Former president John Kufuor has revealed that his absence from Friday’s State of the Nation address delivered by president John Mahama was due to short illness. According to him, the illness knocked him down Friday morning making it difficult for him to attend the ceremony. President Mahama today delivered his first and last state of the nation address to Ghana’s fifth Parliament of the fourth Republic. The event was attended by many dignitaries including the Rawlingses but conspicuously missing was former president John Kufuor. Speaking exclusively on Asempa FM's current affairs Talkshow programme on Friday, former president Kufuor noted his inability to attend the ceremony was purely because of circumstances beyond him and not to disrespect the whole nation. “It is not deliberate I did not attend the State of the Nation address this morning because I was knocked down by short illness. I knew I was to be there but unfortunately circumstances beyond my control prevented me. When you go and sit in public knowing that you are not well and something happens, it will not be proper so I decided to back down” he bellowed.