Something spiritual happened two days ago.
Someone sent me a pic of me and OJB Jezreel, the late iconic music Producer who passed from complications from a kidney transplant 10 years ago
Immediately, I saw the pic, I wrote a piece on him for my column in This day
This was Thursday, and an hour after his second wife called
I was amazed and quickly asked her, “Did someone prompt you?”
She said no. That she was reaching out cos she was preparing for his 10th year
Wow, it’s been 10 years since he passed?
OJB was an iconic music Producer in his day, who had worked with Wizkid, amongst other A-rated stars
Then he was struck with a kidney ailment and needed a transplant, and here is where the story got national attention
Ojb was a Polygamist with three wives
He had just married the last one, who was a very young lady
The first wife offered her kidney, and the other two offered support and love.
He went to India for the very successful operation
This is where I entered the matter
I had just set up the Kidney Trust Fund, which was designed to raise funds for dialysis for patients
These were the early days of the kidney disease epidemic in Nigeria, and people were finding it very difficult to get the funds for the treatment and dialysis centres, which were far and in between
So I approached OJB, who was the highest profile patient and whose story about his first wife giving him his kidney was making the rounds
Made calls, reached him, and went to see him in his Surulere house
The house was filled with joy as the three wives and their children were running around, taking care of him and basically just having fun
This was a different kind of polygamy o.
OJB was a young man, the wives were young, even the last one was early 20s, and I didn’t feel the pressures that come with those kinds of settings
Every time I visited, which was very often, as he had agreed to front the Kidney Trust Fund, it was fun and laughter
As they struggled to get him to take his many drugs, I will ask, ” You still fit nack like this?
And he will laugh and say oya ask them o, and we will all laugh
The trek to find money was tedious, and OJB, with his drugs and the pain of his condition, will follow me everywhere
I remember once we had a meeting at UBA Plc, and after the meeting, as we descended into the marina, headed towards the car park, the crowd surged, and he lost his balance
We rushed to him, and he held back – Edgar, no worries, I go dey ok
He was still very handsome with a sunny character, the strong silent type.
He spoke barely audible and was genuinely concerned about people going through shit with the Kidney
His only angst was the seeming abandonment by the industry, but even that didn’t really disturb him like that
With his efforts, we got AIICO and UBa, and the fund took off.
Then, after some time, it tapered off and the next thing OJB passed
Today marks the anniversary of his passing, and his wives, I hear, are organising two separate events for him today
The second wife who called, has invited me to her own, and I will be there to speak
OJB was remarkable in life. He came early, made his mark, and left early, but not without impacting life in the two areas that he was king – Music and impact
OJB was my brother, and I truly remain very proud of having the pleasure of knowing him and spending those two years with him.
Thanks
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: June 14, 2026
