Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has dismissed rumours of his death, saying he is hale and hearty in London, United Kingdom.
He disclosed this in a video released on Friday, after many news organisations, not The Herald, reported that he died in Kano same day.
Na’Abba said he would have loved to be in Nigeria but travel restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 have kept him stuck in London for the past four weeks.
He insinuated that this long absence from Nigeria could have fuelled the rumour.
“Fellow Nigerians; I am Ghali Na’Abba, Speaker of the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003. I have been hearing rumours in recent days that I was dead.
“I am doing this video in order to prove to Nigerians and the world that I am alive, hale and hearty.
“I am a proud Nigerian and saddened that rumours spread about me in such an evil manner.
“However, this is not a time to reprimand anybody, I have been a friend to the press and I believe we should do whatever it is to ensure that we live well among ourselves.
“I am alive and healthy in London, I am here in the past four weeks and finished my engagements, if not for the lack of flight, I will have flown back to Nigeria.
“I am missing home and sad about what is going on in my country; about the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and deaths ravaging my community in Kano.
“A lot of people have died recently in Kano including some of my relations and let me seize this opportunity to condole every family that lost their loved ones,” Na’Abba explained.
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