Audio By Carbonatix
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure to disclose the state of his health after he embarked on a fourth medical trip to London.
Nigeria's opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), said it was time for the president to reveal his medical condition.
PDP spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan said: "We need full disclosure about the president's health. He needs to be honest with Nigerians to say he is unwell. He can't travel for an official meeting to the US and sneak into London to see his doctor, then tell Nigerians it was a technical stopover due to flight issues."
The statement from the @NGRPresident is a confirmation that President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari is unwell, ailing and unfit to attend to state matters, resulting to his latest journey to the United Kingdom for medical attention. pic.twitter.com/pTy6sDH3h3
— Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) May 8, 2018
Buhari,75, announced Monday he will travel to the United Kingdom to see his doctor, reigniting speculation about the state of his health and ability to rule Africa's biggest economy.
The president also saw his doctor last week in London on his way back from Washington where he had met with the US President Donald Trump at the White House, his aide said.
Nigerians on social media have also joined in the call for Buhari to make his health records public. These calls have grown louder since he announced plans to seek re-election next year.
But the president's spokesman Garba Shehu told CNN Buhari was under no obligation to disclose his medical records.
According to the spokesman, Buhari is the first Nigerian president to make public his need to see a doctor.
"The constitution does not say the president must disclose his health status, it only says he should make his medical vacation public to the House of Assembly."
"Let's check the records, no other president in this country has made public their medical trips abroad," Shehu said.
He added that Buhari's latest trip to the UK did not mean that he was ill and it was merely a review after his treatment nine months ago.
Since he took power in 2015, President Buhari has left the country at least four times on trips that included medical treatment in the UK. So far, he has failed to state the exact nature of his illness.
The president of Africa's most populous country has also faced criticism for seeking treatment abroad when critics say he should be fixing the nation's health system, which is in dire straits.
"President Buhari just loves flying around. If he truly wants Nigeria to grow, His doctor should fly down here instead, whatever equipment and knowledge he has should be brought down to a hospital here to improve our health care system," commentator Yul Edochie said in a tweet.
President Buhari just loves flying around.
If he truly wants Nigeria to grow, His doctor should fly down here instead, whatever equipments and knowledge he has should be brought down to a hospital here to improve our health care system.
Mr. President think Nigeria, grow Nigeria— Yul Edochie (@YulEdochie) May 7, 2018
Latest Stories
-
Mahama calls for prosperity, peace and progress in New Year Message
25 minutes -
Tema police foil armed robbery attempt at Afienya; Four suspects killed
3 hours -
Two dead, two in custody over fatal family land feud
4 hours -
Anthony Joshua discharged from hospital after fatal road crash
4 hours -
Trump media firm to issue new cryptocurrency to shareholders
4 hours -
Ebo Noah arrested over failed Christmas apocalypse and public panic
6 hours -
‘Ghana’s democracy must never be sacrificed for short-term politics’ – Bawumia
6 hours -
Bawumia congratulates Mahama but warns he “cannot afford to fail Ghanaians”
6 hours -
CICM backs BoG’s microfinance sector reform programme; New Year Debt Recovery School comes off January-February 2026
6 hours -
GIPC Boss urges diaspora to invest remittances into productive ventures
6 hours -
Cedi ends 2025 as 4th best performing currency in Africa
6 hours -
Fifi Kwetey brands calls for Mahama third term as ‘sycophancy’
7 hours -
Bawumia calls for NPP unity ahead of 2028 elections
7 hours -
Police restore calm after swoop that resulted in one death at Aboso
7 hours -
Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation launches in Mankessim as 55 artisans graduate
7 hours
