The silence of singer, Naira Marley, a known long-time and close associate of Sam Larry only adds to the confusion and uncertainty. A statement from someone like Naira Marley on the true state of things, condition and existential status of his man Friday would go a long way to douse tension and counter the deluge of rumours and misinformation.
On Saturday, a report emerged that controversial music promoter and socialite, Samson Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry, was involved in a fatal auto crash on the newly constructed Lagos-Calabar coastal highway in Lagos State.
Sam Larry’s bouncer, identified as Wale, was said to have died instantly on the spot, while the socialite was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
The scene of the accident, captured in amateur footage recorded on a phone that has since gone viral on social media, showed the vehicle colliding with the trailer, causing extensive damage to it. Comedian and master of ceremonies, Mario Wazobia, shared posts on Instagram calling for prayers for the music promoter. In one post, Mario Wazobia wrote, “Pray for Sam Larry,”
The tragic incident not only garnered significant public attention, but also divided opinions among netizens. It did not take long for some to weave their bias and conjectures around the crash. While some see the mishap as some sort of retributive justice for the alleged role Sam Larry played in the death of talented artist, Mohbad, in 2023, an allegation he had long been cleared of, others accorded him the grace, respect and prayer that anyone who has not previously found himself on the wrong and dark side of unforgiving, resentful and somewhat vengeful public would get.
Critical condition and rumoured death of the socialite
On Sunday, barely 24 hours after the accident, social media became awash with rumours of Sam Larry’s death. The rumours also have it that his legs are badly damaged and could be amputated. A self-acclaimed investigative journalist and social media sensation, Kemi Olunloyo, also corroborated the possibility of leg amputation rumour.
“I’m not going to say the name of the hospital but this is from a reliable source, a source I really trust. Sam Larry is in a very cr! Technical condition and he’s likely to have both his legs amputat£d,” Kemi Olunloyo said.
No one could tell if the rumour was the product of those who viewed the crash as some sort of comeuppance and felt justice would be fully served if the music promoter were to die from his injuries, or it was a case of authentic and genuine information about Sam Larry’s existential status getting to the public via the proverbial rumour mill. Whatever the case may be, the dearth of information about his condition in any reputable newspapers made the rumours less damaging.
Dispelling the rumour
Amid the uncertainty and paucity of information regarding the condition of Sam Larry, on Monday, one of the socialite’s associates, Akin Abolade, aka Mr Lilgaga, cleared the air on the rumoured death of his friend.
Abolade refuted rumours that Sam Larry is dead. According to him, he is alive and he spoke with him just a few hours after the incident happened.
“Yes, he’s alive and not dead, but his condition cannot be ascertained because of how bad the accident was. We spoke after the accident. He’s alive, and I’m sure of that,” he told Punch during an interview.
The associate could not authenticate the veracity of the claim that his legs were badly damaged and that they may be amputated.
Naira Marley’s silence
At this point, beyond the words of a somewhat unsure associate, conjectures of netizens who are given to sensationalism and happen to have an axe to grind with the victim, and the revelation of an erratic journalist who courts controversy for a living, there is not much authentic, irrefutable and convincing information about the condition and existential status of Sam Larry.
In all this furore, one person has been clearly missing in action: Naira Marley. The silence of singer, Naira Marley, a known long-time and close associate of Sam Larry only adds to the confusion and uncertainty. A statement from someone like Naira Marley on the true state of things, condition and existential status of his man Friday would go a long way to douse tension and counter the deluge of rumours and misinformation.
