As the dust raised by the current health status of President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to settle, some Nigerians have said his condition may not be unconnected to that which led to the death of former President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
President Buhari has been on a 10-day vacation in the United Kingdom, UK, , but his stay was extended indefinitely due to ‘health issues’.
Some Nigerians have raised their voices of concern, asking to see the letter sent by the ‘sick’ president to the National Assembly.
A Nigerian Professor of English, William Ajene Horsfall said, “Special Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina said the President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.
“What notice? Notice by phone or email or official letter as usual? Who signed the letter? Let us see it and not only a three paragraph letter.
“Remember, President Yar’Adua left Nigeria on 23 November 2009, and was reported to be receiving treatment for pericarditis at a clinic in Saudi Arabia.
“He was not seen in public again, and his absence created a dangerous power vacuum in Nigeria.
“He battled kidney failure and purportedly challenged his critics to a game of squash in an endeavor to end speculations about his health; this is exactly what is happening with Buhari and his government.
“Further fomenting rumors about his health, he was flown to Germany for medical reasons and we were told it was due to stress. Afterall, whatever we are told, we accept.
“If you remember, Yar’Adua was quoted as saying he ‘was fine and would soon be back to campaigning.’ They have said this about Buhari too.
“Like a rumour, Yar’Adua was said to have collapsed after suffering a heart attack – another report which was swiftly dismissed by them.
“Yar’Adua was urged to hand over power to Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan, in an acting capacity during his illness, but what happened? They kept swindling Nigerians.”
Speaking further, Prof Horsfall said, “On 24 February 2010, Yar’Adua returned to Abuja under the cover of darkness. His state of health was unclear, but there were speculations that he was still on a life support machine, but unfortunately, Yar’Adua died on 5 May at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“There were reactions here and there.
“So, whatever is happening to Buhari is not different from what we know or what we have seen, heard or experienced. We may be looking at Yar’adua’s scenario,” the Professor added.
Similarly, a medical practitioner with one of the government hospitals in Abuja, spoke on condition of anonymity saying, “Just like Wole Soyinka said during Yar’adua’s time, ‘all power in heaven and on earth belongs to God.’
“Playing politics at the expense of someone’s health? No matter how much strength the Presidency thinks Buhari has, he is only human and old for that matter; they should know that the politics of Do-or-Die cannot guarantee who dies or who doesn’t. They must stop playing God.
“In Yar’adua’s time, there was issue of signing or no signing budget. This man was critically ill and a living corpse already who was on life support. Yet, their people said they went to Saudi or wherever Yar’adua was and he (Yar’adua) signed the budget.
“Of course, we knew it was a fake signature, they put it there but the senators (David Mark) looked away then because they wanted the country to be running. At that time, those of us close to government knew something was definitely wrong because it was not funny.
“So, for this one, just like they leaked the letter that Buhari sent to Babachir Lawal, then someone should be able to get hold of the letter that Buhari wrote to NASS, extending his vacation or based on request, let us see the letter with Buhari’s signature because we don’t want a situation where we really don’t know what is going on.
“When people get to know all these facts, trust me, the Presidency will start running helter skelter because they will understand that people have started calculating and using their brains. I was expecting the president won’t extend his stay but now that he has, it just confirms to me that they think Nigerians are stupid.
“That excuse was too dumb…waiting to collect investigation results? Where is he sitting to wait for the result? Is it in front of the consulting room or the laboratory?,” he quizzed rhetorically.