EXPOSED: How ‘Buhari Used Nigeria To Prolong His Life
Omoyele Sowore, Human rights activist and former presidential candidate has delivered a scathing assessment of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy, accusing him of presiding over a regime defined by failure, corruption, and human suffering.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Sowore described Buhari’s time in office as a “betrayal of the trust of a nation,” asserting that the former president “used Nigeria to prolong his own life while shortening the lives of millions.”
According to him, “no amount of funeral diplomacy can change that’.
Sowore pushed back against claims that Buhari’s legacy was marked by integrity and patriotism. “Buhari came to power on the wings of hope and left on the wings of despair. His tenure was not marked by transformation, but by regression. He ran a government where empathy died, where dreams were crushed, and where mediocrity reigned supreme,” he said.
Addressing criticisms that he continued to speak against Buhari even after his death, Sowore said the truth must be told regardless of sentiment. “Fairness is owed first to the living. Nigeria is filled with mass graves dug by Buhari’s failures and wickedness for victims of extrajudicial killings, banditry, hunger, poverty, terrorism, and neglect.
“Are we to pretend that the man who supervised so much suffering deserves silence now that he is dead? That would be a greater injustice. History doesn’t stop when a person dies.
“Memory doesn’t take a break. Those who hold public office, especially at the highest level, must know that their legacy belongs to the people, not their family or fan base or the graveyard.’
Sowore insisted that history must be honest and uncompromising. “I have no personal hatred for Buhari, but I do have a deep responsibility to speak the truth.
“We must stop canonising failed leaders simply because they are no longer here to defend themselves. Let their actions speak for them. Buhari’s own record is enough indictment.”
He concluded with a warning for the future: “Now that he is gone, Nigeria must have the courage to tell the truth, if not for the dead, then for the living and the unborn. We owe it to ourselves to stop recycling false legacies. Let Buhari’s story be a warning, not a model.”
Record Of Foreign Medical Treatments
During his eight-year tenure as Nigeria’s president, Buhari became widely known for his frequent foreign medical trips, particularly to the United Kingdom. These trips, often shrouded in secrecy, sparked national debate and criticism, especially given Buhari’s earlier campaign promises to end medical tourism and improve Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Buhari’s first known medical trip occurred in February 2016, less than a year into his presidency. Officially described as a short vacation, it was later revealed that he had also sought medical attention during his stay in London.
Just a few months later, in June 2016, he returned to the UK for treatment of an ear infection. This trip drew criticism from the Nigerian Medical Association, which pointed out that Nigeria had qualified specialists capable of handling such a condition.
The most significant and controversial of Buhari’s medical absences began in January 2017, when he left Nigeria for what was described as a “medical vacation.”
He remained in London for 50 days, returning in March.
Barely two months later, in May 2017, he departed again for further treatment and stayed abroad for an unprecedented 104 days.
The nature of his illness was never officially disclosed, fueling speculation and concern about the president’s capacity to govern. During this period, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo served as acting president.
In 2018, Buhari made another brief medical trip to London in May, reportedly for a follow-up consultation. After a relatively quiet period, he resumed his medical visits in 2021, travelling to the UK in March for a routine check-up.
This trip coincided with a strike by Nigerian doctors, highlighting the irony of the president seeking care abroad while the domestic healthcare system was in crisis. He returned to London again in June and July of that year for further treatment.
In 2022, Buhari made at least two more medical trips to the UK, one in March and another in October. These visits were described as routine medical check-ups.
His final known medical trip as president occurred in May 2023, shortly after attending the coronation of King Charles III.
He reportedly extended his stay in London to undergo a dental procedure.
In total, Buhari is believed to have spent over 230 days abroad for medical reasons during his presidency.
The financial cost of these trips, particularly the operation and maintenance of the presidential jet, was estimated by some media outlets to range between ₦1.1 billion and ₦5.4 billion.
These figures do not include the cost of medical care, accommodation, or the accompanying delegation.
The president’s reliance on foreign healthcare drew sharp criticism from civil society groups, medical professionals, and political opponents. Many viewed it as a betrayal of his campaign promises and a stark symbol of the government’s neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
Dr. Osahon Enabulele, then president of the World Medical Association, described the situation as a “national shame,” while opposition figures like Sowore lambasted Buhari for failing to build a single world-class hospital in Nigeria throughout his tenure.
Despite the backlash, Buhari remained largely unapologetic about his medical travels, often citing the need for continuity in treatment and the importance of trust in his long-time UK-based doctors.
His administration offered little transparency about the specifics of his health, reinforcing a culture of secrecy around the medical conditions of Nigerian leaders.
