Former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has sparked national debate following his remarks during a live interview on Channels Television, where he stated that the late president “could have died long ago” had he relied solely on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Adesina made the comments ahead of Buhari’s burial in Daura, Katsina State, emphasizing that the former president had consistently sought medical care in London, even before assuming office in 2015. He described Buhari’s decision to continue treatment abroad as a matter of survival, not luxury or political optics.
“He always had his medicals in London, even when he was not in office,” Adesina said. “If he had said, ‘I will do my medicals in Nigeria just as a show-off,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country.”
The former spokesman defended Buhari’s reliance on foreign medical expertise, arguing that staying alive was essential to effecting change in Nigeria’s health sector. He criticized those who condemned the president’s frequent medical trips abroad, stating that critics often overlook the reality of Nigeria’s under-resourced hospitals.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82, in a London clinic where he had been receiving treatment for a brief illness. His remains were flown to Nigeria early Tuesday morning for a state burial in his hometown.
Adesina’s comments have reignited discussions around the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the long-standing trend of political leaders seeking medical attention overseas. Civil society groups and health advocates are calling for renewed investment in local hospitals to prevent future reliance on foreign facilities.