By Bolarinwa Akande
The family of ailing actor, Romanus Amuta, a.k.a Natty, has debunked the purported death of the actor, in various media, since Saturday.
Although the artiste has been down with stroke since 2009, his first son, Dr. Chukwuma Amuta told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, that his father was still alive. “I am surprised to hear such a fallacious rumor,” young Amuta said.
Amuta who expressed disappointment in the false news said: “It is true that my dad had stroke some five years ago, that’s in 2009. Presently he is clinically stable and he is recovering well. “That was why I was very surprised when I heard about such information being spread in the media. The report saying that he is dead obviously makes every other thing false. He’s very much alive”. “I am a medical doctor, and by the grace of God; I take care of my dad to the best of my ability; so, that is obviously false; he’s improving gradually; every day you see improvement.”
“There is a physiotherapist that comes to the house and takes him on every day. So, he is improving gradually. He goes for checkup. He’s okay. Natty is still alive. He’s doing well” he said.
Natty, is one of the ailing actors, for whom the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)’s president, Ibibabo Fiberesima, has been seeking financial assistance from President Goodluck Jonathan; an effort which two weeks ago, yielded a lifeline of N10 million for screenwriter Chike Bryan, who requires a kidney transplant in India.
Natty himself has this to say “ Ada’m, Ada di ora nma, only God will reward you for saving my life. You have showed me that there is God. Anybody that says you are not working is not well. As you have saved my life, God will continue to preserve you. You brought me to this kind of big man hospital, paid everything, still gave me and my family extra money and still you have bought food stuff for me that doctor said I should be eating, only God can reward you, you have given me hope, now I am free”
In a moment of inspiration president ibinabo fiberesima held hands with the family to pray and thank God for providing nollywood a president such as Dr. Goodluck Jonathan that loves nollywood and provided the benevolence fund that has made possible AGN’s dream of taking care of its members that are sick. Mrs. Amuta, overwhelmed by the love and kindness of the publicity shy president Ibinabo Fiberesima amidst tears said “ You have showed me today that God is a human being, he is a woman and her name is ibinabo, madam thank you, please help me to tell the world the good things this beautiful woman have done for me and my family, anybody that speaks ill of madam will incur the wrath of God, my husband is alive and will get better, God has used madam Ibinabo to bless me, Thank You Lord”. President Ibinabo only comment which she managed to squeeze out through her tear clouded eyes said ” It is a blessing to me that God has given me a platform through which i can show forth his goodness, i will only encourage people to come on board and join the health scheme that the guild has secured for its members.