Adesina: Buhari Could Have Been Long Dead If He Had Used Nigerian Hospitals
- Former presidential aide, Femi Adesina, revealed that Muhammadu Buhari’s continued medical treatment in the UK was essential for his survival, even before his presidency
- Speaking during a live tribute broadcast, Adesina defended the late president’s overseas care, citing the limitations of Nigeria’s healthcare system at the time
- The remarks reignited public discourse around elite access to foreign treatment and the state of local medical infrastructure
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Former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s reliance on foreign medical care was a necessity born out of survival and not a show of luxury.
He made this assertion on Tuesday during a special live broadcast on Channels Television, organised in honour of the late president.
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Adesina responded to criticisms surrounding Buhari’s frequent medical trips to the United Kingdom during his tenure, clarifying that the decision had been consistent even before Buhari assumed office.
“Buhari always had his medicals in London, even when he was not in the office. So it was not about the time he was president alone. He had always had it there,” Adesina explained.
UK doctors had long managed Buhari’s health
According to Adesina, British medical professionals had been treating Buhari prior to his 2015 election victory and were familiar with his health history. This, he noted, made it impractical to switch medical teams mid-treatment.
He emphasised that the choice to continue treatment in London was driven by the constraints of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the expertise available abroad.
“One has to be alive first to get certain things corrected or changed in the country. If Buhari had said he would do his medicals here as a show of patriotism or something, he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country,” he said.
Healthcare system seen as inadequate
Adesina stated that the late president’s survival was vital for his leadership and that staying alive required access to quality medical care not readily available in Nigeria at the time.
“He needed to be alive to be able to lead the country to a point where we would have that expertise. So those who complained about his frequent medical trips abroad don’t know that the man needed to be alive first before you can make a change,” he added.
He also argued that Buhari’s choice to seek medical care outside Nigeria should be understood as a strategic necessity rather than an indictment of patriotism or an outright dismissal of local healthcare services.
Buhari’s medical trips sparked national debate
Throughout Buhari’s presidency, his medical visits to the UK became a focal point of public scrutiny. Daily Trust noted that many Nigerians voiced concerns about the implications of a sitting president frequently seeking treatment overseas rather than improving the nation’s struggling health sector.
Critics viewed the move as a reflection of the administration’s lack of confidence in the domestic healthcare infrastructure and a discouraging signal to citizens unable to afford medical care abroad.
Health experts noted that the debate around Buhari’s treatment abroad highlighted deep inequalities in healthcare access, especially between the political elite and everyday Nigerians.
Public hospitals, they said, continued to face challenges such as limited funding, inadequate staffing, and lack of essential equipment.
Speaking with Legit.ng, AbdulRasheed Hussaini, a public expert based in Nigeria, commented on Adesina’s controversial statements:
“What Adesina said reignited a long-standing debate: Can a leader truly reform a system they refuse to use? Buhari’s medical choices may have been pragmatic, but they also depict a painful truth, Nigeria’s healthcare system remains a casualty of political neglect.”
Buhari says gave his best to Nigeria
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari says he has done his best for the country and hopes Nigerians will understand his effort after he leaves office.
The president insisted he has done well when assessed based on the conditions he met when he took office. His words: “I’ve been a governor, a minister, and I’m in my second term as president. So, I’ve gone through all the systems, and what else can I do for this country?”
Reacting to the latest interview by the president, Ahmed Magawata, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education Yola, Adamawa state said he finds it difficult to retain his optimism for Nigeria's restoration in the remaining period Buhari will remain in power.
Source: Legit.ng
