Buhari’s ill-health: Why President shunned Nigeria’s hospitals – Lai Muhammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed why ailing Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari shunned hospitals in Nigerian and travel to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention.

The Minister responded to the question during a live radio programme titled, “Morning Crossfire”, on Nigeria Info Abuja 95.1FM.

A  caller had criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress for going back on its promise to bar public officials from travelling abroad for medical treatment at the expense of taxpayers.

Reacting to the criticism, Mohammed said, “My answer is very simple. Mr President is our father, he is the leader of the nation and I think he deserves the best in terms of medical treatment.”

When asked why the Buhari-led government was flouting court orders regarding the release of some detained persons, Mohammed said, “If it is a court order and the order is not appealed, then you have flouted the order.

“But if the order is appealed, then it is not a final order. Also, you have to balance national security with the rule of law. In the case of Ifeanyi Ubah, I think it is neither here nor there.”

Another caller lamented the high cost of food prices, especially rice in markets all over the country and the Minister said, “The truth of the matter is that in 2015, this government imported 580,000MT of rice. We cut it down to 58,000MT in 2016 and we have saved about $200m in the process.

“Yes, we understand the cost of rice is still high and we are going to intervene through price fixing by subsidising the cost of transportation.”