Thursday, March 28, 2024

President Buhari’s extended vacation and matters arising

On Sunday, February 5, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari, wrote to the National Assembly notifying it of his intent to make longer his leave in order to finish with his treatments and to also obtain the results of a run of medical assessments proposed by his health consultants.

The president, who was billed to return to office February 6, 2017, was advised to stay behind in London to complete his test cycle before returning. This decision has provoked a lot of antagonism and antipathy among the citizenry.

The most prejudicing rumour in the country since the President’s vacation to the United Kingdom on January 19, 2017 has been that he has not gone for a normal vacation but for a medical vacation.

Everywhere, the topic of discussion in recent times is the extended vacation of the president. Even as some Nigerians talk about the reason behind the President’s vacation, others concluded that the president is dead. But why would Nigerians wish their president dead? We know that this is not the first time the President is travelling abroad for medical treatment.

The records have it that the President has embarked on vacation three times since his assumption into office. On each of those vacations, his deputy was made to act in his stead.

Other than this, why are Nigerians particularly concerned with this journey? I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with being sick because it is a natural fact about life. A person must fall ill at any time. But what Nigerians are concerned about is how those around the President are managing the issue.

Nobody is telling us anything concrete on the health condition of the President. No doubt, Nigerians deserve to know. I strongly blame the Federal Government for powering the death rumour of our president. How would they have asked us to pray for our president when we know nothing about his health condition?

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, some days ago, through his media aide, sent a message to Nigerians, dissuading them from adhering to the varied information going about in the social media.

How would Nigerians not believe those messages when there is nothing concrete coming from the presidency? The presidency should give a definite answer to the question of when the president is coming.

We cannot be dwelling in ignorance. Nigerians need to know how the president is faring. They keep telling Nigerians that his health status is not as terrible as we perceive it to be. But what is really wrong with the president?

The presidency tells Nigerians that the president needs more rest, still mentions that his health issue is not terrible. What a discrepancy in thought! We have had an occurrence in the past with similar outlook.

In 2010, the former president Yar’Adua left Nigeria and was testified to be receiving treatment for pericarditis at a clinic in far Saudi Arabia. In this case too, the then president reported that he was fine and would be back to activism. But what later happened left much to be desired.

This is the reason Nigerians are becoming impatient and are worried. It would have been better if the Government made the condition of the President’s health known instead of letting the people venture into guesswork and cause more rancour in the polity of who would take his place.

A good government should be forceful enough to combat predicaments like this when they come and not allow the populace go about speculating. Notwithstanding, Nigerians love their President and wish him well.

We are thankful to God that at least the President instated his second-in-command to act in his stead. At least he has done the needful; Nigerians have an Acting President in Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

As human beings with consciences, we need to go on our knees and pray for our country and her leaders, especially our President. We need to pray that he comes out of his ill-health strong. We do not need to wish our President dead. Nigerians still need her president to complete the change mantra he introduced.

Popular Articles