Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a recent interview on television, refrained from stating specifically what was wrong with the president but asked Nigerians to pray for him. Adesina claimed that doctor-patient confidentiality would not allow divulging Buhari’s health status.
He later said he was not aware of what was wrong with the president, but insisted that only Buhari can address Nigerians on the state of his health.
“I am sure it will get to a point when the President has to disclose the status of his health if it needs to be disclosed. If it’s something serious enough to disclose, I am sure he will disclose it,” he said.
“The President is the one who can release his own health status.
“The day he left, we still spoke. He didn’t tell me ‘this is my condition’. He told me he was going to rest and he would do medicals and that was included in the statement we released,” he added.
Buhari left Nigeria on January 19 for London to “undergo routine medical check-ups” during a short holiday and was expected to resume work on February 6.
But Adesina said in a statement that the president was advised by his doctors to extend his 10-day leave without stating when he would return to the country.
“The President had planned to return to Abuja but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President (Bukola Saraki), and Speaker, House of Representatives (Yakubu Dogara),” he said.
Adesina, however, noted that the president’s absence was immaterial since there was no vacuum in government.
“But the issue now is (that) there is no vacuum in government. No lacuna because power has been transferred to the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo) who is acting president.
“So, Mr President can take the time he desires and when his doctors give him a clean bill of health, he then can return home.”
