Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, Chidi Odinkalu, has offered a powerful critique of the country’s leadership following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Odinkalu took aim at Nigeria’s political elite for their reliance on foreign healthcare facilities while neglecting the nation’s health infrastructure.
“Nigeria’s current rulers may need to be reminded: Those who die in foreign hospitals only get to return to the country as cargo. They don’t pass through @immigrationng. Rather, we clear them through @CustomsNG as import. If you don’t want this, build a hospital that can work for you,” Odinkalu wrote.
Condemns Foreign Medical Tourism by Politicians
Odinkalu’s post has sparked widespread conversation online, as he highlighted the irony of Nigerian leaders routinely flying abroad for medical care, even as the country’s public health system remains underfunded and overwhelmed.
The activist urged current officeholders to invest in developing functional healthcare facilities at home, not just for citizens, but for themselves.
Remembers Victims of the Zaria Massacre
Odinkalu also used the occasion to remember the Zaria massacre of December 2015, which occurred under Buhari’s watch. The military operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Shiite Muslims, including three sons of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
“I remember today all the #Shiites liquidated in the #ZariaMassacre in Dec 2015 under the orders of the C-In-C, including 3 sons of Sheikh El-Zakzaky. Their remains were transported in at least 47 trucks and buried in mass graves in Mando, Kaduna,” Odinkalu added.
Buhari’s Final Days
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, aged 82, died after a prolonged illness in a hospital in London. His remains are expected to be flown back to Nigeria and interred in Daura, Katsina State, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, leaving behind a controversial legacy that continues to divide public opinion.
