Buhari’s London Medical Trip Insensitive, Sign Of Failure – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari over his latest medical trip to London, the United Kingdom for a check-up.

The PDP in a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan lamented that the Buhari administration has wrecked the health sector so much that even the State House clinic can’t be trusted to carry out a routine medical check-up for the President.

It will be recalled that President Buhari departed Nigeria for London on Tuesday via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja and is not expected back in the country until the second week in April.

Reacting to the development, the PDP said the failure of the current administration to fix the nation’s medical and healthcare system is responsible for the foreign medical trip.

The PDP statement titled ‘Buhari’s Overseas Treatment, A Badge of Failure -PDP…Asks Mr. President to Think of Other Nigerians,’ noting that despite the sorry state of the nation’s healthcare system, not all Nigerians can afford to travel out for medical treatment.

It also accused President Buhari of using tax payer’s money to fund his personal health care.

According to the statement, “It is indeed worrisome that under President Buhari, even the hitherto highly rated State House Clinic, has become so moribund that it cannot provide a simple medical checkup service for Mr. President.

“While the PDP has nothing against where any person, including President Buhari, seeks his or her medical services, our party is worried that the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency is taking no decisive steps to fix our health care system, ostensibly because Mr. President can afford overseas medical treatment at tax payers’ expense.

“The PDP is disturbed that while Mr. President jets out for medical treatment in well-equipped hospitals abroad, our hospitals and medical personnel are in very sorry situation while millions of our compatriots suffer, with many dying on a daily basis from conditions that have simple medical solutions.

“It is indeed heartrending that Nigerians are suffering this huge misfortune of having this highly insensitive, incompetent and corrupt leadership of very selfish individuals who do not care about the welfare of other citizens.

“More saddening is that all the institutions, policies and programmes established by the PDP, which hitherto ensured access to affordable healthcare for Nigerians have been wrecked by the Buhari administration.

“Our party urges President Buhari to show leadership by reflecting on the fact that millions of Nigerians cannot afford overseas treatment and have become despondent by his failure to take decisive steps to address our national healthcare needs.

“President Buhari must know that his duty as President is not only for his personal needs but more importantly for the needs of the generality of Nigerians.

“The PDP however calls on Nigerians to remain calm and not resign to despondency as we collectively work to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of misrule.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state, Katsina State, is planning to tax Fulani herdsmen.

According to NAN, the new tax regime was necessary as the state receives about N6 billion monthly from the Federation Account and spends N3 billion on salaries and allowances.

Speaking on the new tax regime, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina said the taxes would be used to enhance people’s living conditions and tackle insecurity.