Former presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina has defended late President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to receive medical treatment in the United Kingdom, saying he might not have lived as long as he did had he relied solely on Nigerian hospitals.
Adesina made this statement following criticism over Buhari’s death in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82. Many Nigerians had expressed concern that a president who led the country for eight years still depended on foreign medical facilities.
“He Could Have Long Been Dead” — Adesina
In response to the backlash, Adesina explained that Buhari had been receiving treatment in the UK even before he assumed office in 2015, and continued with the same doctors for continuity of care.
“He always had his medicals in London even when he was not in office, so it was not about the time he was president alone,” Adesina noted.
He added that Buhari’s survival was partly due to access to expertise unavailable in Nigeria.
“If he had said, ‘I’ll do my medicals in Nigeria just as a showoff,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country.”
Adesina emphasized that one must be alive first to implement reforms, implying Buhari’s decision to seek treatment abroad was necessary to preserve his life.
Buhari’s Longstanding Medical Journey
Buhari had frequently visited the UK for treatment during his presidency, sometimes sparking public debate over the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system. However, Adesina stressed that the decision was based on medical history and trust built over the years with British doctors.
“UK doctors had become deeply familiar with the former president’s case over time,” he explained.
Final Rites in Daura
The late president will be buried on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic rites. Funeral prayers are scheduled to take place at the Emir’s Palace, with dignitaries expected in attendance.
