Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has stated that the former Nigerian leader might not have survived his health challenges if he had relied solely on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Buhari died in London on Sunday, July 13 following a brief illness.
His remains departed London for Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday morning for a state burial.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Adesina addressed criticisms regarding the late president’s frequent medical trips abroad.
He clarified that Buhari consistently sought medical care in the United Kingdom even before assuming the presidency in 2015.
He further argued that ensuring the late president’s survival was paramount to his ability to lead and initiate reforms in Nigeria.
Adesina contended that late Buhari’s continued treatment abroad was a pragmatic decision necessary for his health.
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This, he said, enables him to remain alive to guide the nation towards a point where such expertise might eventually be available domestically.
“He always had his medicals in London even when he was not in office, so it was not about the time he was president alone.
“And then you have to be alive first to get certain things changed or corrected in your country. If he had said, ‘I’ll do my medicals in Nigeria just as a showoff,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country.
“But he needed to be alive to be able to lead the country to a point where we would have the expertise. So, those who talk of going abroad, they don’t know that a man needs to be alive first before he can effect a change”, he said.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s civilian president for two terms from 2015 to 2023, following an earlier tenure as military Head of State between 1983 and 1985.
His body is expected to arrive in Daura for interment, in line with directives from President Bola Tinubu.
