Rangers FC, celebrities to honour Mr Ibu with novelty match today

Rangers International Football Club, celebrities, top personalities and fans will today (Tuesday) honour the late Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu with a novelty match for his astonishing comedy career during his lifetime.

Rangers FC, the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League champions, will participate in the highly anticipated match amidst the euphoria of their recent victory. The event is organized as part of the late actor’s burial plans.

This was according to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, by the Chairman, of the Central Planning Committee for Mr Ibu’s burial, Monday Ani.

Ani noted that the novelty match is a way of honouring the late Mr Ibu, with Rangers being the official club of the Enugu State Government, adding that the gesture is an indication that the Enugu State government appreciates him.

The statement partly read, “The Novelty Match is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 25th of June at the Cathedral of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

“The time for the Novelty Match is 4 pm prompt. Sports lovers, friends and well-wishers are enjoined to be part of this historic match.”

He expressed gratitude to the General Manager of Rangers FC, Amobi Ezeaku, and the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremmadu, for their support.

“Special thanks go to the General Manager of Rangers FC, Amobi Ezeaku, and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremmadu, for their remarkable effort and time invested in the planning of this novelty match,” he said.

Ani also noted that donations for the funeral service from family and friends were still ongoing and the committee appreciates the goodwill of all who wish to honour the late Mr. Ibu, even in death.

“A special thanks goes to everybody investing their time, money and effort towards the success of this last remembrance especially to the Best Family who donated a live cow for this event. May your efforts towards the success of this event be returned a thousandfold”, the statement concluded.

Recall that Mr Ibu died on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

In October 2023, the veteran actor was reported ill and required financial assistance.

But in November 2023, his family confirmed that one of his legs had been amputated to keep him alive.

The amputation became necessary because of an infection of the arteries at the ankle that was not detected early enough, his former manager Emeka Chochoo, told PUNCH Online in November 2023 in an exclusive chat.