The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has
revealed that he lost two of his children to sickle cell.
Buhari made this known in a documentary played at a private
dinner organised by his family and close associates to mark his 80th birthday
on Friday night at the State House Banquet Hall.
Speaking on his personal life, the President revealed that
he lost two of his children by his late wife, Safinatu, to sickle cell anemia.
This explained why, at the time he married the first lady,
Aisha Buhari, he insisted his second wife must be AA genotype so that his
children would not inherit the S from his AS genotype.
Buhari also described as “not a funny joke,” claims by some
Nigerians that presumed him to be long dead and replaced by a body double named
‘Jibril of Sudan.’
The President said the dark rumour was the handiwork of some
mischief makers who thrive on what they do not understand.
In the documentary interview, Buhari responded to a question
about the rumour saying, “Yes! People said I am somebody from Sudan. I didn’t
bother with the name. Nigerians have mischievous ways of explaining
themselves.”
Asked if he finds such allusions to be funny, he said: “No.
It is not funny because those who made those statement, they just want to be
cheeky. They want to distract attention from the main issue. Our main issue is
to do the infrastructure, make people aware that they need to work hard to live
well. They just want to enjoy life without earning the respect of their
community and so on.”
While proposing a toast for the celebrant earlier, Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo described Buhari as a forthright, kind man and an
exemplary leader.
Osinbajo eulogised Buhari for leading the nation with “great
courage and commitment,” saying, “I invite your excellences, ladies and
gentlemen, to join me in proposing this toast to an exemplary leader, a
forthright and honest man, a good and kind man, and a man who has led this
country with great courage, determination and commitment for so many years.
“We pray that the almighty God will preserve his life for
very many years to come and that he will live all of these many years in good
health, peace, joy and with the love of all of our country men.”
In attendance were governors of Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu;
Katsina, Aminu Masari; former Ekiti state Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the President’s Chief of
Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; cabinet members, family members, captains of
industry including Chairman of AriseTV and the Thisday Group, Nduka Obaigbena,
among others.
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