The daughters of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have appealed for urgent medical intervention for their father, who they said is battling stage-four cancer.
Lima and Kira Taiwo made the appeal in separate videos shared on Instagram on Monday.
They claimed that hospitals had stopped treating the 66-year-old actor, with one of them saying doctors could no longer continue his chemotherapy.
Lima, who broke down repeatedly during her appeal, said the family needed medical assistance rather than financial donations.
“Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help from my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad.
“And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything,” she said.
According to her, the family only learnt about the severity of Hassan’s condition about three weeks ago.
She explained that his physical appearance initially gave them little reason to suspect that his health had deteriorated badly.
“You see him, you can’t even know that. Something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said.
Lima asked Nigerians with links to cancer specialists, hospitals or other medical professionals to connect the family with them.
She maintained that the appeal was not an attempt to raise money.
“Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said.
She also praised an uncle who had supported the family since the health crisis began.
“My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said.
Ending her appeal in tears, Lima said she could not bear the thought of losing her father.
“But if he’s willing to do anything, please, if you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, would you really appreciate it? Please, I can’t watch my daddy die. I can’t. I can’t. Please. Please, I’m begging you. Please. Please,” she said.
Kira, in her video, confirmed that the actor’s cancer had reached stage four.
She said the hospital treating him had informed the family that it could no longer administer chemotherapy.
“Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said.
Kira also thanked Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for paying her father’s medical bills.
“And I really, really, really love to appreciate Senator Yayi. He has been the one helping us, he has been the one footing the bills,” she said.
Like her sister, she said the family was searching for anyone capable of offering further treatment, whether through a hospital or another care provider.
“What I’m here for, what I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you, guys, I’m begging you, any help, anything, anybody that you know that can treat cancer, please, please, I’m begging you,” she said.
She asked medical professionals and treatment centres willing to review Hassan’s case to contact the family through Instagram.
“Please, please, if you can treat my daddy, please send me a DM. I’ll be checking my phone. Please, I don’t want my daddy to die,” Kira said.
Speaking further, Kira said the family was struggling with the emotional and financial burden of the actor’s illness.
“God, give me strength. I’m suffering so bad. There’s no money, but if you know anybody that can treat my daddy, Andrew, please,” she said.
She added that her father had expressed fear about dying as his pain worsened.
“He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.
Hassan has worked in the Nigerian film industry for more than four decades, earning widespread recognition through his roles in Yoruba-language productions.
The actor is also a producer, director and screenwriter.
