- President Muhammadu Buhari shared a light-hearted moment during an old interview in which he disclosed that he had girlfriends as a young soldier, before he got married
- The president however jokingly ‘begged’ the reporter not to publish the story so his wife (Aisha) doesn’t read it
- President Buhari also disclosed that he had never indulged in alcohol, and had quit smoking in 1977
President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he had girlfriends as a young officer, before he got married.
The president made the disclosure as he shared a light-hearted moment during an interview conducted with The Sun, in 2012.
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NAIJ.com notes that the president was responding to a question about how he unwinds, and was also asked if he still smokes.
He responded: “I used to smoke, but of course, I abandoned it I think in 1977.”
Buhari further disclosed that he had never taken alcohol in his life; not even as a young man.
He stated: “No, no. Even in the military tradition, how they break you in, I said well, the military did not stop anybody practising his religion.
“My religion said no alcohol and no alcohol. So, that was respected. I was never forced to take alcohol, and I have never voluntarily taken it because I want to remain alert all the time.
“There is a tendency that when you drink, you would want to have a bottle more, or a glass more and do something stupid.”
The president also disclosed that he had girlfriends as a young soldier.
He was asked if he had women flocking around him in those days; to which he responded: "I didn’t drink, I smoked, I had girlfriends; it was true.”
When asked how many girlfriends he had, the president answered light-heartedly: “I hope you won’t publish this because my wife will read the interview. So, you will be very kind to me if you don’t publish that.”
Buhari also disclosed why he did not get married during that period of time, during the Civil War, just like his colleagues.
He stated: “Some of our colleagues, like late Vatsa, like Babangida, they were more adventurous than myself. They took a weekend and had a quick marriage and went back to the front.
“I thought I would be putting the poor girl or the poor woman under a lot of stress. So, I said if I survived the war, I would get married; but if I didn’t survive, no woman should cry for me other than my relatives.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari received the most adorable birthday surprise from his grand-daughter Zulaihat.
The president who clocked 75 on Sunday, December 17, received a birthday card from Zulaihat.
In the photo of the card that was shared on social media, it could be seen that the cute birthday card was clearly homemade. The card had a photo of Zulaihat with writings wishing the president a happy birthday.
Nigerians ask President Buhari for special Christmas gifts - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Tuesday, 19 December 2017