Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has chastised President Muhammadu Buhari for his frequent medical trips overseas.

The group noted that Buhari perpetually travels to London for medical checkup while leaving the health sector in Nigeria to wobble amid constant strikes and underfunding.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA, said it was regrettable that the President serially disrespects the 1999 Constitution by not officially transmitting power to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), whenever he travels abroad.

Recall that Buhari on Sunday travelled to the United Kingdom on a two-week routine medical check-up after attending the United Nations Environmental Programme in Nairobi, Kenya.

In recent years, the UK has become a choice destination for the Nigerian elite including the President while perpetual industrial actions, lack of modern equipment, failure of government to pay doctors’ salaries, amongst others, mar Nigeria’s health sector.

According to reports, as at the end of 2021, Buhari had been to London for medical check-up a number of times and had spent a total of over 200 days on medical leave in the UK since his administration began on May 29, 2015.

Despite Buhari’s preference for foreign medical care, the Federal Ministry of Health has consumed over N2.3 trillion from 2016 to date, while the State House Medical Centre has received over N6.2 billion, according to the respective appropriation acts available on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation.

The presidential clinic caters for the President, Vice President, their families and members of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. But despite the huge allocations for the clinic, Buhari and his family members continue to patronise the UK, Dubai and other foreign countries for medical needs.

The President is also infamous for not handing over power to his VP while away, an action that HURIWA declared unconstitutional. Before Sunday’s trip, the last time the President reportedly transferred power to the VP was in 2017 when he spent months in the UK treating an undisclosed ailment.

But as a sharp departure from the convention, Buhari on Sunday before his aircraft took off from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said Osinbajo is in charge while he is away.

When asked by reporters who would be in charge during his trip, the President said, “I cannot claim to be doing the work alone. The government is fully represented. The Vice President is there. Constitution-ally when I am away, he is in charge. And then the Secretary to the Government (Boss Mustapha), and the Chief of Staff (Ibrahim Gambari) are also there. So, there is no problem.”

However, it was clear that the President acted illegally as he did not notify the National Assembly as permitted by the country’s constitution.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “By virtue of Section 145(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2011 as amended, the President has a constitutional duty to always transmit power whenever he embarks on medical trip or any form of vacation whatsoever.

“But Buhari has not respected the constitution by officially handing power over to his VP pending his return. Transmission of power has a process and a method spelt out by the constitution; it must be written and transmitted to the National Assembly; it is beyond mere rhetorics. Buhari’s action is condemnable just as his many medical trips that cost tax payers’ so much.

By his vague utterance, Buhari has created the vacuum that will throw up power tussles by the different power blocs in Aso Rock including the infamous cabal.

“Overall, it is a scandal of unimaginable dimension that Buhari has spent seven years in power but all the strategic sectors of the economy have been ruined by his regime, starting from health, education, infrastructure, power, amongst others.

“It is even unfortunate that the President who is also the Minister of Petroleum and controls the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has successfully turned the near-moribund refineries to a cash cow since the last seven years. Buhari has left the country in comatose, such a bad second term gift.”

https://dailypost.ng/2022/03/07/medical-trips-buhari-under-fire-for-causing-confusion-in-aso-rock/
Lalasticlala Seun

Buhari the calamitous disaster that has succeeded in wrecking Nigeria and turning her to the butt of cruel jokes from the rest of the world. So much integrity from a man who promised during campaign to stop medical tourism if elected. HURIWA seems to be the only human rights group that seems to be up and doing in discharge of it's duties. Nigerians commend them for always speaking the truth at all times

Y'all can only bark while the useless president is away

I haven't seen anyone standing up to his face when he's around

By virtue of Section 145(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2011 as amended, the President has a constitutional duty to always transmit power whenever he embarks on medical trip or any form of vacation whatsoever.

But Buhari has not respected the constitution by officially handing power over to his VP pending his return. Transmission of power has a process and a method spelt out by the constitution.

