Headline

Speculations over Buhari’s Cancelled London Medical Trip

Published

4 years ago

June 26, 2021

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Ever since June 2016 when President, Muhammadu Buhari began travelling to the United Kingdom for medical treatments, the follow up has reportedly been frequent, and in most cases up to six times before a year runs out. Back then, the President has to cancel two planned trips to the volatile Niger Delta region and Lagos for the first announced 10-day medical trip to the United Kingdom.

In the short statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina then, the president supposedly needed to go abroad on the recommendation of his personal physician and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist in Abuja.

“The pilgrimage has remained a routine ever since. And on each occasion, Nigerians are never told the nature of their president’s illness, and that has lingered till date,” a doctor, who craves anonymity to The Boss.

At that time, the vice-president of the Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele, sounded that the president’s medical trip was not healthy for the development of Nigeria’s health institutions. Dr Enabulele pointed out that there were more than 250 ENT specialists plus a National Ear Centre, so the president’s trip to treat an ear infection was “a national shame”. Neither the president nor his kitchen listened.

Fast forwarding to the present, the presidential media aide, Femi Adesina, who is saddled with the responsibility of releasing the president’s pronouncements told Nigerians with late Thursday evening statement, that President Muhammadu Buhari would be travelling to the United Kingdom in less than 24 hours. He also mentioned that the proposed trip was for medical follow-up. Many Nigerians reacted to the announcement albeit negatively. The Nigeria Medical Association as well as Resident Doctors threatened another strike and much more. Recall that the President on March 30, 2021, as announced by another media aide, Garba Shehu, visited the UK for medical check up and spent days not less than seven.

But as the development unfolded, a counter statement was released by Adesina, suggesting that Mr President has postponed his earlier scheduled trip at a time when most Nigerians thought he was already airborne or settled in the UK. This sudden decision, which analysts agreed is happening for the first time as regards the president’s health has therefore, raised concerns and speculations among the rank and file of the Nigerian population.

Adesina’s revelation was contained in a short statement issued on Friday, June 25, 2021, where he said that a new date will be announced for the trip.

“The medical follow-up visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Kingdom earlier scheduled for today, Friday, June 25, 2021, has been postponed. A new date will be announced in due course,” the statement read

Many have wondered the rationale behind canceling a matter as important as medical date.

Some stakeholders who spoke to The Boss raised questions bordering on “Was the president’s health no longer very important as Nigerians have been told as the excuse for the frequent foreign medical tourisms or was there no medical appointment in the first place and has there ever been? Or again, is the president suddenly ready to keep to his campaign promise in 2015 to halt all medical tourism towards revamping the near comatose status of the Nigeria health sector. Or is the president coming to terms with the fact that he once warned that the country would not support any government official seeking medical care abroad, particularly when evidence shows that they can be treated in Nigeria?

However, stakeholders have been volunteering reasons behind Buhari’s sudden refusal to travel again as earlier advertised, with some saying that he was ‘afraid’ of the avalanche of protests Diaspora Nigerians have lined up for him. It would be recalled that in the last two foreign trips the president undertook, he was ’embarrassed’ by some Nigerians who crowded his his place of abode calling for his immediate return to the country. The protesters, who brandished placards with inscriptions such as ‘Buhari Go Back Home’, ‘Fix Nigeria’s Health Sector’ among others, made show of the situation back home. And much as the government downplayed the events, it appeared they were thoroughly embarrassed. These happened in London and Paris in just a space of as many weeks.

Speaking via his twitter handle, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri, claimed responsibility for the president’s action, saying that Buhari postponed his trip due to threats of placing him under house arrest. He claimed that the fear of another protests aimed at harassing and embarrassing him in London was responsible for the postponement.

He wrote:

“General Buhari did not postpone his London trip for “unknown reasons”, as the papers are claiming. He postponed it because we promised him the Mother of All #HarassBuhariOutofLondon. He knows our capacity. He knows how we put him under house arrest. Come. We are waiting for you!”

