Yakubu Gowon, ex-Nigeria’s head of state, is a cat with nine lives. He has been falsely declared dead several times. Every time he’s declared dead, it’s refuted; Gowon has lived a healthy life for years.
Two significant reports about Yakubu Gowon’s death have spread widely on social media, particularly Facebook.
In October 2023, a rumor appeared on social media claiming that Yakubu Gowon had died at the age of 89. The post, which received over 100 likes and comments, was swiftly discredited by Gowon’s assistant, Adeyeye Ajayi.
He described it as fake news and advised the public to disregard it, alleging that the former military chief was still alive and well. “I am still alive and well. “I’m not in a hurry,” replied Ajayi.
In December 2025, another report arose on social media alleging that Yakubu Gowon, the previous Head of State, had died.
The report caused significant confusion and drew numerous sympathies until it was disproved by Adeyeye Ajayi, the former head of state’s adviser. Ajayi encouraged Nigerians to always check information from reliable sources before sharing it.
However, the Nigerian Senate has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate and identify those responsible for spreading the fake news.
14 things you probably didn’t know about Yakubu Gowon, the former Head of State who founded 12 states
He was born on October 19, 1934, in Kanke, Plateau State
He is an Anglican Christian from the Ngas ethnic group in Northern Nigeria
He trained at prestigious military academies, including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK
He also attended the Staff College, Camberley, UK
He joined the Nigerian Army in 1954
He participated in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, which minimized damaging effects in the Congo Crisis
He became Nigeria’s youngest military chief of staff at 31
He later became the Head of State through a military coup, serving for almost nine years
He is known for his famous speech, which he rendered at the end of the Nigerian Civil War, promoting healing and reconciliation, ‘No Victor, No Vanquished.’
He created 12 new states, weakening regional divisions and promoting national unity
He established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
He established new universities and infrastructure projects
His administration was heavily accused of corruption, which eventually led to the overthrow in a 1975 coup led by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed
He is a retired Nigerian Army general
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