Despite Appeal for Help, Tony Grey Still Abandoned By Government, NGOs

 By Gab Ejuwa

Despite several appeal on local tabloids, national dailies and social media by the family of ailing veteran musician, Tony Grey for the Delta state government, corporate organizations, non-governmental organizations and well to do individuals to help them with N10 million for medical treatment of Tony Grey abroad, none has come to the help of the family. Although an NGO, Onuesoke Foundation in conjunction with a group under the aegis of Friends of Tony Grey in the United States of America recently donated N512,000 for his treatment. The groups led by a PDP chieftain, Sunny Onuesoke, appealed to corporate organizations, Delta State government, institutions, non-governmental organizations and well to do Nigerians to contribute generously towards saving the life of the ‘Come Back Love’ evergreen crooner. Tony Grey has been lying critically ill for months now and need funds for necessary medical attention abroad after being diagnosed of prostate cancer and diabetes. Earlier this year, Tony Grey’s family had appealed to Nigerians to assist them in order to bring back the living legend to his full state of health. The family stated that living a happy life of contentment was their greatest plan until Tony Grey fell sick and everything changed. Their life and that of Tony Grey have been under the mercy of God and the little savings they had have all been exhausted in paying hospital bills. Up till this moment they have not gotten any help from members of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria PMAN despite the fact that Tony Grey was the founder of the Delta state chapter of the PMAN. When contacted, Mac Dee, a well known musician in Warri and its environs frowned at the attitude of the state government in not responding to the plight of those who have helped the country and state with their career. He said, “I am surprised that up till this moment, the Delta state government has not deemed it fit to help the ailing musical maestro. Is it only when he has died that they will start extolling his virtues? he queried. He revealed that he is aware that members of the PMAN Delta state chapter are making plans to help the family with reasonable amount of money to offset Tony Grey’s medical bills. When contacted, the Delta state PMAN Governor, Quincy Tebite, said “as the PMAN Governor I have visited him and also gave my little assistance, when I returned, I summoned a meeting and we resolved to meet the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for assistance because we don’t have enough  to take care of the required medical bills”. “Since I resumed office as the PMAN Governor in the state, there have been some persons fighting me to see that PMAN does not move forward in my time, the younger brother to Tony Grey is inclusive. As I speak with you, we are in court because they have been going round spoiling the minds of the people that my tenure is over and that I have been removed from office whereas nothing of such existed because I was the one who went for the recent delegate conference. “Recently, the state executive resolved that we should go round the zones to speak the truth to them to understand what is on ground, so that we can have a transparent government because some persons who are aligning with Tony Grey’s brother have spoilt the mind of some members. We have been embarking on this move in order to have one house and take a better decision on what we can do as its time to unite for the sake of Tony Grey, “We want to organize a fund raising concert to raise money for him. As you know, PMAN is not a one man affair; it is an organization of many people. One thing is to sensitize them first, so we have gone to Isoko and Agbor, next week will be at Ndokwa. What we are doing now is a sensitization tour to reunite the house before we will organize the concert. “I know it is God that has been sustaining Tony Grey, and I know the same God will sustain him till when help will come to him soonest. I have written several letters to the Governor to help Tony Grey because he has paid his price for the state with his music. Even during the Owhorode of Olomu’s 100 years birthday and anniversary I met with the governor on the issue but we have not received any help from him. We are not silent over the issue at all. Tony Grey whose music tracks ‘she is my love’ ‘my message’ and ‘come back love’ were everyone’s delight in the 70s and 80s was born over 60 years ago and needs about N10 million for the treatment of prostate cancer abroad . Mr. Grey hails from Aboh town in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State but presently resides at Cruz Land, Marine Quarters, Warri in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state. Grey is presently been taken care of by his family and one or two friends at his residence in Warri after he was recommended to be flown abroad for proper medical attention because he was diagnosed of prostate cancer and diabetes. Grey popularly known as Ozimba of Africa has been ill for over eight months and is currently bedridden at his Cruz Land, Marine Quarters, Warri, Delta state and has lost a lot of weight. A family source told our correspondent that his father was diagnosed of diabetes but the major ailment was prostate cancer that has to do with the reproductive system. The source stated further that his father has been admitted for over five months at a private hospital in Warri and several operations were carried out on him until it was recently confirmed that he was suffering from prostate cancer.