SPOKESMAN of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has debunked the rumours doing the rounds that he had died, saying, “it has become consistent fake news for quite some time now wishing our own IBB, the one we easily refer to as ‘The Last Don of Nigerian politics,’ dead.”
Afegbua, who stated this on Sunday in a press statement personally signed by him, and a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune in Minna, Niger State capital, said the “fake news bill will be a suitable response to this category of fake news carriers.”
He said: “IBB is very much alive and bubbling. He just started attending to friends and associates who came to see him today (Sunday) right here at his Minna hilltop mansion. He is full of life and in his characteristic bubbling mood.”
Afegbua prayed Allah to forgive those who wish Babangida dead, noting that God is the giver and taker of life, not humans. He said: “Death, as the irrevocable end of all creation, will surely come to everyone someday and at the appointed time and hour, but to deliberately spread fake news and wish someone dead is to take humanity to another bizarre level.
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“May Allah forgive them. IBB, by the special grace of Allah, the Omniscient and Omnipotent One, shall live to fulfil his journey and destiny in life to the consternation of those who are always wishing him dead. This is about the third time this year.”
Afegbua then thanked those who took time to reach out to the former Nigerian leader, as well as his family members both in Nigeria and abroad to find out the truth, saying, “we thank you all for your love, care and concern. May Allah grant us all good health, sound mind and long life.”
Meanwhile, former Senate President David Mark, on Sunday, met General Babangida at his Hilltop Mansion, where the two leaders discussed behind closed doors.
Mark, who was accompanied on the visit by a former military administrator of Kogi State, Colonel Tunde Ogbeha (retd), arrived at the Minna International Airport at 2:35 p.m, from where they moved to IBB’s residence, arriving there about 3:00 p.m.
The former Senate president then left Babangida’s residence at exactly 3:55 p.m.
No journalist was allowed into the premises during Mark’s visit, as security operatives at the entrance of the former military president’s house said it was strictly a private visit.
Although details of the visit were not made public, it, however, coincided with the time rumours was doing the rounds on social media about IBB’s sudden death.
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