Omokri, who had vowed to organise protest to embarrass Buhari in London if he set foot in the UK, was in the forefront of organising protests that had the president remain indoors while on foreign lands; a typical example is the London and Paris protests.

Again, speculations are still rife on whether President Buhari chose receiving a decampee politician over his health. It was reported that on Friday, the proposed date for the medical trip, Buhari received the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, who dumped his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he was suspended, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the brief ceremony, held at the First Lady’s Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Nwaoboshi was presented to the President by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni in company of other members of the APC Caretaker Committee and relevant stakeholders.

The elated president was also quoted as saying after being briefed on how the caretaker committee have managed the affairs of the party in the past one year, that the party has come back to life. Sources say that Nwaoboshi, who hails from the same Senatorial District as the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, may have decamped to gain ground as 2023 beckons just in case Okowa deems it fit to contest the senatorial district’s ticket from him.

But the bulk of respondents to The Boss wondered if the mere reception for a decampee, who may likely re-decamp to another party in the future, or listening to the briefing from caretaker members enough reason for the president to cancel his medical trip. It would be recalled that most presidential aides like Shehu Garba have been quick to say that Buhari can govern Nigeria from any part of the world. The question has remained what may have happened on Friday June 25, 2021 to cause the president to jettison his proposed medical trip; something he hardly takes for granted.

The incessant trips of President Buhari to foreign lands for medical tourism is as old as the administration itself. Much as the traveling started immediately the administration took oath of office, the medical tourisms became pronounced from June 2016.

A political analysts, who refused to be named also wondered why a leader, whose major concern during the campaigns was to end medical treatment oversees, could become the chief culprit.

The complains of Nigerians to this effect has hit the rocks so far, and the silence that followed these complaints and public displays of dissatisfaction was deafening.

Buhari was also known to renege on the expected date of return. The trip was expected to last 10 days, but additional days were added, and explained away.

The medical journeys continued in January 2017, when the presidency issued another statement, saying the president was leaving for the UK for another vacation and “routine medical check-ups”. And was the earlier case, the president did not inform Nigerians of the nature of his illness, nor the hospital of treatment, and again, stayed beyond the announced date. It has in fact become a routine.

While the speculations continue to grow, and Nigerians grumble, only Buhari and his kitchen can, as of today, tell the real reasons behind the cancellation.

Headline

Former Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa, Defects to APC

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2025

Eric

Former Governor of Delta State, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate in the 2023 election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa confirmed the news of his defection to ARISE NEWS on Wednesday following the announcement of the current governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, who also defected from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

The development was disclosed by Senator James Manager after a six-hour meeting at Government House, Asaba.

“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC,” Manager stated. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, officially confirmed the sweeping political shift, attributing the decision to the need for renewed direction and enhanced governance in the state.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state,” he said.

Aniagwu added that the move aimed to sustain progress in law, security, and welfare, likening the PDP to a “palm wine whose taste has changed,” necessitating a change in “drinking party”.

He further indicated that the defection was unanimously agreed upon by key PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state, with a formal public declaration expected on Monday.

“By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC,” he said.

The mass defection represents a dramatic realignment in Delta State’s political landscape and could significantly alter party dynamics in the broader South-South region, historically a PDP stronghold.

Okowa will be received on Monday by Vice President Kashim Shettima alongside Governor Oborevwori.

AriseNews

Headline

Delta Gov, Oborevwori Dumps PDP, Joins APC

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2025

Eric

Delta State governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was announced after Wednesday’s closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon.

Ahon said the Governor’s decision to switch allegiance to the ruling APC came after thorough discussions with political stakeholders, aimed at fostering long-term development for Delta State.

Governor Oborevwori, who secured victory in the 2023 gubernatorial election under the platform of the PDP, was welcomed by high-ranking APC officials.

Headline

Nigeria: Welcome to a One-Party State

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Following the unanimous decision of the governors of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reject proposed merger and coalition with other political parties and interests, it appears that there’s an unspoken desire to facilitate, propagate and elongate the Bola Tinubu presidency beyond 2027.

