Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has broken the silence to refute the rumours that he is bedridden or dead.
Babangida spoke with select newsmen on Sunday afternoon in his home in Minna, the Niger State capital.
He said: “It is true I have minimised my appearance at public functions because of my ill health, but not to the level of incapacitation as being widely circulated in some media.”
It was reported few days ago on the social media that Babangida was seriously ill and bedridden.
Some reports said he had passed on.
According to Babangida: “For me, it doesn’t shock me neither bother me because I know I must go and meet God my Creator.
“There is nothing really to worry about, my religion has told me.
“Well, as a Muslim I strongly believe everybody will die.
“Everybody will die and everybody has to die.
“It could be now or in 100 years time or two days to come.
“But it doesn’t matter.
“Everybody must die.
“You can see me attending to people, after which we all go in for our lunch and have our prayers before I retire for my siesta.
“I am not incapacitated.
“Nobody is above sickness or death because nobody is above what God has destined.
“Everybody will fall sick or will die or either of their relations must die.”
Babangida added that the future of the country is bright and the dreams of Nigerians to actualize their independence was worthwhile.
He added: “I still believe very strongly in this country, which is further demonstrated by the people of these great nation because they are very industrious people, hardworking.“That gives me the hope for Nigeria.”
The former Military President also revealed that the wound sustained in his right leg as a result of the piercing of a bullet during the Civil War has been with him for quite sometime and its frequent relapsing is an expected phenomenon.
“When I was the President of the country, I had to travel to Germany where the sickness was diagnosed as Radiculopathy, which has troubled me since and as such relapses,” he added.
It should be recalled that there were palpable fears in the homestead of Babangida in November 2011 over his failing health and in October 2014 when it was rumoured that he may not return to Nigeria alive as he spent almost two months in Germany over his failing health.
