Let Buhari Go Treat Himself
Iam not one of those who will so quickly call for President Buhari’s resignation on account of his health because I know that everybody and anybody is susceptible to falling ill. Those who have been clamouring for Mr President to step down do so either out of mischief or because of our Yar’Adua experience.
Yes, the president is sick, but I believe he can and will get well again to con- tinue his service to the country.
I do not believe the presidency has however been transparent enough about the health of the president. As a public votary, the issues of the health of a president is or should not be such a classified information. Nigerians, for instance, do not know what the president is suffering from? What is he sick of? Apart from the first medical trip he had when he complained of ear pain, we do not know the present ailment which has remained pretty serious.
In managing the information about the president’s health, Nigerians do not have to be lied to. There is nothing wrong with telling Nigerians the status of the president’s health.
Until he admitted, upon his return from the last trip that he had never been as sick all his life, most of the government’s publicists had regaled us with the claim of “our president is hale and hearty”.
The absence of the right and true information in the public domain, fuels rumours and conjectures.
I am sure Mr President hastily returned from the last trip even when he had not fully recovered, apparently to satisfy the pressure for him to return and take over the mantle of leadership.
He had rightly transmitted power to his deputy who filled in the gap most brilliantly for the 49 days that Mr President was away. It is said that the ubiquitous “cabal” wanted Buhari return at all cost so he can reclaim his power. This must have been for the selfish interest of the members of the cabal. Were it not so, do they not know that the health and well being of the president is of paramount importance than his hold on power?
Since March 10 when the president returned from medical trip to the UK, he had hinted that he would soon be back for a medical follow-up. This is almost two months after. Why has he not returned? Perhaps it wouldn’t have been necessary if Mr President had shown signs of full and perfect recovery. But he has not. In fact, he has had only measured public appearances since then. For three full weeks now, he has failed to preside over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Two weeks ago, we were told, he’d henceforth work from him as he had been told to “slow down”.
Yes, he may slow down, but the affairs of this nation cannot either slow down or be held down on account of Mr President’s health. He should hand over properly to his deputy again and go and take care of his health without demur.
If, as it appears, he cannot get appropriate medical treatment in Nigeria, he should go to wherever he can find it, even Cuba, and get well.
He should ignore the scheming of his acolytes who want him stay put here so they can exercise the privileges of power.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had shown competence and capacity when he held the forte last February and March. He not only demonstrated knowledge of what to do, he also showed loyalty to his boss. In fact, the Nigerian economy received a breather while he called the shots. Being an active VP is not the same as being an acting president. The power matrix in both cases are different. He can be trusted again to do even greater works. Buhari and his handlers must put national interest above narrow selfish interest and let Mr President go and treat himself.
I watched a video clip yesterday on WhatsApp where former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsami Abubakar were lifting Buhari (dressed in Super Eagles kit and clutching a football), in a stretcher, out of the field of play, with Buhari assuring them that “I assure you guys that I can finish this Game”. Yes, I believe, with him that he will complete this tenure and possibly another, if God so wishes. But he has to do what he ought and timeously too. He should go treat himself. His office will be waiting but the tasks of governance cannot wait a second.