President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he lost two of his children to the very much dreaded sickle cell anaemia.

The President made this known in a documentary shown at a private dinner organised by his family and close associates to celebrate his 80th birthday on Friday night at the State House Banquet Hall.

While speaking about his personal life during the dinner, Buhari disclosed that he lost two of his children from his first wife who is now late, Safinatu, to sickle cell anaemia.

He noted that 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 debunked the claim by some Nigerians that presumed him to be long dead and replaced by a body double named ‘Jibril of Sudan.’

He described this claim as “not a funny joke”, adding that the dark 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.”

While raising his glass in a toast for the celebrant, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described President Buhari as a sincere, kind-hearted man, and an exceptional leader.

Osinbajo praised the President for leading the nation with “great courage and commitment.”

He said, “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.”

Other personalities 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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