The PDP governors had in Ibadan, during a meeting, dismissed speculations of a possible merger of parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who read the communique after the 2025/4th meeting, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said, “The Forum has resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition or merger.”

He said PDP, as a major opposition party, will welcome any party, persons or groups that are willing to join the party with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.

This assertion, according to stakeholders, who believe that the present PDP or any other party, cannot unseat Tinubu in 2027, appears to be a rubber stamp on the continuation of the Tinubu administration. Some have alleged that the some PDP governors may have sold out to the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby refusing a coalition, that may likely unseat the APC government in 2027. They said that with the recent trend of events, it is obvious that Nigeria, under Tinubu is heading to an inglorious one-party status.

During the weekend, at a public function, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, confirmed support for President Tinubu saying in his state, there’s no more party politics as they are all in a “unity party” of PDP and APC.

In the same vein, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, has called on his people to support Tinubu, and by extension, his APC. Stakeholders believe it’s all about getting to nod for their second term in office. The scenario is also incumbent upon the governors of Enugu and Delta states, Peter Mba and Sheriff Oborevwori respectively, who are fast weighing their options.

Investigations, as reported by ThisDay, revealed that defection talks with many PDP governors have reached advanced stages. It was said however, that certain conditions are said to be attached to the proposed deals to make it a win-win situation for all negotiating parties.

It is therefore, no longer news, going by the way events are unfolding, that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doing everything within its power to turn the country into a one-party state. Much as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is silent on the nation’s party system, it is a known fact that the country strives, and has been striving on multi-party convention.

However, events recent times, or dating to the advent of the Tinubu government, has revealed a trend that showed there is a tendency being hatched by the president to convert the country to a one-party state, loyal to the party at the centre, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is important to note that this unholy trend is not a function of the ballot papers or boxes or electoral propriety, but inordinate manipulations, using the instrumentality of the courts, judiciary, coercion, forced decamping, monetary inducement and outright intimidation.

It is a fact that since independence, Nigeria has maintained a multiparty system except in 1992 when the President Ibrahim Babangida Military Government, through a conference, allowed a two-party system, leading to the 1993 inconclusive elections, touted to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola. The two parties were the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Party (NRC). But with the return of democracy in 1999, the country has maintained a multiparty system, albeit conventionally.

But over the years, much as multiple parties are registered, only two are always the frontline parties, with clear exceptions of 1979 and 2023 when the regional inclination reared its head again as it was in the 1963 and 1966 elections.

In the 1960s, there were the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) among others.

In 1979, there were the National Party zof Nigeria (NPN), the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

And then in 2023, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) slugged it out.

However, dating back to six months into the President Tinubu ascension to the throne, the political positions are making dramatic switches to the APC via court rulings, giving a cross sections of Nigerians the effontery to believe there is a hidden agenda to welcome a new Nigeria where political positions both elected and appointed are ‘allocated’ to Tinubu’s APC.

A few instances earlier emerged to raise eyebrows as regards the direction and shape Nigeria political landscape is taking. Among the instances are the following:

SACK OF ALL ELECTED PDP PLATEAU LAWMAKERS

Earlier in September, the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Sule was sacked by the state election petitions tribunal.

The election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, sacked the lawmaker, who was elected on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) platform in the last election.

He was sacked alongside Danjuma Azi, a member representing Jos North West constituency in the assembly. The tribunal declared the former majority leader of the house, Hon. Naanlong Daniel and Hon. Mark Na’ah, all of the APC as winners of the March 18 elections.

In November, no fewer than four National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP including the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, were sacked by the Appeal Court on the grounds that the PDP had no valid structure in the state. They were replaced with failed APC candidates including the former governor, Simon Lalong, who is now the Minister of Labour and Productivity, sparking unrest in the state.

THE THEN SACK OF ZAMFARA GOVERNOR

The Court of Appeal sitting Abuja sacked Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara and declared the March 18 governorship election in the state as inconclusive.

The court also ordered a rerun in three local government areas: Maradun, Birnin-Magaji and Bukkuyum.

