Former
Nigeria defender Taribo West has dispelled news on the social media and
websites claiming he died in a South African hospital on Thursday.
Nigerian
website gongnews.com
had the headline ‘Another tragedy: Taribo West dies at 50’ while smithrise.com’s was
‘Former Nigerian Defender Taribo West Dies in South Africa.’
“The
former defender of Nigeria Super Eagles who is now a pastor and founder of Shelter
in The Storm Miracle Ministries of All Nations has died in South Africa early
morning of Tuesday, South Africa Radio reports.
“He
passed on at 42. According to the reports, West was flown into South Africa for
medical treatment but did not state what he was diagnosed of. His body has
since been sent for autopsy. He is best remembered for his various unusual and
colourful hairstyles,” smithrise.com
reported.
But
in an interview, the ex-footballer who had stints at European giants AC Milan,
Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern said he was alive and well, and never visited
South Africa.
He
said he first got wind of the news while at home meditating ahead of his church
programme on Sunday.
“I
received calls telling me to check Facebook about news of my death. I saw
reports of my death and people were commenting. I just laughed. I’ve never
received such number of calls all my life. From US, UK, all over the world,”
the Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medallist said.
He
added that he had a premonition that something ‘evil’ was going to happen,
after a spiritual attack.
Taribo
said, “It’s the handwork of the devil; they struck but they couldn’t get me.
Last week, I had a revelation, in which I was heavily attacked but they
couldn’t get me. They also tried it in the physical but they didn’t succeed.
So, when they couldn’t kill me, they resorted to the rumour of my death. It
wasn’t an ordinary thing. But when they can’t get you, they must join you in
celebrating with you. That’s what’s happening now.”
Speaking
further, Taribo said he is relieved and happy after God used the news to
reunite him with old friends and acquaintances.
“All
the people I had lost contact with were calling, thinking I had kicked the
bucket. But it helped me in reuniting with these people. That’s God’s work,
when the devil means evil for you, God turns it to good for His children. I
didn’t travel. I only went to the American Embassy last Tuesday; I never
travelled after that,” Taribo said.
Meanwhile
ex-teammates of Taribo and journalists have urged the public to dispel rumours
of the death of the ex-Enugu Rangers’ centre-back.
The
Radio Catalyst slammed gongnews.com slammed for posting false news on
twitter. “Gongnews is fake brand giving out fake news to the world. Taribo
West is not dead.”
Victor
Ikpeba tweeted, “My brother Taribo West is alive. Please ignore rumours that he
is dead.” Edema Fuludu wrote, “I just spoke to Taribo West and he is hale and
hearty.”
Austin
Okon-Akpan added, “It’s so disgusting when people put out silly talks on social
media. PLEASE TARIBO WEST IS DOING JUST FINE. Just got off the phone with him.”
Journalist
Colin Udoh also tweeted, “WARNING: Ignore rumors of the death of Taribo West. I
have spoken to him. He is alive, hale and hearty.”
Source:The Punch
Tags
Society