Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has revealed how her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for many years.
She made the revelation on Tuesday at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Armed Forces Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Centre (AFPTSDC) in Abuja.
Mrs Buhari was the Special Guest of Honour at the event organised by the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
The First Lady said her husband suffered from depression due to his participation in the civil war without rehabilitation, his overthrow as military head of state, and subsequent illegal detention for 40 months.
According to the First lady, President Buhari’s loss in three consecutive elections further aggravated the depression and made life unbearable for her family.
Mrs Buhari said she suffered the consequences of the depression at an early stage in her marriage and became the unintended physiotherapist for his recovery.
She said, “My husband served the Nigerian Army for 27 years before he was overthrown in a coup d’état. He fought civil war for 30 months without rehabilitation; he ruled Nigeria for 20 months and was detained for 40 months without disclosing the nature of his offence.
“One year after he came out from detention, we were married, I clocked 19 years in his house as his wife, legitimately. I suffered the consequences of PTSD, because having gone through all these, and at the age of 19, to handle somebody, who was a former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, to tell him that he is wrong is the first mistake you will make.
“So, at the age of 19, I had to figure out how to tell somebody of his calibre that he was wrong or right and that was the beginning of my offence in his house, and contesting elections in 2003 and failed, 2007, failed and 2011, the same thing – all without rehabilitation – I became a physiotherapist.
“Finally, the whole nation rose against the misuse of power and bad governance. He only succeeded when it became a movement and here we are today. He ruled Nigeria before and he is ruling Nigeria now and this is the last time and final.
“Failing election for three times was a big blow to every contestant but those that have contested for just yesterday, a simple primary election, they are still living in a traumatic condition, I tried to console them, I tried to talk to them, some of them have switched off their phones up till today, just because of a primary election.
“You can imagine myself at 19 years, handling somebody that went to war, suffered coup d’état, then lost several elections, and, finally, getting to the Villa in 2015. Also, for a woman to tell them that this is wrong or right in Nigeria and Africa is a problem.”
The First Lady appreciated the association for establishing the PTSD Centre for Nigerian soldiers, stating that medical condition has negative consequences.
She said: “I want to thank DEPOWA for this foresighted vision of establishing a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Centre for our soldiers. Indeed, PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by terrifying events.
“It is a reality that soldiers and military families have to live with, despite its negative consequences. Being a soldier’s wife or a retired soldier’s wife and a wellness expert, I understand the challenges associated with PTSD and its impact on military families and the nation.“
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