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
-
King Charles to resume public duties after progress in cancer treatment
14 mins -
Arda Guler scores on first start in La Liga as Madrid beat Real Sociedad
24 mins -
Fatawu Issahaku’s Leicester City secures Premier League promotion after Leeds defeat
36 mins -
Anticipation builds as Junior Speller hosts nationwide auditions
1 hour -
Etse Sikanku: The driver’s mate conundrum
2 hours -
IMF Deputy Chief worried large chunk of Eurobonds is used to service debt
2 hours -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrates 25 years of peaceful rule on golden stool
2 hours -
We have enough funds to pay accruing benefits; we’ve never missed pension payments since 1991 – SSNIT
2 hours -
Let’s embrace shared vision and propel National Banking College – First Deputy Governor
3 hours -
Liverpool agree compensation deal with Feyenoord for Slot
3 hours -
Ejisu by-election: There’s no evidence of NPP engaging in vote-buying – Ahiagbah
3 hours -
Ejisu by-election: Independent ex-NPP MP’s campaign team warns party against dubious tactics
4 hours -
ZEN Petroleum supports Tse-Addo Future Leaders School
4 hours -
NPP must win back Adentan seat in 2024 polls – Obeng Fosu
5 hours -
PPA Clarification: The dark side of the World Bank’s ‘giveaways’ in Ghana by Bright Simons
6 hours