To set the record straight, the actor, who was brought in on New Year’s Eve and admitted to the intensive care unit.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The National Hospital, Abuja, has denied rumours that it referred popular actor, Zack Orji, to a private hospital for a brain surgery.
Its spokesperson, Tayo Haastrup, explained in a press statement on Thursday that the actor was stabilised at the facility but was moved from the hospital by his relatives while preparation was ongoing for his surgery.
The 64-year-old actor reportedly slumped on New Year’s eve and was admitted to the facility’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The statement reads in part: “To set the record straight, the actor, who was brought in on New Year’s Eve and admitted to the intensive care unit, was stabilised by National Hospital Abuja and moved to the ENT ward.
“Later in the day, he was transferred to the orthopaedic ward, where our surgeons began preparing him for surgery.
“However, the relatives of the patient signed a form “Leaving Against Medical Advice” on 1 January 2024. This thwarted all preparations for his surgery.
“Nevertheless, the Management of National Hospital Abuja wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has urged Nigerians to pray for speedy recovery of the actor.
She said this after her visit to him at the private hospital.
In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, revealed that the actor underwent brain surgery on 1 January 2024, while praying that “God will heal him, and he will be well.”
She added, ”We will do all we can to support him. We solicit the collective prayers of Nigerians because he is like a part of our families.
“We have watched him entertain us, and we see him as a national treasure. So the best we can do is to ensure that we support him to have the best treatment.
“We will reach out to other well-meaning Nigerians to support Zack Orji through prayers and other means available to ensure that he survives this ailment.
“This is not only about the ministry which I am representing. You know that Zack Orji has been in the industry for decades. This is a man who has given his time and effort to entertain Nigerians.”
She assured that the Tinubu administration will give him ”all the necessary support through prayers and otherwise to ensure that we save his life.
“This will also propel the administration to look at the welfare of artistes and others in the industry who have not only given their time and energy but people like Zack Orji who have become national treasures.”