Bola Tinubu Sick?: Nigeria’s Historical past of Ailing Presidents

The well being standing of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu has at all times been a problem of nationwide discourse. That is due to the nation’s lengthy historical past of ailing presidents. His current journey additional heightens the worry of Nigerians who voted for his Labour Get together counterpart, Peter Obi, due to his well being. 

Whereas reports counsel that Tinubu fell ailing after the hectic electioneering that led to his emergence as President-elect, the spokesperson for the All Progressive Congress Presidential Marketing campaign, Festus Keyamo claims Tinubu was not sick, however went overseas for remedy. Keyamo who dismissed studies that Tinubu was rushed to Paris for pressing medical consideration, stated, “They need to depart Asiwaju alone. He deserves some relaxation after the election.”

Tinubu has been in and overseas for a number of medical journeys. He confirmed in October 2022, that he underwent surgical procedure on his proper knee. His well being challenges proceed to lift issues concerning the stability and continuity of management in Nigeria when he assumes workplace. As we have a look at this, the query that involves thoughts is, will Tinubu be the primary sick president to take workplace? The reply is No. Let’s look at among the nation’s ailing presidents.

Nigeria has had quite a lot of presidents who’ve confronted well being challenges whereas in workplace, resulting in issues concerning the stability and continuity of management within the nation. A number of the notable cases embrace:

Olusegun Obasanjo (Diabetes)

President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigeria from 1999-2007.  He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) and held the nation collectively towards coups and secessionist actions. Obasanjo was very energetic in governance regardless of his well being situation.

In 2021, he revealed that he had been battling with a lethal illness, diabetes for over 35 years. Talking on the closing ceremony of the Ogun State Diabetes Youth Growth Camp, Obasanjo stated lots of his associates had been killed as a result of they had been unable to handle the illness.

He stated, “Since I used to be identified with diabetes, quite a lot of my associates have died and the reason being that they only didn’t handle their diabetes the way in which they need to handle it. It doesn’t matter whether or not you might be kind one or kind two, to date there isn’t a remedy for diabetes, perhaps there can be a remedy earlier than I die, however I pray that there can be a remedy earlier than you die.”

Obasanjo who correctly managed his well being throughout his tenure in workplace famous that he took his medication together with him each time and prioritised common blood sugar checks. 

President Umar Y’Adua (lung most cancers, Strauss Syndrome, Kidney, pericarditis)

President Umar Yar’Adua, sworn into workplace on 29 Might 2007 suffered from a kidney situation. He was additionally flown outdoors the nation to obtain remedy for pericarditis (irritation of the pericardium, the fibrous sac surrounding the center) in 2009. Reports counsel {that a} lethal mixture of lung cancers and the auto-immune illness, Churg Strauss Syndrome killed the president who died in workplace. 

Yar’Adua’s quite a few medical journeys created an influence vacuum which was reportedly usurped by a cabal. After ready for his return the Supreme Courtroom of Nigeria on 22 January 2010 dominated that the Federal Govt Council (FEC) had fourteen days to determine a decision on whether or not Yar’Adua was “incapable of discharging the capabilities of his workplace”. After the ruling, the Senate controversially used the “doctrine of necessity” to switch Presidential Powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, and declared him Appearing President.

Goodluck Jonathan (Undisclosed)

President Goodluck Jonathan who grew to become Nigeria’s president after Yar’Adua’s demise confronted his personal well being challenges whereas in workplace. In 2013, he obtained medical remedy for an undisclosed ailment in London. Though the character of the sickness was not made identified to Nigerians, Jonathan was examined by medical practitioners in London.

President Muhammadu Buhari (Prostate most cancers)

President Muhammadu Buhari took workplace in 2015 and has been named the sick president due to his frequent worldwide journeys. Data analysis means that Buhari might be affected by a mix of prostate most cancers, sickle cell anaemia, Crohn’s illness and dementia. The report which examined a few points revealed that Buhari was first identified with prostate most cancers in 2014. It additionally famous that these illnesses are associated, including that the President’s incoherency and confusion might be as a result of impact of a standard remedy (ADT) for prostate most cancers. 

Being sick just isn’t a incapacity, nevertheless, Nigerians know that governance should be dealt with by a person who’s match sufficient to pilot the nation to its promised land.