March 10, 2017. This was after a 49 days medical Vacation in London, which was supposed to have lasted for only 10 days.
However, they still requested that the president made public the exact amount spent on his medical treatment.
Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and the campaign for Democracy, among others, believed that the President should release the medical bill in the UK, as his administration is built on transparency.
The president before embarking on the 49 days vacation, wrote to the Senate, that he would only be away for 10 days, between January 23 and February 6, 2017, and that the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, would be acting on his behalf. On the 5th of February, a second letter was written to the senate informing them on the President's wish to extend his leave indefinitely, to enable him complete series of medical tests.
While addressing top government officials at the presidential villa in Abuja, President Buhari stated that he had been very Ill, and could not remember being so sick since he was a young man, including while he was in the military. He also mentioned that he would need to perform further check-up on his health in a few weeks.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had earlier said that, during a medical vacation that the President embarked on in June 2016, for Ear, Nose, and Throat infection, Buhari spent less than £50,000 (20.5m), in response to Prof. Farooq Kperogi's disclosure, claiming that president Buhari's ear treatment had cost a whooping £6m.
'I'm prepared to share documents with Farooq, one of the brightest ever produced from Bayero University, Kano, that the whole treatment, including a follow-up visit by a specialist to Nigeria didn't cost £50,000', he said.
He stated for the records, that the administration paid in advance a higher sum, but the President’s doctor returned the balance to the treasury.
Since the president has failed to release his medical bill to the public one week after his return to Nigeria, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said Nigerians deserves to know how much of their money was spent on the President’s treatment as guaranteed by the Freedom of Information Act.
Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, who is the Executive Director, SERAP, said, “Pursuant to the FOI Act, which was signed into law in 2011, every Nigerian has a right to know from any public office holder any information they think they must have. So, the Presidency should provide categorical answer to the question as Buhari’s medical bill abroad. This is a democracy and in democracy, there can be no opaqueness, everything must be clear and open.”
President, Campaign for Democracy, Bako Usman, said the President as the face of the All Progressives Congress-led government should be transparent with the use of public funds, especially as the party had attained power on the basis of its promise to bring positive change to the country.
An online reader identified simply as HRM1, said, “All I see here is hypocrisy from the leaders. There is one rule for the rich and mighty and another for the poor. Foreign travel for health care was banned by the government but officials still run to the UK at the slightest headache. It will take a miracle of truly gargantuan proportions for Nigeria to become a great nation.”
Another online reader named Don-Teddy, said, “What murderous politicians and leaders we have in our country. Indians are over 1.2 billion in population, what could be our leaders excuse for not attending to our health sector if not share wickedness.
“The most annoying part is our role during elections, we the masses are very gullible and can easily forget the excruciating pains and suffering we had to go through under their leadership just because of some peanuts. May God deliver us all.”
Another reader, identified as Omo Naija, UK, said, “Hypocrisy is when Buhari bans medical tourism and he himself is guilty of the same offence. He needs to be sanctioned by the poor masses he deceived.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment