IN SHORT: A rumour circulating mid-October 2023 that Nigeria’s former military head of state General Yakubu Gowon is dead has been confirmed false.
“Former Military Head of States General Yakubu Gowon is Dead at the age of 89” reads a post on Facebook.
The 9 October 2023 post claims that the former military head of state and retired army general has died at the age of 89.
The post has over 100 likes and comments, including mixed reactions from Facebook users. But is this true?
Gowon not dead!
Yakubu Gowon was born in the central Plateau state in 1934. He studied in what is now known as Kaduna state and started his career as an army officer.
Gowon served as head of state between 1966 to 1975.
Adeyeye Ajayi, a personal aide to Gowon, debunked the rumour that the general had passed away.
The Cable quoted Gowon saying “I am still around and well. I am not in a hurry” in a statement sent to the Nigerian Television Authority.
In a report published by Punch, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, the former minister of state for education, described the circulating rumour as the “handiwork of mischief makers”.
The rumours of Gowon’s death are untrue.
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