Nigerian veteran singer, Innocent Onyebuchi, better known as Daddy Fresh, has appealed to the public for assistance as he battles life-threatening health issues that have kept him bedridden for more than two years.
His situation came to light after actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod paid him a compassionate visit in the hospital. Afod later posted a video from the encounter on Facebook, showing the once vibrant artist struggling to recognize him.
Visibly shaken, Afod wrote, “Daddy Fresh must not die – one of Nigeria’s finest artists is in a terrible condition.”
In the video, the reggae icon appeared frail and weak, dressed in a blue sleeveless shirt as he tried to place Afod’s face.
“Oba,” Daddy Fresh muttered when he saw him.
Afod quickly responded, “It’s Afod, Kunle Afod.”
Surprised, the singer replied, “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… Afod, abi na you God send come?”“I’ve Been Bedridden For Over Two Years”
Speaking about his ordeal, the musician explained that he has been battling several illnesses, including kidney and liver problems, neuropathy, and serious eye issues that have left him almost completely immobile.
“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,” he lamented.
According to him, his health has deteriorated so badly that one of his eyes no longer functions properly.
“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,” he said weakly.Daddy Fresh added that doctors have recommended immediate blood transfusions.
“Now, I need blood transfusion. I need to buy some pints of blood. They said they need that one immediately, like two or three packs of blood because my blood dey very low, 25%,” he explained.The singer also revealed that walking without assistance had become impossible.
“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.Beyond his health crisis, Daddy Fresh spoke of being abandoned and facing eviction from his home.
“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,” he said sadly. “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.”Once a prominent name in Nigeria’s reggae and hip-hop scene, Daddy Fresh hinted that his condition might have spiritual roots.
“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,” he said, suggesting that divine mercy has kept him alive.Despite his ordeal, he said Afod’s visit renewed his faith that help might still come.
“For me to see people wey I no expect to see like you, e don happen,” he told the actor.Afod, who gave him financial support, promised to return and called for help from Nigerians and the entertainment industry.
“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 said.“He has been down with sickness for over three years. I just heard about it and decided to go see him in the hospital. 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. Entertainers, please, let’s keep him alive.”
This is not the first time Daddy Fresh has spoken about his illness.
In February 2024, he revealed that he had suffered a partial stroke for nearly 30 months.
At the time, he wrote, “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.”
