The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has donated the sum of N2m towards the medical treatment of ailing Nollywood Yoruba actor, Mr. Olukayode Olugbenga Odumosu popularly known as Pa Kasumu.
Making the donation on behalf of the governor at Mushin, the Lagos state residence of the actor, Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa said that the governor heard about Pa Kasumu’s illness on the television few days back and was deeply worried about his health condition.
“There was no formal request for help from the Governor of Ogun state. Like everybody else, we saw the news that the actor is indisposed on television and he instructed us to go and find out the exact state of health of Pa Kasumu. It was at that time that somebody said he’s from Ogun state. He didn’t even realize that he is one of us”, the SSG said.
The Governor noted that Pa Kasumu typifies the large pool of successful indigenes of the state that have served the nation in their various areas of endeavour and expertise and must not be left to suffer in his trying period.
“Wherever and whenever we see anybody who is one of us, particularly people like Pa Kasunmu, who has made their marks and helped to put Nigeria and Ogun state on the map, we are more than happy to identify with them and assist them”, the governor added.
Governor Amosun also called on colleagues, family members and well-wishers of Pa Kasumu to rally round him for support, saying more than anything else, he needs to be shown love at this particular time.
Speaking, the Co-ordinator of the “Save Pa Kasumu initiative”, Mrs Olajide Idowu, while thanking Governor Amosun for the gesture, noted that the donation was unprecedented as no state government, group or individual have made such a singular donation to the course of saving the life of the ailing actor.
“I was sceptical when the Ogun state government said they were going to assist him and the reason is simply that we have had a lot of empty promises from various quarters in the past. But when the SSG called me that they would bring the cheque I was so happy. This morning when he said he was on his way, I said Ogun state means business. They’ve really done Pa Kasumu proud. This at least will go a long way for him”, Mrs Olajide said.
Responding, a visibly sick Pa Kasumu thanked the state government for the lifeline and requested other public-spirited individuals and corporate bodies to come to his aid.
“Though I cannot speak very well now, but I want to thank Governor Amosun for this. I want the government to take me out of this noisy area”, he said.
In their respective reactions, Pa Kasumu’s colleagues in the theatre world including Dele Odule and Bolaji Amusan a.k.a Mr. Latin who witnessed the cheque presentation thanked the state government for the gesture extended to one of them.
“This is beyond our comprehension. We never knew a government could be so passionate about the plight of one of us”, Odule remarked.