It must be written and transmitted to the National Assembly; it is beyond mere rhetorics. Buhari’s action is condemnable just as his many medical trips that cost tax payers’ so much.

By his vague utterance, Buhari has created the vacuum that will throw up power tussles by the different power blocs in Aso Rock including the infamous cabal.

You don't hand over power by mere oral pronounce-ment but via official communication.Buhari always having a penchant for promoting illegality and acting with utter impunity.

Racoon:
Buhari always having a penchant for promoting illegality and acting with utter impunity.

Ibo people sef

Buhari this he is wise ..he has started transferring power to Osinbanjo a SAN with mouth and Osinbanjo a SAN is playing along

-E shock una, abi?

-Now what are you British slaves (Nigerians) going to do about it?

-Banana Republic.

alanto:
Ibo people sef

A president acting unconstitutionally and unstatemanly is not an Igbo affair but an issue of national concern for a country.

Prosperous111:
Y'all can only bark while the useless president is away

I haven't seen anyone standing up to his face when he's around

You can be the first to do it and win award

alanto:

Ibo people sef

You can't do without them.

Racoon:
A president acting unstatemanly is not an Igbo but issue of national concern for a country.

Ibo people sef

alanto:

Ibo people sef

Erudite skuller

PointZerom:


You can't do without them.

I only remember them when I need ugwu or fufu

Malory:
Erudite skuller

Ibo people sef

alanto:
Ibo people sef

"...Why do I need to embark on a foreign trip as a president with a huge crowd with public funds? Why do I need to go for foreign medical trip if we cannot make our hospital functional?"
- (Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians in UK. February 2015)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2015/02/26/full-text-of-buhari-speech-at-chatham-house/

alanto:

Ibo people sef

Are you at the mining site with your mining tools now or you will later go in the night?

[s]

Racoon:


https://dailypost.ng/2022/03/07/medical-trips-buhari-under-fire-for-causing-confusion-in-aso-rock/

[/s]

Nonsense which one did Jonathan build??

LordviccoDaGuru:
Nonsense which one did Jonathan build??

As per sai baba yapping crew, which world class hospital have the useless president built? Why is he not even using the Aso Rock Clinic that he met on ground despite pumping billions into same that were only embezzled?

You will never ask questions on why did he, his family, aides rather choose to go on foreign health tourism @ the expense of taxpayers monies and his campaign promise of not to seek healthcare abroad.

As usual, Anything that buhari involves himself with scatters and gets destroyed instantly.

Man is a total disaster and a complete failure!!

Malory:
You can be the first to do it and win award

I no be human rights activist. HURIWA can do better than ordinary one man

Malory:
Are you at the mining site with your mining tools now or you will later go in the night?

Igbo human sef

Prosperous111:


I no be human rights activist. HURIWA can do better than ordinary one man

Nigerians loves HURIWA and no amount of propaganda from deviant like you can stop that

See Buhari would stay more than 2 weeks in London ...if he had not come back he would have been away for a total of more than 21 days there by making osibanjo automatic acting president with full capacity and power ...which is something the Buhari"s don't want to happen again after what happened when he was acting president

Expect Buhari back by the 18th to 20th day from now

And some idiots think people who don't want you to be acting president for a few days wants to hand over fully to you

[s]

alanto:

Ibo people sef

[/s]

[s]

alanto:

Ibo people sef

[/s]

Malory:
Nigerians loves HURIWA and no amount of propaganda from deviant like you can stop that

HURIWA seems to have been the only CSO keeping this irresponsible government on its feet since inception. All the opposition in the time past have all gone numb. Too bad for participatory democracy.

Racoon:
https://dailypost.ng/2022/03/07/medical-trips-buhari-under-fire-for-causing-confusion-in-aso-rock/

Lalasticlala

See some of the dullard bloody hypocrites that over rated his non-existent integrity.