By Clement Olumba
The above heading of this piece aptly captures the recent scenarios of the last three days in our dear country Nigeria. It is only someone living in Mars or either of the planets known to man will be permitted to express a lack of knowledge of the recent death of Nigeria’s immediate past President, Rtd. Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday July 13, 2025 at the age of 82.This piece is not to disrespect the memory of the dead but rather a sincere desire to call out the privileged few who fortunately found themselves in political power but have continually failed to seize the moments to write their names forever in the hearts of both present and future generations.
Buhari’s Passing without a doubt has left a void in the family he leaves behind, because as the patriarch there were roles only he could play while alive.I commiserate with the family on the demise of their father, husband and spiritual head, and pray for mercy upon his soul; may God in his infinite mercy forgive his sins and grant him eternal rest, amen. Now to the focus of the write up which is the frailty of life and the need to pay attention to the task of leadership at the highest level with the ultimate goal being to leave and enduring and impactful legacy in the hearts of the majority of your country men.
Though Buhari’s death inspired this piece, it’s by no means just about him. It is about the failure of the past and present occupiers of the highest political office in the country, the presidency specifically to pay ‘massive’ attention to the health sector of the country. We have seen leaders both past and present laced with the chance to address the unquantifiable decay and mess in a most critical sector of the economy, one that without it wealth and virtually other aspects may cease to exist – HEALTH. It is both sickening and annoying that something as basic yet so important as health could be left unattended to simply because the ‘Rulers’ have the rare privilege of travelling out to foreign lands with state resources where they believe they would get the best of medical care, and therefore rest of the people are left to cater for themselves.
Without a doubt if any of the past leaders had invested in the health sector in all its aspects, there would be no need for any form of medical tour to attend to any health matters, except where there’s a specific expertise required which could be sourced elsewhere. Could it be the false sense of status symbol to die abroad is the best? Which has consistently clouded the thinking of past presidents; only those involved can answer this question.
What would it cost to put right facilities in government owned hospitals, both Teaching and General Hospitals as well as building at the very least, two excellent first class hospitals in the country if they don’t want to domicile same in each of the six geo political zones within Nigeria.Once such is done, there would be no need to seek health care in the United Kingdom, United States of America or any of the European countries. It beats the imagination that the country’s leaders over the years have failed to appreciate doctors and other health workers.
This has led to continued massive relocation of doctors from Nigeria to countries where their services as well as expertise are recognized, appreciated and rewarded. Let’s face it every body needs a doctor at some point in their lives but not every body needs a politician, lawyer etc. It’s fatal and asinine to think otherwise.The present head of government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also very guilty of this. In the two years of his presidency, he has undertaken several trips outside the country on medical grounds. We simply cannot continue like this because we will not survive it. It was saddening to learn that Muhammadu Buhari, Abdulsalami Abubakar along side Maman Daura were all admitted into the same hospital in London at the same time; Haba who do us like this?
