Those who want me dead will perish before I do, said Orji

According to Senator Theodore Orji (Abia Central), he is not dead.

Rumors of the former governor, known by his admirers as Ochendo, having passed away have begun to circulate in the State.

According to rumors, he passed away in an undisclosed Kaduna specialty hospital where he had sought treatment because his travel documents were allegedly still in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters’ custody.

The senator from Abia Central’s close friends and family could not be attracted.

However, Ochendo refuted the death rumor in a three-minute video that was widely shared on social media on Saturday and is thought to have been recorded by one of his assistants.

He said those wishing him dead will die before him.

Orji, in the video, said: “For sure, I am alive. Are you not seeing me? No be man dey talk?

“The rumours (of my death) doesn’t mean anything to me. I am used to rumours; I am used to serious rumours, so it doesn’t mean anything to me.

“It is you who are my friends that are worried and you have come now to verify and you have seen the truth; that I am alive. I dey kampe.

“It was a very wicked rumour. This is not the first time it has happened in Abia.

“People go into their rooms and concur stories and push it out and those who are gullible will buy the idea. Social media is open to every person and my good friends will start fumbling.

“I am not perturbed at all. You have access to me and I am here. I have been in Umuahia.

“If not for the shift in the election, I could have been at my polling unit voting.

“To the people of Abia State, I will encourage them to be steadfast. They should stay strong. Things are hard, but it is not hard for people only in Abia State it is hard for people in other states. They should endure because one day, it will be better.

“They should disregard the rumour (of death). Since they said that I am dead and I am alive, I don’t know the type of rumour that they will be generating tomorrow that will be more than this one.”

Asked for his prayers for those that wish him death, Orji said: “You can’t eat your cake and have it. If you wish me well, God will wish you well.

“If you wish me bad, evil will follow you and that is what will happen to still those people who are rumouring that I am dead.

“Death is waiting for them sooner or later. They will die before me. Even if they are younger than me, they will die and I go dey here kampe.”

(Nation)