The Peoples Democratic Party has taken a swipe at the Presidency for allegedly shielding the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his medical trip to the United Kingdom to see his doctors indicates that he is not fi t to effectively preside over the affairs of the Nigerian state. PATRICK ANDREW reproduces the statement
“The PDP notes the confirmation of the Presidency that President Buhari is unwell, ailing and unfit to attend to state matters, resulting to his latest journey to the United Kingdom for medical attention.
“This admission, though belated and coming after intense public pressure, has now put to rest speculations and anxiety on the health status of the President, as well as his attendant inability to effectively govern. Whereas we have nothing against Mr. President’s decision to take care of his ailing health as we are all subject to human frailties, Nigerians detest the deception, lies and beguiling that had trailed the handling of his unabating health issue.
Even as we speak, Nigerians are not aware of the ailment our President is suffering from and the identity of the doctors and the hospital attending to him “It is unfortunate that the President and his handlers had chosen to shroud the issue of his persistent illness in secrecy under a government that prides itself on claims of transparency and integrity. “Only last week, two days after his departure from the United States where he had gone for a state visit, Mr. President went ‘missing’ again.
When concerns began to mount on his whereabouts, the Presidency claimed he had a “technical stopover” in the UK, citing flight issues, only for revelations to emerge from the same Presidency, on Monday, that Mr. President was actually in the UK to see his doctors.”
“Were taken for granted, deceived and treated like lesser men and women without reasoning capacity, while our nation, at those periods, was left with no leadership as Mr. President refused to transmit power as required by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.” Escalation of impunity by the federal government “We want to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the import of the response by the Presidency to the petition filed by our party to the UN detailing the gross violation of human rights, mass killings, persecution of opposition, subversion of democratic tenets and large scale corruption by the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC Federal Government. “Moreover, it is unfortunate that President Buhari would always embark on medical tourism abroad when his administration has completely refused to address the poor state of the health sector in Nigeria, for which medical personnel are currently on strike across the nation.
“We urge the Presidency to note that shrouding the issue of President Buhari’s illness in secrecy, just for political gains, is neither in the interest of the President nor that of our nation at large. “Sordidly, the handlers of Mr. President appear to be more concerned about the next election instead of the consequences of a failing health and the blatant breaches of our constitution. The PDP therefore counsels President Buhari to be well guided and take charge of his health challenges”, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan.
UK medical visit, “It’s just for review “– Presidency-Crossfire
A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity Monday night, said the president had a meeting with his doctor last Thursday when he had a “technical stopover” for aircraft maintenance in London on his way back to Nigeria from Washington where he had met United States President Donald Trump. Mallam Shehu said the doctor asked the president to return for another meeting, and the President agreed to do. The statement added: “President Buhari will return on Saturday, May 12th.
On his return, the president’s two-day state visit to Jigawa, which was postponed because of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) ward congresses will now take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th May.” While speaking about the trip in an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said there’s no cause for alarm over the president’s health as he’s merely travelling for a medical ‘review’.
When asked if the president will return to the country after the scheduled four days, as he’s previously extended medical trips in the past, Adesina said only God has the guarantee over such matters. However, he also noted that if all goes well with his doctor, the president will return to Nigeria as has been officially announced.
He said, “When you talk of guarantee, man cannot guarantee anything. Man cannot even guarantee life because somebody that is here in the morning could be gone in the afternoon; so in terms of guarantee, nobody can guarantee anything. “But then, in terms of the health of Mr President, I’ll just say there’s no cause for alarm because he is up and about, he’s doing his duties and what he’s going for is a review. “We all need that from time to time. There’s nobody that is 100% healthy. He’s just going for a review so I want to believe that he’ll leave today and come back on Saturday as has been planned.
“But like I said, you know, it is only God that has a final authority on things but all things being equal, he’ll be back on Saturday.”
The presidential aide also dismissed quotes attributed to the president about putting an end to medical tourism during his tenure amid criticism of his frequent medical trips to the United Kingdom. Buhari’s unhealthy start to 2017 19 January – Leaves for UK on “medical vacation” 5 February – Asks parliament to extend medical leave 10 March – Returns home but does not resume work immediately 26 April – Misses second cabinet meeting and is “working from home” 28 April – Misses Friday prayers 3 May – Misses third cabinet meeting 5 May – Appears at Friday prayers in Abuja 7 May – Travels to UK for further treatment.