Nigeria’s former military leader, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, dispels death rumours yesterday by speaking from Germany where he is currently undergoing medical check-up.
The rumour of IBB’s death was circulating all over social media yesterday, with many people actually believing that the general had died.
However, IBB broke the silence on live TVC programme last night, saying “I am alive.”
IBB said he was hale and hearty and not dead as being speculated.
Back home here in Nigeria, the family has also stated that the former Nigerian head of state is alive.
According to his brother, Alhaji Datijo Aliyu, he told journalists in Minna yesterday that he spoke to IBB, whom he confirmed, is undergoing routine medical check-up.
“Even when he was President of Nigeria he usually goes for the medical check-up because of the bullet he is carrying in his system as a result of defending Nigeria. In fact, there was a time he travelled for three months when he was president to attend to the same bullet, so there is nothing special in this particular journey.
“He even wanted to come back, but we (family members) insisted that he should stay there and rest because any time he is in Nigeria there is always that pressure on him as statesman attending to different issues, we are surprise, we don’t know where this rumour is coming from,” Datijo added.
According to him “Just as he had always said, nobody is above illness nor will not die one day, but wishing somebody alive death is mischief carried too far and I can confirm to you that I spoke to him this afternoon. I will not stand here and lie to you and many people in Minna out of curiosity had also spoken to him too”.
IBB’s brother therefore urged all Nigerians to disregard the reports of his death on the social media or any online media as they “lack any iota of truth or credibility by their source and content.”
