Former Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, on Friday dismissed viral reports claiming he had died, describing the rumour as false and affirming that he remains alive, hale, and hearty.
In a video seen on social media, Obiano, who was in his house abroad, debunked the death rumour while speaking in Igbo language.
He said: “As you can see, I am in my house, I didn’t go to the hospital, and I didn’t travel to London. We give God the glory. The rumour is for them to extend my life and that is how it is going to be through Christ Our Lord.”
News of the death of the 70 years old former governor had gone viral, especially in Anambra media space and social media platforms, eliciting tears among some of his close aides, who insisted he was a nice leader and a humane individual.
But this was later debunked by the former Commissioner for Information, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, who stated emphatically that the former Governor was not only alive, but hale and hearty.
Adinuba in a statement he signed stated: “The Nigerian media have been abuzz in the last couple of hours over a rumour that the immediate past Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has passed on in London.
“This rumour has no basis. Chief Obiano lives in Texas, United Staes, and not London. He is not just alive, but healthy, strong and too agile for someone who has just turned 70 years.
“We thank people from different walks of life across the globe for their acute interest in the former governor whose large heartedness and record of service delivery remain solid years by any standard.
“The outpouring of love across the globe following the rumour shows how much Chief Obiano matters to many, almost four years after leaving public office and choosing a quite private life abroad.
“At only 70 years, Chief Obiano has joined the pantheon of men like The Great Zik of Africa whose rumoured death turned out to be utterly false and without any foundation” Adinuba stated.
Also, another aide of the former governor, who identified himself as Onyebuchi Okpala wrote on Facebook, “Please umunnem ndi Anambra, disregard the fake news on social media.
“His Excellency Chief William Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano is still alive. Please shun the fake death news of Our principal and Boss Akpokuedike Global. It’s not true please, Akpokuedike is alive. We pray for more good, sound health and happiness boss.”
Former Managing Director/CEO of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Uche Nworah, also debunked the viral death rumour, saying, “Our boss and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano is hale and hearty. Please ignore social media rumours.”
Another of the former Governor’s aide, James Eze, also wrote, “I am yet to fathom the nature of the evil that creeps into some people to make them issue a false obituary of someone else.”
Obiano who governed Anambra from 2014 to 2022 had relocated to Houston, Texas where he had lived since after his retirement as a top staff of Fidelity Bank, before becoming governor.
He is standing trial before a Federal High Court for allegedly mismanaging the sum of N4billion as governor of Anambra State. He hails from Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area and is the immediate past governor of the state.
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