Zamfara is currently governed by Mr Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defeated the then-incumbent governor, Bello Matawalle, of the APC. Matawalle is now the Minister of State for Defence in the Tinubu administration.

The election tribunal in Zamfara had earlier ruled in favour of Mr Lawal, but its ruling has now been overturned by the appeal court.

The Supreme Court however, overturned the ruling of the Appeal Court, and Lawal retained his seat.

SACK OF KANO STATE GOVERNOR

Also, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal sacking Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.

In its judgment, the Appeal Court agreed with the judgment of the tribunal, ruling that the fielding of Abba Yusuf was in breach of the Electoral Law as he was not qualified to contest that Election

The verdict comes nearly two months after the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on September 20, sacked Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18 election.

Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the poll in March.

The tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the affected ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

The ruling came about six months after the APC candidate conceded defeat to Yusuf in the wake of INEC’s presentation of the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.

Observers and stakeholders see the judgment as a means of restoring Kano as an APC stronghold as well as returning its Chairman, and former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as a force to reckon with in Kano politics in preparation for the 2027 election onslaught. But like in Zamfara, the Supreme Court restored Yusuf as duly elected governor.

KOGI AND IMO GUBER ELECTIONS

The candidates of the APC, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, and Usman Ododo of Kogi State, were both declared winners of the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in the states, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) amid widely reported irregularities.

DailyPost reported that “lapses were recorded in the elections. There were controversies surrounding the data provided on the IReV. Allegations of pre-written results were rife. Worse still, INEC affirmed the controversial results despite alleged evidence of overvoting, disruption of the voting process and clear instances of security agencies aiding the snatching of ballot boxes.”

These were better showcased in Kogi State.

According to YIAGA Africa, one of the accredited observers for the elections, there were proliferation of the pre-filled result sheet in Polling Unit 020 in Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

The same development was witnessed in PU 004 in Eni Ward of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area. Yet INEC discountenanced the alarm, and went ahead to release results, and declare the APC candidate winner.

Some observers and Kogi political stakeholders have dismissed everything that happened to the handiwork of the incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello. The governor hasninturn thank President Tinubu for the enabling environment to hold and win the election.

In Imo State, a Daily Post investigation reveals that videos were in circulation where security personnel were accused of allegedly helping the government in power disrupt the voting process, and make away with electoral materials.

The paper wrote: “One such incident happened at the Umuchoko Umuohiagu Junction Polling Unit in Ward 11 of Ngor Okpala LGA, where thugs allegedly working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) carted away ballot boxes and other election materials.

“This reportedly happened after the votes were counted and PDP led with 65 votes against APC’s 35 votes and LP’s 17 votes.

Following the alleged gross manipulation and rigging of the polls, some political parties and their candidates, rejected the results.

While Nigerians have expressed disappointment in INEC and their conduct of elections, it is still unclear whose agenda the electoral body is propagating; theirs or the government of the state?

“This government is just positioning itself for the final battle in 2027, and don’t care if they turned this nation into a one-party state. However, it is too early to begin such grandstanding when the elections are still over three years away,” a political analyst told The Boss

But countering the position, an APC stalwart in Lagos State, hinted that there is no better time to do what the party is doing at the present.

“This is the appropriate time to plant only APC members across the country, thanks to the court cases. You know it will be difficult to turn incumbents to party members after the court cases. Using the judiciary to achieve this aim makes everything absolutely foolproof. The party will come after whatever remnants are left in other parties at the conclusion of court cases,” the chieftain, who craved anonymity, said.

One and half years after, a lot more of shenanigans have cropped up, giving the impression that it’s either one supports Tinubu, or he is removed from the national political equation. The avalanche of crosscarpetings and outright support in the midst of economic downturn and hardships, are evidence that the road to a one-party Nigeria, is fast been cleared.

However, the likes of former presidential candidates of the PDP and Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are making frantic efforts to achieve a coalition that can unseat Tinubu in 2023, but forces are frustrating the efforts, including their own party internal machineries.