Following the passing of Nigerian movie icon, John Okafor, alias Mr Ibu, on Saturday, March 2, 2023, calls have heightened for Premier League club, Chelsea, to honor him as he was their lifelong supporter.
The legendary movie star, on Saturday, succumbed to an ailment which had plagued him for over six months, with the President of the Nigerian Actors Guild citing cardiac arrest as the cause.
Following his death, a video of Mr Ibu professing his love for Chelsea, which influenced his decision to name his daughter after the club, has resurfaced.
In the video, Mr Ibu stated that he loved the club and that the naming of his daughter after the London-based club is indicative of how much he adores the two-time UEFA Champions League winners.
Not only did Mr Ibu name his daughter after the club, but his house was called Stamford Bridge, which is the home stadium of Chelsea.
“I love Chelsea with all my blood. My wife gave birth to a baby girl outside the country. Even before I saw my baby, my wife had already given her the name Chelsea. That is to tell you... My house is called Stamford Bridge,” he said.
This video has been making the rounds on social media amid calls from Nigerian and Ghanaian Chelsea fans for the club to honor him with an official tribute.
They believe that Mr Ibu was an unofficial ambassador of the club through his public support for them.
Do clubs pay tribute to some supporters?
The calls are not out of place as some European clubs tend to pay glowing tributes to fans whose deaths are brought to their attention.
Evidence abounds to tell the story of how the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and others have issued tributes to families of some ardent supporters who died.
In 2019, Arsenal paid special tribute to a lifelong fan who was killed by the police in Kenya.
When it was brought to the attention of Manchester United that some fans of the club died in an accident in Calabar, Nigeria, the club honored them with a tribute.
In most cases, clubs send letters signed by the skipper and coach to the families of the departed when their passing is brought to their attention.
Below are some tweets
Chelsea fans y’all gather here and show some respect to the legend ????????oh mr Ibu ???????? RIP LEGEND pic.twitter.com/dS4mULBviR
— Lord ????????® (@thehighestblog) March 4, 2024
???? ????️ RIP to a legend that made most Nigerians alive today Happy .
— Football Fans Tribe ???????? ⚽ (@FansTribeHQ) March 4, 2024
Mr Ibu will never be forgotten and we send our condolences to the family, He was a Chelsea Fan ????
???? @goldmyntv pic.twitter.com/rnhXmnUBpU
Mr Ibu’s daughter is named Chelsea and his house is called Stamford Bridge, this Nollywood legend deserves a tribute of some sort at Chelsea’s next home game ???? pic.twitter.com/f0ajL4s89w
— Yimzy (@oyimzy) March 2, 2024
Mr. Ibu deserves a tribute from Chelsea pic.twitter.com/HEXlWIJzqP
— ???????????????????????? (@SkinnySuccessHQ) March 2, 2024
Chelsea should honor Mr Ibu. He is a true legend pic.twitter.com/fOci1vqsfW
— Torgbuigà???????? (@Mr_Ceyram) March 2, 2024
Chelsea lost a Gem
— Epl Pidgin (@EplPidgin) March 2, 2024
RIP MR IBU???? pic.twitter.com/L4hGgH48Bn
John Okafor Mr Ibu - A Nollywood Legend and a Chelsea Fan through and through. Rest In Power ✊???????? pic.twitter.com/Pbd7qgSAaK
— Yimzy (@oyimzy) March 2, 2024
Veteran Actor John Okafor Mr Ibu, A Nollywood Legend and A True Chelsea Fan. Rest In Power ✊???????? pic.twitter.com/aRAkeYLe7N
— Yimzy (@oyimzy) March 2, 2024
Thank you Mr IBU for all the childhood memories and btw he was a Chelsea fan, Rest in power ????️pic.twitter.com/rFoBKcIINu
— Snow???? (@cheek_er) March 3, 2024
We've lost a true Chelsea fan in Mr Ibu.
— ???????????????????? (@badboy_jerry) March 2, 2024
Death can be so cruel ????pic.twitter.com/lyIvcXmkkc
Chelsea have lost a true fan in Mr,IBU
— E-ben Obum???? (@EbenCfc) March 2, 2024
RIP ????????????pic.twitter.com/GaTLMi6Ixg
"I love Chelsea, my house is called Stamford Bridge" - Mr Ibu ????
— Boluwatife ???????? (@bolu___watife) March 4, 2024
He bled blue till his death ????
Rest on Mr Ibu ????❤️ pic.twitter.com/gXKLuSlJbT
