Former information minister, Chief Edwin Clark, says he almost suffered heart attack following the ‘fake news’ of passing of former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon. Clark served under the administration of Gowon who was Nigerian leader between 1966 and 1975.
Clark, who is also the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), appealed to the Nigerian media to be more responsible in their reportage, urging that citizens contribute to build a country where people from an aspect of the country are not subjugated to the position of second class citizens.
He said: “The social media, yesterday (Monday) almost caused an attack in me when they announced that General Yakubu Gowon was gone. I had a break down only to discover that it was not true when Gen. Gowon phoned to say that ‘I’m still alive, I’m still enjoying this country. And the position I am.’
“So what am I saying? Let us build up a country where people from an aspect of the country are not subjugated to the position of second class citizens.”
Gowon had through his aide, Adeyeye Ajayi, debunked the news of his death.
Reacting to the claim, Ajayi, in a statement sent to NTA, said the former military leader is alive.
“I am still around and well. I am not in a hurry,” the statement quoted the former military leader as saying.
Gowon was mistaken for the immediate past Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNUs) and former Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, Emeritus Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumor, a professor of economics and social sciencist who died in Lagos early on Saturday, October 7, at the age of 53 from complications related to lung cancer.
