Buhari: I lost two children to sickle cell

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he lost two of his children by his late wife, Safinatu, to sickle cell, anemia.

Buhari said at the time he married the first lady, Aisha, he insisted his second wife must be AA genotype so that his children would not inherit the S from his AS genotype.

Buhari made this known via a documentary played at a private dinner organised by his family and close associates to mark his 80th birthday on Friday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following his absence from the country on the day of his birthday, Saturday, December 17, 2022, in Washington DC, United Sates where he attended the US-African Summit.

Buhari also described as “not a funny joke” claims by some Nigerians that presumed him to be long dead and replaced by a body named ‘Jibril of Sudan’.

The President said the rumour was the handiwork of some mischief makers who thrive on what they do not understand.

“Yes! People said I am somebody from Sudan. I didn’t bother with the name. Nigerians have mischievous ways of explaining themselves,” Buhari stated.

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.”

Others at the event were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Aminu Masari (Katsina); former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; and the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; among others.

The Star

Segun Ojo