Bashir Salihi Magashi, the former Minister of Defence, is alive and well, according to his spokesman, who dismissed online rumours to the contrary.
Daily News 24 reports that Mohammad Abdulkadir, the ex-Minister’s spokesman, clarified in a statement released on Friday that the rumours about his principal’s death were caused by name confusion.
According to Abdulkadir, the misinformation may have arisen as a result of the recent death of Dr. Labaran Kabir Magashi in Kano. The two men have the same surname but are not related.
“His rumoured death prompted an immediate phone conversation with General Magashi, who said he is hail and hearty,” he said.
“He, on the other hand, blamed the unverified story about his death on a coincidence in the shared name of Magashi.”
“However, investigations revealed that Dr Labaran Kabir Magashi died in the early hours of Tuesday in Kano.”
“Those who wrote the online story may have mistaken him for the late Magashi, who is not related to him in any way.”
“He thanked Nigerians for their concerns, solidarity, and show of love, while thanking those who inundated him and his family with calls and text messages to confirm the authenticity of the disturbing, sudden, and shocking story about his rumoured death.”
“However, the former Minister expressed condolences to the family of the late Dr Labaran Kabir Magashi.”
He begged Almighty Allah to forgive him and place him in Jannat Firidaus.