Stroke knocks down Kebbi centenarian

ALHAJI Muhammadu Modi, a centenarian who thrilled crowd with his fitness at the 6th Abdullahi Fodio merit award ceremony in Kebbi State, has been knocked down by stroke, Weekly Trust heard from family sources.

In a story on the centenarian last year, Weekly Trust reported how, despite his old age, he was able to walk freely unaided, and eat all local foods. At 100 also, Alhaji Modi was still enjoying the services of his 30 teeth, after losing only two.

But one of the centenarian’s grandchildren Shehu told Weekly Trust that Alhaji Modi has lost all this to stroke.

“He can no long walk unaided, because he is now battling with stroke. Though Baba can still read and eat, but can’t walk by himself. For many months now he has been battling with stroke,” he said.

Known popularly as Baba Modi in Birnin Kebbi, the centenarian was one of the 12 personalities honoured at the 6th Abdullahi Fodio Merit Award last year which was conceived in honour of late Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio, the brother of the legendary Islamic reformer and Jihadist, Sheikh Usman bin Fodio.

Born in 1912, Alhaji Modi is the Magajin Garin Gwandu and started his early working career as a Shariah Court judge. He was, therefore, recognised for his immense contribution to the development of Shariah in the state and also his role as a onetime sanitation officer.

At his Kofar Kola residence in Birnin Kebbi last year, Baba Modi told Weekly Trust that there is no any secret attached to his longevity. “It is the will of Allah. I eat all sorts of food, meat and up till now, I still chew sugarcane. I don’t have any ailment including diabetes. When I was growing up, I was one of the local hunters here in Gwandu, so I eat a lot of birds, guinea fowls and chickens.”

The centenarian has seven children, over 70 grandchildren and 30 great grand children.