By Chinonso Alozie

Former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, addressed recent rumors claiming he had passed away, attributing them to envy over the positive reception he received at the burial ceremony of the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha expressed dismay at the “breaking news” circulated by unnamed sources on November 6, 2024, alleging he had died in a London hospital due to a fabricated illness referred to as “acute gorilla.”

The statement emphasized that Okorocha, who had been present in Owerri for the burial, was in good health and has not been sick since leaving office in 2019.

“To all men and women of conscience,” the statement declared, “the correct breaking news is that Rochas Okorocha is neither sick nor dead. He has been hale and hearty throughout his stay in Owerri and has continued with his schedule, attending services in Abuja in honor of prominent Igbos, including Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.”

The statement also criticized the originators of the rumor, characterizing them as “dead in spirit” and accusing them of harboring resentment over the ovation Okorocha received at Iwuanyanwu’s burial. Okorocha expressed compassion for them, urging collective prayers for their spiritual healing, and rejecting any ill wishes toward them.

“Those who came up with this news,” the statement continued, “are angry about the ovation Okorocha received. We do not curse those whom God has blessed. Instead, we wish these individuals genuine repentance and a return to a normal life. We pray for them,” it concluded.