By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigerian music legend, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has dismissed viral rumours of his death, affirming in a video shared on Instagram that he is alive, strong, and in good health.
The 83-year-old Juju music icon, fondly known as Evangelist Obey, broke his silence on Tuesday morning, addressing the false claims that surfaced on social media late Easter Monday and triggered an outpouring of tributes from fans.
“It is fake news that started a few hours ago claiming that I, Evangelist Obey, have passed on to glory. It is a lie. I am alive, and that is not the word Jesus has written,” he said in the video.
Obey punctuated his message with a defiant musical performance, blending Yoruba, English, and Pidgin in a spontaneous composition: “Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka. Na lie lie you dey talk.”
The musician’s assistant, Tope Olukole, also issued a statement late Monday, confirming Obey’s wellbeing and clarifying that the music legend had just celebrated the 60th birthday of his daughter-in-law, Pastor (Mrs) Aduke Rotimi Obey, alongside family members.
“Let’s set the record straight: Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is alive and thriving! Rumours of his passing are baseless and entirely unfounded. We’re glad to see him active and well,” Olukole stated.
Obey, visibly grateful for the overwhelming concern, expressed appreciation for the numerous calls and prayers he received following the false reports.
“I thank every concerned person. I have received so many calls since last night, which made me sleep so late. I appreciate everyone who checked on me and prayed for me. I pray God will continue to protect us all,” he said.
He also criticized the originator of the falsehood, describing the spread of such misinformation as reckless and unprofessional.
“I wonder what happened to the tenet of cross-checking to authenticate news items before publishing. I doubt if the breaker of the news ever passed through a journalism school! It’s a big shame and embarrassment to such a person,” he added.
The singer had been publicly seen just days earlier at the wedding of actress Iyabo Ojo’s daughter, where he took on the ceremonial role of the bride’s grandfather during the traditional engagement.
This incident marks the second time Obey has been forced to deny death rumours. In 2020, he refuted a similar hoax during an Instagram Live interview with journalist Dele Momodu, stating, “It’s not yet time for me to die. I’ve not finished what God sent me to do.”
Obey joins a growing list of Nigerian celebrities—including Olu Jacobs, Zack Orji, and Patience Ozokwor—who have fallen victim to online death hoaxes in recent years, a worrying trend in the country’s digital space.
