Nollywood veteran Sidikat Odukanwi popularly known as Iyabo Oko has debunked the rumour that she is dead.
The 62-year-old made this known in an interview with Saturday Beats after several photos and videos of herself looking frail surfaced online.
“I am doing fine. I am not dead. I am very much alive. I won’t die (yet); it is not my portion,” she said.
One of her daughters Olamide who also spoke with Saturday Beats revealed that the actress was diagnosed with ischaemic stroke about five years ago but chose not to disclose her health issues to the public.
“What affected my mum was the fact that she was not going for her medical check-ups. I want Nigerians to help provide a car for her. What happened (to her) could have been prevented but because of the unavailability of a car, things took a different turn. She lives very far from the hospital. When she had her last ‘attack’, I had to get a motorcycle to convey her to the junction before I could get a cab to pick her. She was diagnosed with right ischaemia stroke some years back.
“The first health scare happened about five years ago but she did not want anyone to know about it. My elder siblings even flew her to China for better medical treatment and she got better. Sadly, she had two other ‘attacks’. But, she instructed us not to tell anyone about it, that she would be fine. But seven days ago, she had another attack that affected her limbs. However, she is getting better. She can now talk and respond to people. The doctors have assured us that with the help of physiotherapy, she would be able to use her limbs again.
“We spoke out because we now need financial help. Her children are doing their best but they can’t do everything. Actresses like Foluke Daramola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe and Biodun Okeowo have assisted financially in the past,” she said.
Foluke Daramola had made a public appeal on behalf of the actress soliciting funds.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Foluke disclosed that hat the children of the sick actress, family members and PARA foundation have done everything to restore her health. They even flew her abroad to get better medical attention but ned need financial assistance to help carry on.
“She has been ill for over 5yrs. Her family members, children and PARA Foundation has been doing everything for her to get back on her feet, now the illness has relapsed a whole lot, the children even flew her abroad some months back pls we want to support #saveiyabooko nothing is too small. God bless you,” she wrote.
Iyabo Oko started acting about two decades ago alongside Lere Paimo and other veterans of the theatre
In 2016, the City People Awards platform honoured her with a special recognition award for her remarkable contributions to the growth of the movie industry.
