President, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, says the association never abandoned its member, Ernest Asuzu, who has been down with stroke since 2014.
Mr Rollas told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the Guild’s board was making efforts for another ‘spiritual rehabilitation’ for Asuzu.
He said that the body had set up a celebrity forum to encourage members to send money to Asuzu directly via his Access Bank account.
According to him, the Guild had in the past sent Asuzu for ‘spiritual rehabilitation’.
“We appreciate all the concerns and show of love from members and the public over Asuzu’s plight, but I need to point out here that AGN has never abandoned him,” he said.
“He went for rehabilitation at the Mercy Land Christ Deliverance Ministry, Warri, Delta, by Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, a spiritual patron of our guild. He spent some months and recovered.”
Rollas added that the cleric gave Asuzu gifts including money and a car after the rehabilitation to further support him.
He also said that nothing was heard from Asuzu after he left Warri and that AGN was not notified of his relapse.
“We totally frown at this erroneous and misdirected act because it is unimaginable to think or believe that we did not play a role to an actor who has fallen due to hard times.
“The point I am driving at here is that it is unfair to blame an entire industry for the unfortunate turnaround of one of its own,” he said.
Asuzu, who started his acting career in the 90s, starred in Royal War, Burning Desire, Never End, Broads Light, Last Wedding, Ugonna, Labista, Ogidan among others.
