By Jude Michael
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Amid death rumours concerning him, Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has said he is very much around and alive. It will be recalled that last Monday the rumour mills announced the death of Gowon to throw the country into a frenzy.
But Gowon’s Personal Media Aide, Adeyeye E. Ajayi, said in a terse statement on Monday night that the former military leader was not dead.
‘Gowon said, “I am still around and well. I am not in a hurry”,’ Ajayi stated.
It will be recalled that a section of the social media reported that the General passed on aged 89.
But when contacted over the telephone, the retired General refuted the claims insisting that he was alive and in good health.
Also reacting to the rumours, the Delta State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the 2023 election, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, who is said to have close ties with the war hero, described the speculations as the handiwork of mischief makers.
Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education, spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Orusi Kenneth, late on Monday.
Gbagi disclosed that General Gowon was alive, hale and hearty and currently in London.
Gbagi was quoted as saying, ‘General Gowon is still much around with us, hale and hearty. He is not in a hurry to go anywhere.’
He further said; ‘I, Gbagi, just spoke with him. I hereby refute the rumour of the death of my friend, General Gowon.
‘He has communicated to Nigerians that he is still much around, hale and hearty. Gowon is alive.’
