The Ogun State Government and Chief Layi Labode, the media aide to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, on Tuesday evening debunked the rumoured demise of a former Head of Interim National Government of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
They said the rumour was far from being true.
The rumoured death of Shonekan filtered into Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday evening.
However, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, later dispelled the rumour through a telephone call to journalists.
He said, “It is a lie from hell. Baba is alive.”
In the same vein, Labode said he spoke with Shonekan’s Personal Assistant, one Mr Dickson, who refuted the story.
He said Dickson also disclosed that the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had phoned him and he (Dickson) confirmed to him that Chief Shonekan, who is the Babasale of Egbaland, was alive.
He added that his (Shonekan’s) media aide, Gbenga Fasina, also said his boss was alive. “We shall keep you informed if there’s any development,” Labode said.