Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari has put to rest rumours that he had died and been replaced by a clone.
The rumours have been circulating on social media for several weeks.
The president on Sunday said the “ignorant rumours” being perpetuated were meant to distract Nigerians ahead of the presidential elections in 2019.
The 75-year-old president, who spent five months in Britain last year for treatment for an undisclosed illness said many of his detractors had hoped he died.
“One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether I’ve been cloned or not. The ignorant rumours are not surprising, when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead,” Buhari said on a twitter post.
Speaking at a conference in Poland, Buhari said he was looking forward to celebrating his 76th birthday.
I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And I’m still going strong!
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 2, 2018
One theory widely aired on social media – and by some political opponents – was that he had been replaced by a lookalike from Sudan called Jubril.
No evidence has been presented, but videos making the claim have still been viewed thousands of times on YouTube and Facebook.
The presidency circulated Buhari’s comments in an emailed statement entitled “It’s Real Me, President Buhari Responds to Cloning Allegation”.
