President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he lost two of his children to sickle cell.
President 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, he insisted his second wife must be ‘AA’ genotype so that his children would not inherit the ‘S’ from his ‘AS’ genotype.
While proposing a toast for the celebrant earlier, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described President Buhari as a ‘forthright, kind man and an exemplary leader’.
Osinbajo eulogised President 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.
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“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 State, Atiku Bagudu; Katsina State, Aminu Masari; a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. 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, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, among others.