Again, “Maradonic” Babangida dribbles, defeats death rumours

Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, popularly known as IBB is not dead.

IBB, also referred to as Maradona, defeated social media rumours that he passed early Sunday morning.

A Nigerian resident in Canada had contacted THE CONCLAVE to confirm a report doing the round that Babangida had passed.

Another reader of THE CONCLAVE had also requested this medium to confirm the report.

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THE CONCLAVE had immediately contacted IBB’s spokesperson, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who laughed off the rumour.

Afeguba had said on Sunday: “He (IBB) is very much alive and kicking. I saw the stupid news yesterday (Saturday). I spoke with him for 24 minutes yesterday (Saturday) night. And I am seeing him this new week too.”

Meanwhile, one source in Minna, the Niger State capital, had confirmed to PRNigeria that Babangida who ruled Nigeria as a military leader between 1985 and 1993 though ill for some time, was not dead, but alive and strong.

“Gen. Babangida even, this afternoon, had a sort of meeting and even political consultations with some friends and politicians who came to see him at his Hill Top residence,” he said.

General Babangida has been receiving visitors in his Hilltop Mansion in Minna on political consultation. Among those to have visited him of late were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who said that he came to consult with him on his 2023 presidential aspiration.

Before then, supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had visited him during which Babangida said that Osinbajo would make a good leader for the country.

The rumour that Babangida was dead is one that he has overtime experienced in his military and political careers. In 1990, Babangida was believed to have been dead during a military uprising but survived it to rule the country for another three years. (With additional reports by PRNigeria)