It’s Fake News, Arthur Eze Not Dead

By Gideon Njoku

The news was splashed on a couple of platforms that oil and money man, Chief Arthur Eze, popular as Ozoigbondu, was dead.

The news came early Sunday morning of September 26, 2021.

Not a few people, especially, in the South-east zone, and more especially in his Anambra State were shocked as they never heard he was ill. It worsened when there was no statement to either confirm or deny it.

But those who know him say that is not his style. He is not a man of too much protocol, and press releases. He has his own style which he deployed to the maximum Sunday morning.

A staunch member of the Anglican Communion, it is not known if he goes to Church every Sunday, especially during this time of COVID-19.

This Sunday, however, to make a point, he made a song and dance of it. Before he left for Church, a group of, mostly, young men came to confirm he was alive. And in a video which they posted, Eze was seen in an all-white outfit in a photograph with them, with one of them running commentaries.

“This is Chief Arthue Eze. He  is not dead. He is alive and strong. He is doing many things for us, and he will continue. He is strong. Look at him shaking hands. And now, he is entering his car, his Mercedes to go to Church.”

The show did not end there. It continued inside the Church where Eze was seen, along with others, going to give his offering. He did not dance as some other members of the congregation did. But an aide who also wore white followed closely behind him, and when it was Eze’s turn to  put in his own offering, he turned and took a fat, white, envelope from the aide and put it inside the offering bag. Point made.

Such fake news announcing the death of prominent Nigerians have become common. At times, it is political.

Weeks ago, it was that of Bauchi Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, the Senate Committee Chair of Foreign Relations. He was forced to say: “I am alive.”

For the records, the Senator is married to the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal.