EX-COMMUNICATION MINISTER, OLANREWAJU DISMISSES DEATH RUMOUR

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Former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), has debunked comment circulating condolences on his death, saying that he is still alive and did not die in an accident of whatever form.

Olanrewaju, who is also a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, said this in his response made available on Sunday by the Media Office of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, describing the trending condolences as fake news from scammers.

The former minister, in his reaction to the trending message, which read thus: “Our condolences on the death of Tajudeen Olanrewaju Adeniji with the number 7082892754 who died in a fatal accident kindly note that the burial day will be announced later,” further described it as “the usual message from hackers/scammers or politically motivated media publication propagandist to embarrass an individual.”

Olanrewaju, while expressing concern, sounded that this could be a forewarning of an evil plan to kill him, saying that hoped it was not a camouflage to carry out a dastardly act as a future testament, but quickly remarked that “Allah has a way of protecting his servants, I’m living and surviving by His grace.

“This could be a forewarning of an evil plan to kill me. Many things were wrong with the statement. I hope it is not a camouflage to carry out a dastardly act as a future testament. Allah has a way of protecting his servants. I’m living and surviving by His grace,” the former minister said.

Also speaking, an honoured trustee of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, Baba Mohammed Akin Martins, said Major-General Olanrewaju (rtd) was neither dead nor was he involved in accident of any kind.

The devout Muslim elder, however, pronouncing “Back to sender!” on those that might be planning such, and prayed that God would visit them with the same treatment “be met by the same treatment He “meted to Firiaona, who felt there was no God and was more powerful than anyone, and Abraha, the elephant riding warrior who was destroyed by Allah for being so arrogant that he plotted to destroy the Ka’abah.

“As for the plotters, let them be told that this is replicate of what they did to people in the past who died because they didn’t take note. This time, you want to do it to an Army General, who, by all standards, is expert in reading mindset. It will be hard for you. But we are watching our back so, you too should watch your back,” he said.

The leadership of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation described the whatsapp message as a “prank to be taken seriously and plot taken too far,” expressing hope that nothing happens to the General Olanrewaju or any of the leaders of the group.

Meanwhile, the socio-cultural organisation has said that the matter would be reported officially to appropriate authorities.