Obasanjo, 4 Other Prominent Nigerian Political Stakeholders Who Have Been Falsely Reported Dead
- Several prominent Nigerian political stakeholders have been rumoured to have died in recent years
- Notably, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was falsely rumoured to have died in December 2024
- Legit.ng presents a list of five prominent political stakeholders in the country who have been falsely reported dead
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance.
FCT, Abuja - Social media was awash on Monday, December 9, 2024, with false information that Professor Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had died in a London hospital.
Legit.ng recalls that a similar fake news story about the INEC boss had circulated in 2021. It followed a related pattern to the false claim, alleging that former President Muhammadu Buhari died in 2017.
Source: Twitter
These hoaxes spread rapidly, leaving some people heartbroken, associates confused, and the top personalities themselves scrambling to debunk the rumours.
Political stakeholders falsely reported dead
Here are five Nigerian political stakeholders who have had to confirm they are still alive publicly:
1) Ibrahim Babangida
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), on December 15, 2019, dismissed false reports of his death, saying he is alive and bubbling.
The social media was abuzz with rumours of the former military ruler’s death in the early hours of December 15, 2019.
However, his media aide at the time, Kassim Agegbua, said Babangida is very much alive.
Babangida, 83, has been falsely rumoured to have died several times.
2) Yakubu Gowon
Rumours concerning the alleged death of the former head of state circulated on social media platforms in October 2023.
Adeyeye Ajayi, a personal aide to Gowon, debunked the rumours.
This was contained in a terse statement issued by Ajayi.
Ajayi said Gowon is “still around and well.”
He said:
“General Gowon is not in a hurry to go anywhere.”
3) Olusegun Obasanjo
In December 2010, former President Olusegun Obasanjo reacted to his rumoured death, saying that some people take delight in peddling rumours about his death and that his life was in the hands of God.
Again, in November 2024, death rumour peddlers targeted Obasanjo.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain debunked the speculation, saying he is alive.
The ex-president, who wondered why some people would wish him such, said he quickly informed his family members that he is hale and hearty.
4) Mahmood Yakubu
In December 2024, INEC denied reports that Mahmood Yakubu, its chairman, is dead.
A report had alleged that Yakubu had died in London following a “brief illness”.
The report said:
“Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has died in London after a brief illness.
“Sources reveal that he went to bed in good health but woke up with a serious medical emergency.
“Despite his family’s efforts to secure the best care by transferring him to London for treatment, he was pronounced dead.”
But speaking with newsmen, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary (CPS) to the INEC chairman, dismissed the rumour as false, urging Nigerians to disregard the news.
Source: Facebook
5) Sultan Sokoto
In October 2024, a senior counsellor in the Sultanate Council and Sa’in Kilgori, Muhammadu Jabbi Kilgori, debunked the death rumour about the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar.
Legit.ng reports that the Sultan is a member of Nigeria's National Peace Committee (NPC). The NPC works to promote peaceful elections and address potential violence related to political processes.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Kilgori said:
“Claims of the Sultan's death is a fake news by some unscrupulous elements. We don’t know their motive. We don’t know what they want to achieve by fake news against the Sultan.
“But the Sultan is hale and hearty. “Let the general republic disregard this story because it is not true."
Wife debunks Olu Jacobs’ death
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva, the wife of veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, debunked the rumour of her husband’s death, saying he is alive.
A close source to the family told the press that Emeka Rollas, Emeka Rollas, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), told him that he spoke with the wife and they spoke for over one hour without any mention of such news.
Source: Legit.ng
