EXTRA: I almost suffered heart attack over Gowon’s death rumour, says Edwin Clark

Edwin Clark, the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), says he almost suffered a heart attack over the rumoured death of Yakubu Gowon.

On Monday, some social media users claimed that Gowon, former military head of state, had passed away.

Reacting to the claim in a statement, Adeyeye Ajayi, the personal aide to Gowon, said the former military leader is alive.

“I am still around and well. I am not in a hurry,” the statement quoted Gowon as saying.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark said he was devastated when he heard the rumoured death of the former head of state until he spoke with him via the mobile phone.

“The social media yesterday almost caused an attack on me when they announced that General Yakubu Gowon was gone,” he said.

“I had a breakdown 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 subjected to the position of second-class citizens.”

Clark served as the minister of information under the military administration of Gowon in 1975.

Gowon was the head of state between August 1, 1966 and July 29, 1975.