Go get a life

Ok, alright, let us put this matter to rest once and for all…

Let me repeat myself, I don’t really give a damn if President Buhari spends three months or 3 years on medical sabbatical in the UK. I don’t have issues with that so long he has broken no subsisting law of the land; and so long our Constitution does not prescribe for him how long he can stay away ailing in foreign land. If he feels morally or ethically obliged to throw in his towel on account of his health challenges, that would be all well and good. If however he feels strong and able enough to stay put and discharge the duties of his office, he won’t be in violation of his oath of office or any law of the land. It is all left to his discretion.

What I do give a damn about, is the way Mr. President’s ill-health has been handled, with different groups taking turns to pay him visit, and making a public spectacle of it, as if it is not embarrassing enough for a country as rich as Nigeria not to have a functional healthcare system. The narrative of the President’s ill-health has been handled in a manner that robs the country of the gains made on other areas, such as the war on corruption and the significant curtailment of Boko Haram. It has also diverted national energy, time, effort and attention from other important matters of state, even as the ailing President did take every necessary step to ensure that governance goes on without him.

Not unexpectedly, this mishandling handed the opposition a potent weapon, thus politicizing the whole thing. There ought to be a time for politics, not where a man’s health is concerned. That is why I find Charly Boy and Deji Adeyanju’s “Return or Resign” sponsored protest a wicked and mischievous act, though I do admit it is within their constitutional rights to so do.

And while we are still at it, let me restate that I don’t give a damn about APC or PDP, or any other party for that matter. As far as I am concerned, there is hardly any difference between them. As a matter of fact, some of those who ruined PDP are now in APC singing new song as if they mean it. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for instance, is now in APC talking restructuring without a proper contextual definition. This is a man who did everything possible to retain the extant paradigm while he was PDP vice president a little over ten years ago.

But if APC and PDP are not far apart in terms of ideology, there is however significant differences in the individuals that make up the parties. There is the good, the bad, the ugly and the horrible. And that is where my preference for Buhari comes in. Being, in my opinion, the least corrupt of Nigeria’s post military political actors and the only one truly committed to fighting corruption, I will continue to support him (but not necessarily his party), albeit with my koboko where ever and whenever I feel he is derailing. If you find that to be a contradiction, that is your toro nkwocha. I am a citizen of Nigeria, not a citizen of APC or PDP.

So, stop sending me those your yeye sentimental and hateful inbox messages lamenting the amount of money the country is spending on Buhari’s health. It is ironic that you defend your ex-governors who even after emptying your state treasury, are still receiving for life, humongous pension benefits that include palatial mansions, several cars, medical facilities for self and family and several domestic staff. What is more, these atrocious benefits are even in violation of the Pension Reform Act 2014 (as amended). Yet you find everything wrong with the country paying for Buhari’s medical bills.

Listen my friend, embarrassing as Buhari’s absence may be, the reality is that though he may be temporarily out of government, he is still President and Commander-in-Chief, retired Army general and former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. As a President, retired Army general and former Head of State, our law provides for his (and his family’s) Medicare to be taken care of for life. If you have any problem with that, you may prevail on your National Assembly to amend the law that provides it for him. Lamenting on social media will not change the fact that he is legitimately entitled to free Medicare for life, whatever the cost.

And in case you do not know what law provides this benefit to him, here is the “low-down” from Bucky Hassan, a first-rate mind who knows what she is talking about:

“Under the ‘Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads OF State (And Other Ancillary Matters) Act CAP. R6 L.F.N. 2004:
Part 1: (5) (1) Free medical treatment for former Heads of State and their immediate family within Nigeria.

Part 2: Treatment abroad for former Heads of State and their immediate family where necessary at Federal Government expense.

Thus, it is seen that as part of the official benefits accorded to all former Presidents/Heads of State, they get their medical bills paid, whether for treatment in Nigeria or overseas”

Now that you know, please go get a life. You hear!