Ohanaeze denies rumour that its president Professor George Obiozor passed away on Boxing Day

OHANAEZE Ndigbo has vehemently denied rumours that its president Professor George Obiozor passed away on Boxing Day after succumbing to a heart-related ailment stating that he remains alive.

Professor Obiozor, an octogenarian, has reportedly been ill and unable to sustain regular public appearances. After he remained unseen throughout the Christmas festivities, one highly placed Ohanaeze chieftain said Professor Obiozor died on December 26 of a heart-related disease.

He added: “The man is dead but it’s not in our tradition to announce such death even when we have such information, as we allow the family members to make such an announcement. He died on Monday of heart-related disease.

"I’m not specific about where he died but he travelled abroad and returned to Lagos. I was called in the early hours of December 26th that he died in the early hour."

Dismissing this story, however, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo publicity secretary, said Professor Obiozor was alive. He added: “Whatever I tell you is the truth and official. The man is alive, he is not dead.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has urged its members of the public to ignore the rumour making the rounds that Professor Obiozor is dead. Vice president, Dr Kingsley Dozie, dismissed the rumour as unfounded and false, explaining that should anything happen to the Ohanaeze president, the family would not hesitate to inform the public.

He said that when he heard the rumour, he quickly got in touch with a family member of t Professor Obiozor, who confirmed to him that there was no iota of truth in the rumour. Dr Dozie advised people against spreading falsehood.