Factions Around President Buhari Jostle For Control Of His Medical Story, Spin Different Stories
09:12EBRYTHON BLOGGERS has learned from reliable sources at the Nigerian Presidency that
President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in the UK since January 19, is
receiving “intense treatment” for a renewed flare-up of prostate issues.
He had undergone surgical treatment for prostate cancer soon after
losing the 2011 presidential election to former President Goodluck
Jonathan.
In addition to his UK doctors, President Buhari has been under the
care of two Nigerian physicians, Dr. Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi, who is his
Chief Personal Physician, and Dr. Ugorji Ogbonna, who had a medical
practice for many years in Kano before relocating to the UK. Even though
he is from the southeast of Nigeria, Dr. Ogbonna is very close to
numerous powerful northern politicians, and one of his sons converted to
Islam, according to a source. While Dr. Rafindadi accompanied the
president on his medical trips abroad and Dr. Ogbonna often liaise with
Mr. Buhari’s physicians in the UK to arrange for his treatments.
Our sources indicated that Mr. Buhari’s original surgical treatment
for prostate cancer had been declared successful. However, when a
nagging ear infection forced President Buhari to visit his longtime
physician in the UK last year, the prognosis led the president to seek
two separate medical opinions, in France and later Germany. Doctors in
both countries reportedly told him it was urgent to see his doctors in
the UK. Subsequently, Mr. Buhari, who was visiting France for a
conference, moved from Paris to London, declaring that he needed a
vacation.
Mr. Buhari’s UK doctors advised that he needed to stay put in London
for another surgery, but the president bowed to pressure from members of
his inner circle and decided to make a premature return to Abuja out of
political expediency. However, before President Buhari left London,
his doctors there removed polyps from his nostrils in a surgical
procedure to ease his breathing.
In 2016, President Buhari made trips to the UK in February and
June to consult his UK doctors on a variety of health issues, including
his ear infection, said our sources.
EBRYTHON BLOGGERS learned that President Buhari currently receives intense treatment
for a prostate-related ailment. The treatment at a point severely
affected his voice and appetite. He has progressively lost weight and
has had to be force-fed on occasion on the orders of his doctors. One
source said Mr. Buhari’s treatments had been compounded by his age,
which his UK doctors believe to be more than 80 rather than his official
“age” of 74 years old.
Information gleaned from our sources indicated an attempt to
obfuscate the precise nature of Mr. Buhari’s illness, signaling efforts
by competing factions around the president to keep the Nigerian public
uninformed. According to our sources, four different versions of
President Buhari's condition were being circulated. One version, traced
to his wife, Aisha Buhari, is that the president has “internal organ”
issues.
Our sources disclosed that a cabal led by President Buhari's cousin,
Mamman Daura, reportedly sent Mrs. Aisha Buhari away from the UK, asking
her to make a temporary visit to Saudi Arabia. To justify Aisha
Buhari’s exit from London, Mr. Daura reportedly claimed that the
president’s condition appeared to worsen each time his wife was around
him. He reportedly told Mrs. Buhari that part of her husband's illness
was a result of “a spiritual attack,” and asked her to proceed to Saudi
Arabia to pray for him. From Saudi Arabia, Mrs. Buhari returned to
Nigeria about two weeks ago. One source claimed that she had not
returned to London ever since.
Our sources said Mr. Daura often handled the daily briefing of
select Presidency officials about the president's health. According to
them, the president’s cousin continues to claim that Mr. Buhari was only
exhausted and needed adequate rest before returning to Nigeria ready to
take over the mantle of leadership once again.
Speaking anonymously with SaharaReporters, two close aides claimed
that President Buhari was dogged by “severe stomach upsets” that have
refused to go away. One of them said Mr. Buhari suffered from a
recurring bacteria infection “that is being flushed out daily.”
As SaharaReporters revealed last weekend, the doctors treating Mr.
Buhari in the UK have told him in clear terms that he ought to shelf any
plans to return to serious work and stay back in London for as long as
four months to receive a full course of treatment. One source indicated
that members of the president’s inner circle were yet to fully embrace
the doctors’ recommendation and communicate the information to Nigerians
because they fear the loss of political influence.
On his part, President Buhari had reportedly told his inner political
circle that he was in no hurry to return to Nigeria, adding that he was
willing to let the expert advice of his doctors to prevail. However,
some of his die-hard associates have not given up plotting to daily to
convince him to return to Abuja in defiance of medical advice.
President Buhari reportedly communicates regularly with Acting
President Yemi Osinbajo, encouraging him to carry on the task of
governing Nigeria while he undertakes necessary treatment needed to keep
him alive.
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