How we cared for grandma who donated N1 million to Buhari – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that Maitalle Koko, the 92-year-old woman who donated her lifesavings to President Muhammadu Buhari during election campaigns, was abandoned by the party, saying the woman was well catered for by the ruling party.

There were reports, especially on social media, that APC had abandoned Ms. Koko after suffering mild paralysis shortly after returning from Abuja where she attended the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ms. Koko made news when she donated all her lifesavings totalling N1 million to the campaign office of Mr. Buhari.

But in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, APC said the wife of the Kebbi State governor, Zainab Bagudu, a medical doctor, had personally taken charge of Ms. Koko’s welfare.

He said since the woman suffered a mild stroke after returning from Abuja where she witnessed the swearing-in of Mr. Buhari, she was admitted and treated at the Sir Yahaya General Hospital in Birnin Kebbi.

Mr. Mohammed said all her medical bills were paid by the state governor and his wife, who ensured that her close associate and friend, Zainab Koko, prepared and delivered meals thrice daily to Ms. Koko.

”When she was discharged from the hospital after 10 days, she was taken to her home town of Koko, where she has been under the care of the resident medical officer, Dr. Kola, who reviews her condition and ensures she get physiotherapy, in addition to being in constant touch with Dr. Abubakar Dakingari, a consultant in Birnin Kebbi.

”The Kebbi State Government has also approved 4 million Naira for her and her attendant doctor to travel to Dubai for further treatment, but she has been too weak to travel.

”Since Hajia Maitalle returned to her home in Koko, the Governor, the First Lady and Sen. Aliero have been in touch with her. The First Lady has personally visited her three times, the Governor and Sen. Aliero once each and the House of Representatives member from her constituency over four times.

”We have gone to this great length to provide full details of Hajia Maitalle’s condition in order to give Nigerians the correct information about her situation. We do not know what informed the wicked, irresponsible and downright deceitful story that the delightful woman has been abandoned even after she gave her life earnings in support of Buhari’s presidential campaign. The story of Hajia Maitalle’s purported abandonment is a figment of the imagination of the fellow who wrote it,” APC said.