The rumour that President Muhammadu Buhari had passed away and been replaced by a different person from Sudan has been dismissed as absurd by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo claimed that misuse of social media contributed to the rumor's popularity and expressed surprise that so many Nigerians had fallen for the lies.
The former President described in a video how a very important individual contacted him and inquired about the veracity of Buhari's alleged demise.
He claims that the source informed him that the news had gone viral on social media.
Balogun Owu was perplexed as to how Buhari could have passed away and been replaced by a person from Sudan without him being aware of it.
A very high ranking person approached me and asked, "Tell me about this talk of Buhari not being Buhari."
"Do you believe them? I asked," Well, it's on social media, he remarked. I questioned, "How will Buhari pass away and we not be aware of his passing while they bring us someone from Sudan to be Buhari?"
Very silly, I say. But you see people believing it on social media," said Obasanjo, expressing his worry.
Obasanjo acknowledged the benefits of social media but lamented how it is sometimes misused.
He promoted educating kids and teenagers about the risks associated with using social media inappropriately.
Social media is beneficial, but it can also be misused. We must teach our children and teenagers about the risks associated with social media, he said.