Abuja, Nigeria
Former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina has defended the late President Muhammadu Buhari's frequent medical visits to the UK, arguing that relying on Nigerian healthcare could have cost him his life.
Speaking during the state funeral coverage on Channels Television, Adesina emphasized that the decision to continue treatment in London was based on medical necessity—not prestige. He noted that Buhari had routinely sought care in London even before becoming president in 2015, making the trips part of an ongoing relationship with his UK doctors.
“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,” Adesina stated.
Highlighting the importance of continuity in healthcare, Adesina made his case stark:
“You have to be alive first to get certain things changed or corrected in your country… Buhari needed to be alive to lead the country to a point where we would have that expertise”
Adesina’s remarks come on the heels of Buhari’s death in London on July 13, 2025, after a prolonged illness. The former president spent over 230 days receiving treatment abroad during his eight-year term—a practice that drew sharp criticism amid Nigeria’s ailing healthcare system.
Critics have slammed Buhari’s reliance on foreign hospitals as symbolic of neglect toward domestic medical infrastructure. Adesina rebutted those criticisms, insisting the choice was pragmatic: preserving Buhari’s health until the country’s health system could be improved under his watch.
Why It Matters (News House Perspective)
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Healthcare spotlight: The debate underscores the glaring disparities between elite care abroad and everyday access in Nigeria.
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Policy & legacy: Raises pressing questions about Buhari’s healthcare reforms and whether his medical strategy served national progress.
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Public trust: Sparks broader dialogue on transparency and accountability in leaders’ health choices.
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National image: Highlights how the struggles of one man illuminate systemic issues affecting millions.
