gets well soon. This is not someone we need to forget.
“I am here to solicit and beg the world, beg Nigeria as a whole, and beg the entertainment industry as a whole. Daddy Fresh is not a name that we can say we cannot remember in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
“We need your support. Nigerians, we need your support. Entertainers, the music industry, I am calling you people out. Please. Let’s keep him alive. I met him in a very, very bad state,” he said.
Vanguard had reported in February 2024 that Daddy Fresh had been down with a partial stroke for almost 30 months at the time.
“Each time an unexpected call or message comes through my phone, there’s this relief I get knowing that someone out there remembers me and wishes me well.
”Just ‘hello, how are you doing?’ goes a long way to cushion the effect of deep and severe pain. I pray and trust God that this phase will come and go….and I will bounce back better,” he told Vanguard then.
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Let’s come together to support this legend who gave us timeless music. He truly deserves another chance at life!
