Halima Abubakar, the Nigerian actress, has appealed for financial support from the Kogi state government amid her battle with an unknown illness.
In 2022, Abubakar announced her retirement from acting over
health concerns. However, she did not reveal details of the ailment she was
battling.
She also made allegations against Johnson Suleman, the
general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, claiming that they had
dated and that her health issues stemmed from the relationship.
Suleman responded with a defamation lawsuit, which resulted
in a N10 million fine against Abubakar.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Abubakar broke down in
tears as she disclosed she has been concealing her “health struggles with media
filters”.
She expressed frustration over claims of lying about her
condition, stating that even her best friend doubted her illness.
“Hi everybody. People are confused, saying what’s going on.
I’m not feeling fine up till now, I’m just good at being strong and pretending
that I am okay,” she said.
“This is me, but every day you see me post pictures with a
filter. That is a filter from TikTok, but this is how I look. I didn’t want to
post a picture looking like this. And some of you would be laughing, what is
funny?
“I have gone to the hospital, I actually go to Turkish
hospital, which is one of the biggest in Nigeria. This is not me.
“You sacked me from Nollywood, which is okay, but what is
all this betrayal? They said I was never sick, that I was lying. I was in the
village for more than a year and I just returned here because the hospital I
use is close by. There is nothing wrong with me medically.
“My own best friend says I am lying, that I am acting. How
can someone be acting sick? Do I look like someone who is acting to you?
“You are a wicked person, and you are evil. God will punish
you for saying I am lying. Do you know how many people I’ve been begging?
“I have practically been begging everybody so they can
support me for my medication. I have so many things to do medically including
MRI and blood pressure check.”
She accused her colleagues in the film industry of
abandoning her, revealing that she had reached out to people for help.
Abubakar also called out the Kogi government for not “coming
to my aid despite my contributions to the state”.
“The whole of Nollywood do not talk to me. I go from DM to
DM to see who will help me,” she added.
“I was rich, I sold everything, three cars and you would
think they would be sympathetic.
“To think that I’m from Kogi state. For all the things I
have done in the state, you would think they would come to my rescue but no
they didn’t. Kogi government, you are supposed to take care of your own.”
The actress shared her account details while appealing to
the Kogi government for financial support in an accompanying caption.
“Help me, I’m tired of begging people. Please tag Kogi state
government,” the caption reads.