The controversial Bida-based Islamic cleric and husband of 97 wives, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Masaba, on Sunday, debunked the rumour of his death, saying, ''I am hale and hearty. The rumour of my death is not true.''
The rumour of the death of the 87-year-old record polygamist spread like fire in harmattan on Saturday, especially in the mass media, leading to phone calls and the handing down of instructions by editors to their reporters to get update on the issue.
According to the rumour mill, the cleric died at about 7.45 p.m.
during an undisclosed brief illness.
Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that no sooner than the news of the death broke that some of his teeming followers trooped out en masse to his residence with the intention of confirming the news. They were, however, taken aback when they met their leader conducting a preaching session.
An online news outfit, www.ckn.com,had earlier confirmed the purported passing on of the cleric.
In a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Masaba, who spoke fluently in Yoruba language, refuted his purported death and when asked about his condition, he replied: ''I am not dead. I am well and I am alive.
You can hear my voice. I wish you can come here to see for yourself. We have a mission and insha Allah we shall carry out our assignment.''
He said he was not perturbed by the rumour of his death, blaming the development on his perceived detractors.
“We not moved by all these rumours.
It is one of the evil plans to distract our attention, but we are focused with the assignment Allah has given us,” he said.
Also reacting to the rumour, the Personal Assistant to the cleric, Alhaji Mutairu Salaudeen Bello, who said he had been receiving phone calls from within and outside the country and that people had been trooping in to see their leader, who he said was in good health.
