Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has moved swiftly to quash social media reports claiming that his predecessor, Willie Obiano, died in a London hospital, describing the allegations as malicious falsehood.
In a statement issued on Friday through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo revealed that he had personally contacted Obiano and could authoritatively confirm that the former governor remains alive and in good health.
“I view with grave concern the reckless circulation of such malicious rumours. It is both wicked and completely irresponsible,” Soludo stated, expressing dismay at the spread of the unfounded death claims across various social media platforms.
The governor used the occasion to issue a strong appeal to media practitioners, particularly those operating online outlets, emphasizing the critical importance of verifying sensitive information before publication or sharing.
“The spread of unverified death rumours is not only wicked and irresponsible but also erodes public trust,” Soludo warned, suggesting that such reckless dissemination of false information undermines the credibility of the media ecosystem and causes unnecessary distress to families and the public.
He urged Anambra residents and Nigerians generally to disregard the trending report entirely, offering assurances that his predecessor remained “hale and hearty.” Soludo concluded his statement by extending wishes to Obiano for “continued strength, peace and a long, fulfilling life.”
The governor’s denial was reinforced by C-Don Adinuba, who served as Commissioner for Information during Obiano’s administration. Adinuba provided additional details that directly contradicted the circulating rumours about the former governor’s alleged death in London.
According to Adinuba, Obiano is not currently in London as claimed by the false reports, but rather resides in Houston, Texas, in the United States. The former commissioner categorically stated that Obiano has not been hospitalized and remains in robust health.
“Contrary to the reports, Obiano is not in London and has not been hospitalised. He is strong, hale, and hearty, and bouncing in the US. Ignore the rumour, it is not from a credible source. Please, the report is fake; Obiano is still alive,” Adinuba declared, urging the public to dismiss the death claims as baseless fabrication.
Obiano served as governor of Anambra State from 2014 to 2022, taking over from Peter Obi and subsequently handing over power to Soludo in March 2022. His tenure saw various infrastructure projects and policy initiatives, though it was not without controversy, including his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission shortly after leaving office over corruption allegations.
The false death report represents the latest in a disturbing trend of unverified celebrity and public figure death rumours that periodically circulate on Nigerian social media, often causing panic and distress among family members, friends, and supporters before being debunked.
Media analysts have attributed the phenomenon to a combination of factors including the pursuit of social media engagement through sensational content, inadequate fact-checking by users who share information without verification, and in some cases, deliberate mischief by individuals seeking to cause confusion or distress.
The incident has reignited calls for greater responsibility among social media users and content creators, with advocacy groups urging platforms to implement stronger mechanisms for flagging and removing demonstrably false information, particularly regarding matters as sensitive as death announcements.
Nigerian authorities have previously warned that the deliberate spread of false information, especially about deaths or security incidents, could attract legal consequences under cybercrime legislation, though enforcement of such provisions remains inconsistent.
For Obiano and his family, the false death report would have caused considerable distress, necessitating the swift public clarifications issued by both Governor Soludo and the former information commissioner to set the record straight and reassure concerned citizens.
