It is no longer news that Nigerian President has not been having best of health despite deliberate plan by his close associates to cover it up.
Some political watchers said it has to with old age. There is no doubt that an ageing patron could have health challenge but at the same time, we have some leaders in Africa that are ageing but do not have chronic health challenges.
President Robert Mugabe has been at the helm of affairs since 1980. He’s the African longest serving leader at 93 years.
My point is that having good health is a gift from God, and it appears our dear President do not enjoy this gift.
In May 2016, Buhari cancelled a two-day visit to Lagos to inaugurate projects in the state but he was represented by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo after citing an “ear infection”. On 6 June, Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention.
This happened days after the Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina was quoted as saying Buhari was “as fit as fiddle” and “hale and hearty”, to much discontent and criticism from political analysts and followers.
In the letter to the National assembly, he asked for 10 days medical leave to attend to his ear problem but came back 14 days later.
On January 19th 2017, seven months after his first trip, he embarked on another medical vacation for 10 days.
When he was expected back to the country on the expected day, the media aides informed the nation that he had to extend his stay to run series of tests. In another letter to the national assembly, his medical leave has been extended indefinitely.
As at the time of writing this article, our dear President is yet to be back from his medical vacation.
The frailty nature of man dictates that he can fall ill, recover and probably dies. While one cannot hold the President responsible for his illness, the shrouded secrecy and deceit by his aides is rather baffling and worrisome.
His media aides have not been able to disseminate information thoroughly and professionally to the public, thereby giving room for wild speculations and wicked rumours.
His aides believed they are helping the President not knowing that they are doing an inculpable damage to his integrity and credibility. He does not deserve this at this critical period of his (President) life.
Implications of President’s absence
The absence of Mr President has far reaching implications. There are some major decisions that the acting President would not be to take because of constitutional constraints and Buhari’s continuous absence. We do not know the severity of his current health status.
Whether the President is responding to treatment, or he’s in a state of coma or in a vegetative state has been left to one’s imagination.
Security issues
The President is the commander in chief of the armed forces. We can only have one at a time more especially in a Presidential system.
The Vice President cannot take unilateral action in the deployment of troops. It is rather more discomforting when Nigeria is battling with terrorism and insurgency.
The President is a retired military man who had brought his experience to bear in minimising terrorist attacks. The Vice President is a civilian who has limited information and training on military strategy. He will have to do a lot of consultation with his boss before taking any action or else any unilateral decision could boomerang and affect the tense security situations of Nigeria
Hiring and firing of political appointees.
It is going to be politically difficult for the acting President to fire political appointees such as ministers, special advisers and members of board of parastatals that could be found wanting in discharge of responsibilities.
Furthermore, some political may want to undermine the acting Vice President’s power, knowing fully that his power is limited.
He has to manage the appointees he met on ground. Before the President went on vacation, the public had consistently demanded for cabinet reshufflement.
It is really sad that almost 20 months of Buhari’s presidency, members and boards of government agency and parastatals of government are yet to be inaugurated.
The vice president have been doing a lot in terms of economic policies. It has led to the appreciating value of our currency, the naira.
Is history repeating itself?
This is not the first time the head of Nigerian government been afflicted with one form of illness or the other.
Nigeria had three of her Presidents or head of government that had medical challenge
The first Nigerian and the only military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was treated for radiculopathy. He was flown to Germany on several occasions for medical trips.
Fortunately he managed his health till he stepped aside. He just came back from medical trip from abroad recently.
General Sanni Abacha was ill though his sickness was shrouded in secrecy until he had to address the nation on national television before it became obvious.
He died in office as a result of undisclosed disease
President Umar Musa Yar’dua was ill during the campaign train, he had to be flown abroad. He was rumoured to have been dead before his predecessor (President Obasanjo) called him and spoke with him on the phone on national television.
He won the election that was hotly contested with President Buhari. He did not enjoy good health despite consistent denials from his associates.
He was flown out of the country surreptitiously to Saudi Arabia.
The nations was kept in the dark, confusion reigned because President Yar’adua did not hand over to his deputy before he became he left the country.
The Senate had to invoke the Doctrine of necessity before his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan could function as the acting President.
He was later brought back to Nigeria in a clandestine manner before he finally passed on.
Coincidentally, Presidents Yar’adua and Buhari are from the same state of Katsina, northwest part of Nigeria.
Nigeria has no choice than to continue to pray for President Buhari’s quick recovery. Several prayers have been conducted in different religious institutions for his quick recovery.
The nation is at a cross road, especially when the economy is in recession. Nigeria does not have luxury of time to fritter away but I hope sooner or later, Nigeria will be able to manage this period and come out stronger.
I wish our dear President soonest recovery.
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