The death of gospel singer ToluwaniSings has raised concerns about access to emergency medical care after his personal assistant, Babadunni Gbolabo, said efforts to secure treatment took them to between seven and eight hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Gbolabo said the singer suddenly slumped in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, prompting frantic efforts to revive him and obtain medical attention. According to the aide, some hospitals cited an ongoing doctors’ strike, while others did not admit the singer.
Speaking about the incident on Thursday, Gbolabo said he was not present when ToluwaniSings collapsed but rushed to the scene after receiving a telephone call. He said people at the scene had attempted to resuscitate the singer before taking him to different hospitals in search of treatment.
“There was nothing wrong with him. He was very fine and in perfect condition. He just slumped. They tried to resuscitate him. They went helter-skelter. They took him to some hospitals, but they were giving excuses,” he said.
The aide said the search for medical assistance continued across Ibadan, with some facilities reportedly unable to provide treatment because of the strike.
“Some said doctors were not working because of the strike. Some did not admit him at all. That is how it went. We tried our best, including prayers. We took him to up to seven to eight hospitals in Ibadan,” he added.
The account has drawn attention to the challenges patients and their families may face when seeking emergency medical care. However, the identities of the hospitals visited and their reasons for reportedly declining admission have not been independently established.
The family has not disclosed the cause of the singer’s death but said it would announce funeral arrangements later.
ToluwaniSings was known for gospel songs, including A Very Big God and Onibuore. Reports indicated that he performed at a worship event in Ibadan on Tuesday, hours before his death.
His death has triggered tributes from fans and members of the gospel music community. Gbolabo said the singer’s body had been deposited in a mortuary as the family began consultations on funeral arrangements.
The circumstances surrounding the singer’s death remain unclear. Although his aide described difficulties in securing medical attention, there is no independent confirmation that the reported hospital visits or any delays in treatment contributed to his death.
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