PMB Inauguration: 90-year-old Woman Returns After Treatment Abroad

The 90-year-old Hajiya Fati Koko, popularly called ‘Mai Talle Tara,’ who suffered a stroke while returning from Abuja where she had gone to witness the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, has returned to Nigeria from the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai where she received a government-sponsored medical treatment.

Mai Talle Tara, a popular businesswoman from Kebbi State, came to fame after she donated her N1million life’s earnings to support Buhari’s presidential campaign.

The Kebbi State government took the responsibility of her medical expenses and flew her to the Iranian Hospital in Dubai on October 4.

Mai Talle Tara returned on Sunday evening after spending two weeks at the Dubai hospital where she was treated for stroke.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday night, Mai Talle Tara thanked President Buhari and the Kebbi State government for their efforts toward giving her adequate medical care.

Also speaking, the personal physician to the Kebbi State governor, Dr Abubakar Bawa Dakingari, who traveled with her to Dubai, said she was well treated and was recuperating fast.

Dakingari dismissed media reports that Mai Talle Tara was abandoned.

“After admitting and treating her at the Sir Yahaya General Hospital in Birnin Kebbi at the initial stage, we had to wait until all the processes of traveling abroad were concluded. We had to do visas for all of them (accompanying family members) and you know it is not something you do in a day.”

He said the sum of N4 million was expended for the medical trip, which took care of their accommodation and feeding.

Hajiya Mai Talle-Tara’s daughter, A’isha Isa, who accompanied her to the Dubai trip, told journalists that her mother was well taken care of at the hospital.

“They gave her proper care in everything. They worked very hard on her. They did all the necessary things for her. We thank the Kebbi State government for taking care of our mother. We pray God will guide them in their leadership. We also appreciate the doctor that went with us,” she said.