Dare Babalola
Garba Shehu, a former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari has clarified that his former principal believed in the country’s healthcare system.
While appearing on Channels TV on Saturday, Shehu stated that Buhari’s frequent medical trips abroad were a matter of personal preference
Shehu was reacting to the recent remarks of another of Buhari’s former spokespersons Femi Adesina, who had previously suggested that Buhari “could have died a long time ago” if he had relied solely on Nigerian hospitals, citing a perceived lack of expertise within the country.
Shehu, during the Saturday interview, clarified that the former president had Nigerian doctors who treated him throughout his tenure.
Shehu said, “I think it is wrong to assume that he fenced himself off from the Nigerian medical system.
“He had a Nigerian doctor, a chief personal physician and a state house clinic, also led by a medical consultant, a distinguished doctor of many years of practice.”
He emphasised that the president’s medical team was always available to meet his immediate health needs.
“In terms of the immediacy of his own medical needs, they were always present to administer to his own needs,” Shehu added.
While acknowledging Buhari’s consistent visits abroad for treatment, Shehu said this was due to the president’s longstanding medical relationship overseas.
“As for his attachment to his past practice abroad for his medicals, he had an attachment to that.
“It was not that he was disrespectful of Nigeria’s medical practice or that he didn’t believe,” he said.
