TheCable

Taribo West, former Super Eagles and AC Milan of Italy defender, says he is very much alive and that Nigerians should reject the “satanic” rumour that he is dead.

West said he was shocked to start getting hundreds of calls from Nigeria and from his friends and former colleagues from all over the world asking if he was dead.

The Gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games told TheCable: “It’s really shocking, I must tell you. Imagine getting hundreds of calls all at the same time.

“You just cut off my daughter with your own persistent call now; its really terrible. I can’t begin to imagine how someone I don’t know will just write that I was dead.

“That, I am sure, means I will live far more decades in great health; it is well.”

Pastor West, as he is popular known, said in spite of people saying he should immediately sue the people behind the erroneous story that he is dead, he would not sue anyone.

“There is no need to sue anyone; I leave them to their conscience and God,” he said.

“I am really actually happy because in spite of the satanic intentions behind their terrible motive, there is an advantage as it has made me connect back with lots and lots of people all over the world, people whom I have not been in touch with in years and decades.

“I am a pastor of God; I will leave them to their conscience if they have any and God. Taribo West will surely live to be an old man in good health.”

TheCable spoke with some of West’s colleagues, such as Peterside Idah, Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorunmu, before being able to talk to West himself to be assured he was alive.

All of them confirmed to have spoken with him at different times before and after the rumour, and that he was hale and hearty.